There has been a lot of material published in regards to this mystery -
especially in Of Sea & Shore Magazine (along with many photos).  The
most recent installment was published in the Winter 1999 Issue, and
like previous installments, was authored by Gary S. Mangiacopra.

The press recently (within the past couple of years) reported that tissue
samples from the 1896 St. Augustine specimen and a similar beaching
in Bermuda were analyzed and the findings in both cases was that
it was a whale.

However, as evidenced by the recent Of Sea & Shore Magazine
article, not everyone accepts the whale theory.

I am sure Tom Rice (who is on Conch-L) could provide you more
details, or alternately, I could provide you a list of references.

Regards,
Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
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--------------------
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----- Original Message -----
From: Sarah Watson <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 1999 10:50 PM
Subject: The mystery about Octopus giganteus


> During the past week I have been searching through a ton of molluscan
links.
> Earlier today, I followed one that just sounded neat and I came here
>
> <A HREF="http://www.strangemag.com/globsters1.html#St. Augustine
> Giant">http://www.strangemag.com/globsters1.html#St. Augustine Giant
> </A>
>
> The site lists a mysterious giant octopus (glob is the term they first use
> *grin*) from the atlantic ocean that washed up on St. Augustine beach in
the
> late 1800's. It was supposedly named Octopus giganteus. I have looked it
up
> in a few books and search engines but haven't found anything. Supposedly,
> tissue samples remain at the Smithsonian NMNH (brought there by Dall in
1896)
> My question is, has anyone ever heard of this thing and if so, what was
the
> final word on it. Common sense tells me it was never officially resolved,
but
> I am very interested in finding what I can about it.
>
> Thanks
> Sarah
>
> ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
> Sarah Watson
> Silver Spring MD
> [log in to unmask]
> <A
>
HREF="http://www.geocities.com/southbeach/tidepool/8845">http://www.geocitie
s.
> com/southbeach/tidepool/8845
> </A>