324 GREAT SEA-SERPENT. 



Governor Berestrap states, that be saw a similar 

 animal a few years before, and drew a sketch of it. 

 Mr Hans Strom, a clergyman, also caused a sketch 

 to be made of one which came under his inspection, 

 and other eye-witnesses are named. The bishop 

 concludes, " I might mention, to the same purpose, 

 many more persons of equal credit and reputation." 

 But we must bring these statements of Pontoppidon 

 to a close with one other short quotation. " Though 

 it is difficult to ascertain its exact dimensions, yet 

 all who have seen it are unanimous in affirming that 

 it appears to be about 600 feet long ; that it lies in 

 the water in many folds, and there appears like so 

 many hogsheads floating in a line, at a considerable 

 distance from each other."* (Plate XXIX. is a 

 copy of Pontoppidon's representation.) 



Again, Sir Ac de Capell Brooke makes allusion 

 to this animal in his " Travels in Norway." He 

 states that he did not witness it himself, but that the 

 fishermen of Sejerstad stated it was seen in 1818 in 

 the Folden fiord. In July 1819, it made its ap- 

 pearance off Otersun in Norway, and Captain Schil- 

 derup stated to Sir Arthur that it was seen daily dur- 

 ing the whole month, and continued while the warm 

 weather lasted, as if dozing in the sun-beams. When 

 Captain S. first saw it, he was in a boat at the dis- 

 tance of about 200 yards, and supposes its length 

 to have been about 600 feet. The Bishop of Nord- 

 land had seen two of them about eight miles from 



* Loc. cit. ii 195. 



