Northern Squid (Loligo pealei)

Tidepool Tim says,  “We offer squid because they are native to our waters.  Our customers prefer a fresh frozen squid to a formaldehyde preserved one for dissection labs.  Sometimes in the summer and fall large groups of squid become beached in the wind and waves and quickly perish in the falling tide.  If we see big groups of bald eagles swooping and landing in windward coves this will tip us off of a squid landing. We arrive by boat and fill baskets with these fresh squids as the eagles swoop overhead.  Once washed off they are carefully packed in bags to be frozen. Squid eggs are common to find at low water or when we are tide-pooling. Occasionally they will be laid on lobster traps or other benthic structures.  All of the squid's structures are captivating from the large eyes and tentacles to the long fins and skins coloration. Once dissected the internal organs are easy to see and sometimes a squid or two actually ends up being fried up as a tasty bonus on the lab bunsen burner - yummy!  If loligo species are not caught, we sometimes stock Illex genus squid from southern ports.”