CHEATS AND HOAXES. A. 
during the evening. The gentlemen who have witnessed the visit 
of the monster, and whose statement is detailed above, may be 
relied on as above all suspicion”. — Cork Constitution Sept. 7.— 
The Zoologist of course could not overlook such statements. In 
the year 1850 this journal inserted the three reports (see p. 2925): 
“The Great Sea-Serpent has again appeared with immense ¢éc/d¢ 
in the newspapers. Most respectable witnesses are called to speak 
a word in his favour, as will be seen by the following extracts 
from the daily press. It should, however, be premised that a num- 
ber of brief and analogous paragraphs had previously located him 
“at Howth”, “off Wexford’, and “off Cork’’; so that he made the 
grand demonstration at Kinsale, he appeared to be taking a coast- 
ing trip round the shores of old Ireland.” 
Here follow the above mentioned three hoaxes, of Courtmasherry, Au- 
gust 29, August 31, and September 2. Further we read in the Zoologist : 
“A few frends accompanied me on a _ boating excursion this 
day (Sept. 9) whose names are William Silk, John Hunt, George 
Williams, Henry Seymour, and Edward Barry, and, being off the 
Souverein-Islands, our attention was directed by one of the party 
to an extraordinary appearance ahead of the boat; immediately all 
eyes were turned to see what it was, when, to our astonishment 
and fright, the above monster of the deep was bearing down to 
us; we were at once thrown into an awful fright, and thought it 
best to retreat for the shore; on our landing, Mr. W. Silk, who 
was armed with a double barrelled gun, discharged both barrels 
at the monster, but without effect. I need not describe his appear- 
ance, as you are aware of it before, but from inquiries from va- 
rious boatmen I am told he has been off the harbour the last three 
days.’ — John Good, of Kinsale.” in Cork Reporter, Sept. 11. 
Mr. Newman, the Editor of the Zoologist, adds: | 
“he next account states that a party encountered the monster 
in Ballycotton Bay, fired into him, and made him disgorge a shoal 
of fishes, some of which fell into the boat, and being handled , 
gave the crew the most terrific electric shocks; where upon the 
naturalist of the party immediately concluded, and I think, with 
great judgment, that the sea-serpent is neither more nor less than 
the electric eel (Gymnotus electricus).” 
“The last account published in London, on this day (September 
24), reports his capture and death at Youghal, in the county of 
Cork, together with full admeasurements, and the names of the 
parties concerned in the galant archievement.” 
