38 ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT THE SEA-SERPENT. 
ulars, the accuracy of which need not to be questioned, will, ] 
doubt not, interest many of your readers: — The different fishing 
establishments on the shore of this extensive bay, extending from 
the Old Head of Kinsale to the Seven Heads, have been within 
the last few days abundantly supplied with fish of every descrip- 
tion, and the greatest activity prevails to profit by the bounty 
which has been thus sent to us literally in shoals. It has been vo- 
ticed too, that some description of fish, haak for instance, has been 
captured further within the limits of the mner harbour than was 
ever known before. In fact, as I heard it observed, the fish was 
literally leaping ashore. These novel appearances, however, it was 
my lot to see fully accounted for yesterday (August 28). At about 1 
o'clock A.M. when sailing in my yacht, with a slight breeze off 
shore, about two miles to the south of the beacon erected to the 
Barrel rocks, one of the party of four gentlemen on board (M. B. 
of Bandon) drew attention towards the structure, with the inter- 
rogatory of: “Do you see anything queer about the Barrels?” In 
an instant the attention of all on board was rivetted on an object 
which at first struck me as like the upheaved thick end of a large 
mast, but which, as it made out plainer, proved to be the head 
of some huge fish or monster. On bearing down towards the object 
we could distinctly see, with the naked eye, what I can best describe 
aS an enormous serpent without mane or fur or any like appendage. 
The portion of the body above water, and which appeared to be 
rubbing or scratching itself against the beacon, was fully thirty 
feet long, and in diameter I should say about a fathom. With the 
aid of a glass it was observed that the eyes were of immense size, 
about nine inches across the ball, and the upper part of the back 
appeared covered with a furrowed shell-like substance. We were 
now within rifle shot of the animal, and, although some on board 
exhibited pardonable nervousness at the suggestion, it was resolved 
to fire a ball at the under portion of the body whenever the crea- 
ture’s unwieldy evolutions would expose its vulnerable part. The 
instant the piece was discharged the monster rose as if impelled 
by a painful impulse to a height which may appear incredible, say 
at least thirty fathoms, and culminating with the most rapid motion 
dived or dashed itself under water with a splash that almost stopped 
our breath with amazement. In a few moments all disturbance of 
the water subsided, and the strange visitor evidently pursued his — 
course to seaward. On coming up to the beacon we were gratified 
to find adhering to the supports numerous connecting scaly masses, 
