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ijB© OCtO Vi'tlll 13/ cXQ/V^* octopus WOllX^ on wi'fcli 
its laantle stretched , and its arEss ctxrled back out of the way. When the 
crab caiae in close the octopus would flail out and grapple with a claw. 
After appearing to try to bite into the claw the octo would let go again 
and back off into the rocks. This action went on for sosrse tim, and on 
laany occasions the octopus appeared to be pushing the battle. 
After about five minutes each party backed off, neither one appearing 
to be the worse for the set-to, I have no idea what started the fracas 
nor what the eventual conclusion would be. The sea liad been inaking up all 
nsorning, and by the time we had finished watching and filming this combat 
the whole enclosure was rocking from side to side with each wave overhead, 
kicking up cloiids of dust that obscured the area. We tried weighting the 
cage with big cement blocks on the comers, but to no avail. There was 
nothing to do but suspend operations. Tom put the crab in an enclosure 
4 
some distance from the shooting pen, arsi we went up to have lunch, hoping 
that there might be some indication of a lessening of the wind. 
After our meal Tom went down to see how things were, and found one 
of the big plate glass windows off, banging on a coral head. Ke could 
not replace it, so we put on our diving gear again and went below. The 
octopus was still in the enclosure and had Just captured a big blue crab 
— I could see one of its legs sticking out fmm bene8,th its mantle. 
This octopus had recently finished eating a conch that must have had 
a half-pound of meat In its body. Bow the crab. I wonder how much an 
octopus can eat. I hope this supply of fresh food causes the octo to 
feel content with its new home. If it isn't content it won't be there 
