Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1890 — HOOKED AN OCTOPUS. [ARTICLE]

HOOKED AN OCTOPUS.

The Luck of Three Hew Orleans Fishermen Hear Ship Island, A Giant Devil Fish Took Their Hook and Frightened the Sportsmen Half to Death, but Finally Broke Their line and Made Them Happy. - Probably it is not generally known that the,., octopus, or devil-fish, frequently of a large size, is found on the coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana, says the New York Sun. Possibly the first instance on record of one of these fish, and one of large size at that, having taken a hook came within the ek- ! perience of three residents of New Orleans a couple of years since. I Gen. Philip Buchanan, Lieut-Col. : E. C. Fenner, and Muj. Harry Howard, | now mayor of Biloxi, Miss., started ! from that place in the yacht of Maj. Howard for Ship island' on a fishing expedition. East-northeast of that island, in about eight fathoms of water, lies the wreck of the steamship Josephine, marked now by a buoy. Although the vessel proper has been almost entirely covered with sand, by careful sounding the location of the walking-beam may be found. On anchoring near that spot a day of good fishing is assured the angler. The wrecked steamer has formed a barrier or shelter, about which the fish appear to gather, and at certain tides, .no matter what other conditicne may- ! prevail, the abundance of fish make? [it almost drudgery to attend the lines. [No sooner has the hook reached the ! required depth than it is seized by ! pome large and voracious fish, generally a red-snapper, which is a gallant fighter. It was in August that the fishermen above mentioned, accompanied by two sailors in a yawl, anchored over the wreck of the Josephine. Col. Fenner, who has a predilection for taking sharks of a large size, had with him, as usual, an inch line, ten or fifteen j fathoms in length, equipped with a hook of suitable size for sharks. This was baited with a piece of salt pork and thrown overboard, where it re- ' mained undisturbed for a long time. The line was secured to one of the thwarts of the boat. The fishing" was as good as usual and all were having good luck when attention was called to i the shark line, which was running out | with great speed. The rapidity of its ' movement indicated some fish of exceptional size. | The five men had hardly time to throw themselves to the side of the craft opposite the line when the fish which was firmly hooked, bore the boat down so that the gun-wale was partly submerged. For several moments its occupants expected that it would be drugged broadside under by the strain. Their first impulse was to cut the line, but this was opposed by one or two of ! the party, who wished to see the end , of the adventure. At this juncture the bout suddenly righted to an even keel; the line slack-!. ened and it was evident that the fish was moving toward them. The slack of the Une was rapidly taken in, which was barely accomplished when the water became violently agitated and there leaped from the surface a great octopus, in whose mouth the hook was firmly fixed. As he threw himself above the water he darted his tentacles, which were not less than ten or fifteen feet long, toward the bout; then he Blowly sank and remained for a few moments apparently motionless, as if meditating on a mode of attack. The condition of the fishermen was' now somewhat critical, for they were entirely unprovided with any weapons except a couple of oars with which to repel the att ck of the monster, and yet they were unwilling to detach the line from the thwart. There was nothing to do but airsit developments. Indeed thei-e was but little time for consultation or action, for, after a brief delay, the octopus again slowly rose to the surface, where with his head slightly elevated ho began beating the water with his tentacles. He was apparently studying the extraordinary adveis ry which he had encountered. A third time he disappeared, and this time with a fierce rush. The line fled over the side of the boat with great velocity. The fishermen again threw themselves to the opposite side and awaited the shock. When it came the line, unable to bear the strain, parted at the thwarts and disappeared.