This is a pencil study by William Lionel Wyllie. It depicts an octopus, a sturgeon, an eel or lamprey and a shoal of fish. It is unclear whether these creatures are part of one image or whether they are separate studies on one piece of paper. The octopus is in the centre of the paper. It has been shown clinging to a rock. Its mottled skin and eyes can be seen as can the underside of one of its tentacles, revealing suckers. Hard graphite hatching has been used to indicate the shadow on the underside of the rock. The sturgeon has been drawn in the top right hand corner of the paper. The texture of its skin is less detailed but its fins, elongated nose and ridges have been depicted. The creature in the top left hand corner is shown to be long and flat. There is more detailing towards the left hand end. The movement of the creature indicates that it may be an eel or a lamprey. There are nine fish at the bottom of the image. The eyes and fins of each fish can be seen. Cross hatching has been used to indicate the shape of the fish. The fish towards the bottom of the page have been rendered in less detail.

Study for Wyllie's oil painting 'Davy Jones's Locker', completed in 1890 (Museum no. ZBA5055).