CATCHING AN OCTOPUS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1892, 29 October 1913, Page 6

CATCHING AN OCTOPUS.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) • Auckland, October 28. Tho crew of tho launch Regina had a somewhat -unusual experience while fishing at Shag Rock, off AVaihcke, yesterday.' Tho party included Messrs. Carr, Pountney, M'Guire, M'Grath, Steele, and Goldie. They had been making fairly good hauls of schnapper when, suddenly, an unusual bito was experienced on a shark line, and Rafter some hauling an octopus of large dimensions was brought to the surface. When the octopus was brought to the surface it immcdia i 'ely fastened to the sido of the launch, and not. amount of pulling would bring it over tho bulwark. By tho aid of a gaff, however, it was ultimately compelled to release its grip on tho vessel's hull, and was lifted into tho dinghy. Thinking that the treatment that it had received in being hooked into the dinghy had about settled it, two members of tho crew (Messrs. M'Grath and Goldie) jumped into th_> smaller boat to Jiavo » closer look at their catch; Before either quite realised what had happened, tho octopus had propelled itself upon t'liem. Thoro was a wild scramble, in the course of vhicli the 7ft. dinghy capsized and turned turtle. Both men struck out at onco for tho launch. ■ Even then the octopus seemed anxious to make,trouble, and as each man struck out long tentacles were seen by those or. tho launch stretched out towards them, and they wero pulled on board without further delay. The octopus then disappeared.