COLOSSAL CUTTLEFISHES. 91 
ing upou the surface. I have seen a dying whale vomit it up 
want of food goes to the ocean bed.’ aptain Rose, of the bark 
Dove, writes under the date of June 1, 1854, as follows: ‘ Fifteen 
years ago I might have agreed with Captain Roys, that sperm 
whales’ feed [7.e. squid] lived or grew on the bottom of the sea, and 
it may live there ; but as to its never being seen unless torn up 
mostly in the morning, dodging across the bows and in the wake 
of the ship.’ 
The above extracts will show you that the whalemen, who have 
have had much experience, give us nothing definite in regard to 
the size of the squid.” 
In confirmation of this and other statements to the same effect, 
we may cite a similar statement from an old whaler, given in Prof. 
Shaler’s article on the “ Habits of the Sperm Whale,” on page 3 
of the present volume of this journal. 
It now remains for us to notice briefly the facts regarding the 
colossal squid that have come under our own notice. In the 
autumn of 1871 appeared a statement in the ‘Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser ” that the crew of a Gloucester fishing vessel, while upon the 
Grand Banks, found a squid, floating dead, which measured fifteen 
feet in length and four feet six inches in circumference, the longer 
arms measuring ten feet. On writing to the editor, and inquiring 
how far this statement could be relied on, he kindly wrote in reply 
as follows :— 
“The account of the squid, as published in the ‘ Advertiser,” 
is correct, and is vouched for by Mr. James G. Tarr, of the 
of Dodd, Tarr & Co., of East Gloucester. The squid was picked 
up afloat (dead) at the place mentioned, and was so large that 
From Mr. Tarr 1 also received the following letter, giving more 
precise details ; — 
“ East GLOUCESTER, January 4, 1872. 
Your note of the 22d ultimo came duly to hand. In reply I 
would say that Captain Campbell of the schooner B. D. Haskins, 
