AN OCTOPUS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 50, 30 October 1913, Page 5

AN OCTOPUS.

SCARES TWO FISHERMEN. AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. The crew 'of the launch Regina had a somewhat unusual experience while fishing at Shag Rock, off Waiheke, on Monday (.says the Auckland Star). The party included Messrs. Carr, Pountney, McGuire, McGrath, Steels, and Goldie.

They had been making fairly good hauls ot sclmapper, when suddenly an unusual bite was experienced on a shark line, and after some hauling an octopus of large dimensions was brought to the - surface. The creature was between a foot and eighteen inches across the body, with tentacles two feet or more in length, each .well supplied with "suckers." When the octopus was brought to the surface it immediately fastened to the side of the launch, and no amount of pull could bring it over the bulwark. By the aid of a gaff, however, the octopus was ultimately compelled to release its vice-like grip on the vessel's hull, and was lifted into the dinghy.

Thinking that the treatment it ha? received in being hooked into the dinghy had about settled the octopus two members of the crew, Messrs. McGrath and Goldie, jumped into the smaller boat to have a closer look al their strange catch. Before eithei quite realised what had happened, the octopus had propelled itself upon them.

There was a wild scramble, in the course of which the 7ft. dinghy capsized and turned turfle. Both men struok out at once for the launch. Even then the octopus seemed anxious to make trouble, and as each man struck out long tentacles were seen by those on the launch-to be stretched out and actually gripping the bodies in the water; Willing hands, however, were quickly able tc grasp the arms of those in the water and they were pulled on board without further delay. The octopus then disappeared.