Bombay duck Bombay duck The Bombay duck or bummalo ("Harpadon nehereus"), is a lizardfish. Adults may reach a maximum length of 40 cm, but the usual size is around 25 cm. The origin of the term "Bombay duck" is uncertain. One popular etymology relates to railways. When the rail links started on the Indian subcontinent, people from eastern Bengal were made aware of the great availability of the locally prized fish on India's western coasts and began importing them by the railways. Since the smell of the dried fish was overpowering, its transportation was later consigned to the mail train; the Bombay
Creature from the Haunted Sea that "worked perfectly," Corman decided that the first take was funnier, and used it in the film with added narration to achieve humorous effect. According to Beach Dickerson, the creature was made from "a wetsuit, some moss, lots of Brillo pads[...]tennis balls for the eyes, ping-pong balls for the pupils, and pipecleaners for the claws. Then we cover him with black oilcloth to make him slimy." According to Carbone, the cast "really had to do some deep concentration in order not to laugh when we saw it." Carbone felt that Corman should have shot the scenes featuring the creature from