AN OCTOPUS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 109, 26 April 1876, Page 3

AN OCTOPUS.

Mu Henry Put mm, of Portland, in a letter to the local “ Express,” relates the following marine adventure ;—“ On Saturday afternoon, the 25th March, whilst climbing the rocks round the ■lighthouse with my wife, I saw approaching from the sea what at first appeared to me to be a gigantic starfish, but upon its coming into shallow water I recognised it as a octopus or ‘ devil fish.’ It came close to my feet, evidently making towards me ; I struck it with a gnncleaner which I held in my hand, and instead of retreating, as I expected, it seized the rod with one of its legs or suckers, extending its leg along the whole length of the rod. I endeavoured to pull it away, but the beast followed me, and climbed on to a rock where I stood, it then released its hold and went seaward,. After a few seconds it returned, and again seized the rod, this time with two of its suckers, remained quiet for a short time, puffed itself out to an enormous size, changed colour from a reddish brown to a light blue or milky colour, and then retired. From the top of one sucker to the tip of another it measured at least eight feet. I should not have troubled you with this narrative had I not noticed on the following day some boys bathing within a few yards of the same place; and I am convinced that if a-strung man even were attacked by such an octopus in the water he would be powerless against such an enemy. Fathers on the rocks should therefore keep a sharp look-out for any of these monsters of the deep.”