ANNALS OF THE SEA SERPENT. 



A "SEA SERPENT." 



The appearance in Gloucester (Cape-Ann) harbor of an 

 uncommon Sea Animal has been the topic of conversation 

 and wonderment for several days past. A number of 

 gentlemen of information and veracity have asserted, that 

 they have seen such an animal off and in that harbor, repos- 

 ing at times on a smooth sea, and had thereby an oppor- 

 tunity to see and judge of its form and dimensions. Their 

 accounts, though in some instances dissimilar, all agree 

 that this animal is of the species called the Sea Serpent. It 

 is described as having its head (like those given to serpents 

 in prints) at times, out of water; that to some it appeared 

 as large as the head of a horse — to others, varying, per- 

 haps, according to distance, as that of a large dog ; — 

 that its body was round like a snake's, but connected by 

 joints, which to some appeared like a row of ten-gallon 

 kegs , and to others like barrels ; that its length was es- 

 timated by some to be 40 feet, by others 30, 100, and 

 over ; that its motion was serpentile, erratic, and rapid 

 for an animal of its bulk ; that it has been seen lying on 

 the surface of the water, with parts of its body from six to 

 eighteen inches out ofthe water, and its tail nearly on a line 

 with its head ; that it frequently forms circles in its 

 movements, and in its progress sometimes leaves a wake 

 of a mile in length. 



Measures have been taken, and otiiers ai'c contemplated, 



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