344 DESCRIPTION OF A SQUALUS. 



cumference at the base of the dorsal fin, was trans- 

 ported entire to Paris, where it was carefully examin- 

 ed by Mr. Blainville, who published a detailed ac- 

 count of it in the Annales du Museum to. 18, p. 88, 

 pi. 6, fig. 1. 



The individual now exhibiting, having appeared 

 on the coast of New- Jersey nearly at the same sea- 

 son that the reputed " Sea Serpent" was introduced 

 to the attention of the public, the preceding year, it 

 was believed to be no other than the same animal. 



The anticipation of a lucrative exhibition of this 

 animal, animated the courage of many of the inhabi- 

 tants of the coast, and determined them to attempt its 

 capture. Armed with muskets and harpoons, they 

 attacked the animal at 7 o'clock in the evening, and 

 continued their efforts to subdue it until the follow- 

 ing morning, when, having received numerous balls 

 and harpoon wounds, it finally grounded upon the 

 shore of Brown's point, when it became evident that 

 they had been contending, not with an enormous ser- 

 pent, but with a gigantic shark. 



The liver yielded four barrels of oil, of about 32 

 gallons each. The skin, already injured by the nu- 

 merous wounds,* was still further mutilated in seve- 

 ral parts in separating it from the body ; it was, how- 

 ever, at length, extended upon a frame, which imi- 

 tated the form of the animal, though the attitude is 

 forced, the branchial openings too widely extended, 

 the head too much elevated, and the mouth so much 

 expanded as to admit a man in a sitting posture. 



