ANNALS OF THE SEA SERPENT. 



135 



for killing and exhibiting this animal. It is hoped they 

 will succeed. The Encyclopedists have doubted the ex- 

 istence of such animals as Sea Serpents, which have 

 been described by some navigators, particularly by Egede 

 as frequenting the Greenland seas some of which have 

 been described as extending its head as high as the main- 

 top-mast of a ship, its body being as thick as a hogshead, 

 its skin variegated like a tortoise shell, and its excrement 

 corrosive. 



The Salem Gazette of yesterday says, " We are in- 

 formed, that on Sunday this creature was seen playing 

 sometimes within 15 or 20 feet of the shore, affording a bet- 

 ter opportunity to observe him than had before occurred. 

 Gentlemen from Gloucester state, that he appeared to them 

 of an even greater magnitude than had before been repre- 

 sented, and should judge from their own observation, that 

 he was as much as 150 feet in length, and as big round as 

 a barrel. They saw him open an enormous mouth, and 

 are of opinion that he is cased in shell. The chance for 

 taking or killing this creature seems to be small; it re- 

 quires not merely the club of a Hercules, but the cunning 

 contrivance of a Vulcan. We understand, however, that 

 it is proposed to make a number of strong nets, in the 

 hope of entangling and embarrassing him, so as to be able to 

 get him into a situation to kill him ; in which we rather 

 wish than expect they may prove successful." 



Corroboration. Capt. Obear, who has arrived at Bev- 

 erly, reports, that on Sunday last he put into Cape-Ann 

 harbor, where he and his crew were astonished at the sight 

 of a monstrous creature lying upon the water, which ap- 

 peared to have the form of a serpent. 



Whatever doubts may have existed on this subject, 

 there are hundreds who can testify to the existence of 

 some creature of a very uncommon bulk and form, and 

 such as was never before seen upon our coast. 



