158 Bigelow on the Sea Serpent. 
Island and Stage Point. Ashe often came near the Point, 
we thought we could get a better view of him there, than 
from the boat, of which be seemed suspicious. Mr. Mal- 
bone and myself landed; and the boat was sent to order 
the schooner down, for the purpose of trying what effect a 
twelve pound carronade would have upon him. He did not 
remain long after we landed, so that [ was unable to effect 
my catention, of ascertaining, accurately, his length, with 
my instruments. _ From my knowledge of aquatic animals, 
and habits of intimacy with marine appearances, T could not 
be deceived. We hada good view of him, except the very 
short period while he was under water, for half an hour.— 
His colour is a dark brown, with white under the throat. 
His size, we could not accurately ascertain, but his head is 
about three feet in circumference, flat and much smaller 
than his body. We did not see his tail ; but from the end 
of the head to the fartherest protuberance, was not far from 
one hundred feet. I speak with a degree of certainty, from 
being much accustomed to measure and estimate distances 
and length. I counted fourteen bunches on his back, the 
first one, say ten or twelve feet from his head, and the oth- 
ers about seven feet apart. They decreased in size towards 
the tail. ‘These bunches were sometimes counted with, and 
sometimes without a glass. Mr. Malbone counted thirteen, 
thirteen and fourteen, and the boatmen about 
the same number. motion was sometimes very rapid, 
and at other times he i nearly still. He turned slowly, 
and took up considerable room in doing it. He sometimes 
darted under water, with the greatest velocity, as if seizing 
prey. The protuberances were not from his motion, as 
they were the same whether in slow or rapid movement. 
is motion was partly vertical and partly horizontal, like 
that of fresh water snakes. I have been much acquainted 
with the snakes in our interior waters. His motion was the 
have given you in round numbers, one hundred 
same. [| 
feet, ten ine length; that is, what we saw; but I should say 
e must be one hundred and thirty feet in length, allowing 
for his tail, There were a considerable number of birds 
about the Sea Serpent, as I have seen them pray a Snake 
on shore. That there is an aquatic animal in the form of a 
Snake, is not to be doubted. Mr. Malbone, till this day; 
was incredulous. No man would now convince him, there 
Se 
eens eRe 
