Cephalopods^ etc.^ as Food, 



119 



cording to the favourable or unfavourable results of the 

 season's fishing. 



On the first arrival of the octopodia in the shallows 

 they keep in masses or shoals, but speedily separate in 

 search of shelter among the rocks near the beach, covered 

 by only one or two feet of water, and in the stony 

 localities prepared for them by the fishermen in order to 

 frustrate the depositing of their spawn. Polypi are taken 

 in deep water by means of earthen jars strung together 

 and lowered to the bottom of the sea, where they are 

 allowed to remain for a certain number of hours, and in 

 which the animals introduce themselves. Frequently from 

 8 to 10 polypi are taken from every jar at each visit of 

 the fishermen. In less deep water earthenware drain-pipes 

 are placed side by side, for distances frequently exceeding 

 half a mile in length, and in these also they enter and are 

 taken by the fishermen. As they are attracted by white 

 and all smooth and bright substances, the natives deck 

 places in the creeks and hollows in the rocks with white 

 rocks and shells, over which the polypi spread themselves, 

 and are caught from four up to eight at a time. But the 

 most successful manner of securing them is pursued by 

 the inhabitants of Karkenah, who form long lanes and 

 labyrinths in the shallows by planting the butt-ends of 

 palm branches at short distances from each other, and these 

 constructions extend over spaces of two or more miles. 

 On the ebb of the tide (the fall is here about 10 feet) the 

 octopodia are found in the pools inside the enclosures, and 

 are easily collected by the fishermen, who string them in 

 bunches of 50 each, and from 8 to 10 of these bunches, 

 called " risina," are secured daily during the season by 

 every boat's crew of four men. 



The squids form an important element in the North 



