On the Kraken. 301 



modifications : and which is not without an effect in the oeconomy 

 of nature; for verdure and fertility, in hot climates, generally fol- 

 low the courses of rivers, and, by the operation of this cause, are 

 extended to the hills, and even to the plains surrounding their 

 banks. 



Rome, Dec. 8, 1818. 



L. Further Evidence to prove the Existence of the Kraken in 

 the Ocean, and tending to show that this hvge Creature is a 

 Species of Sepia or Squid. Being three several Communica- 

 tions ofFacts,made to Dr.MyrcuiLh,hj William Lee, Esq., 

 Captain Riley, aiid Captain Neville, in September 1817. 

 Comnmnicated by Dr. Mitchii.l. 

 Copy of a Letter addressed to Dr. Mitchill by William Lee, Esq. 



Washington, Sept. 2, 1817. 



My Dear Sir, — Xhe description given in our newspapers of a 

 sea serpent, lately seen for several days in and about Cape 

 Anne Harbour, has brought to my recollection one of this spe- 

 cies. 



On a passage I made from Quebec, in 17^7, in a schooner of 

 about SO tons burden, while standing in for the Gut of Canso, 

 the Island of Cape Breton being about four leagues distant, one 

 of the crew cried out " A shoal a-head !" The helm was imme- 

 diately put down to tack ship, when, to our great astonishment, 

 this shoal, as we thought it to be, moved off; and as it passed 

 athwart the bow of our vessel, we discovered it to be an enor- 

 mous sea-serpent, four times as long as the schooner. Its back 

 was of a dark green colour, forming above the water a number of 

 little hillocks, resembling a chain of hogsheads. I was then but 

 a lad, and being much terrified, ran below until the monster was 

 at some distance from us. I did not see his head distinctly ; but 

 those who did, after I had hid myself in the cabin, said it was 

 as large as the small boat of the schooner. I recollect the tre- 

 mendous ripple and noise he made in the water, as he went off 

 from us, which I compared at the time to that occasioned by the 

 launching of a ship. 



My venerable friend Mr. , of your city, was a passenger 



with me at the time. Me will corroborate this statement, and 

 probably furnish you with a better description of this monster; 

 for 1 well recollect his taking his stand at the bow of the vessel, 

 with great courage, to examine it, while the other passengers 

 were intent only on their own safety. 



At 1 lalifax, and on my return to Boston, when frccpiently describ- 

 ing this monster, I was laughed at so innnoderatcly, that 1 found 



it 



