Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1920 — SEA WORM SAMOAN DELICACY [ARTICLE]

SEA WORM SAMOAN DELICACY

Its Infrequent Arrival Always Made the Occasion for the Holding of a Great Festival. Palolo, the most prized of all gustatory delicacies in Samoa, declared by Americans who have tried it to besuperlor to the lobster, is a marine worm, being rather mysterious in that it Is never seen save on two or three nights tn the entire year. Its appearance seems to be regulated by the moon. The palolo chooses the time for ito first appearance on the night when the October moon changes. When the moon rises the sea is seen to be alive with wriggling green and brown worms, some of them a yard or more tn length. The natives make a festival of the occasion, going out with dtp pets among the reefs and scooping up the worms by the bushel. They paddle around In every available boat with lighted torches waiting for the moon, and then the scene becomes one of great and joyous excitement. The palolo 'domes once again when the November moon quarters, and is not seen again until the following year. It Is said to live tn crannies of the coral reefs,, coming to the surface to spawn at these lunar periods. Some of the worms are eaten as they wiggle, bpt the bulk of the catch is reserved for a big feast on the. following day, Wh4n they are wrapped in banana leaves and baked.