4,2, ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT THE SEA-SERPENT, 
“There was something that struck me as unsatisfactory about 
several parts of this highly exciting narrative. One o’clock in the 
morning, and without the assistance of a moon, was rather a 
strange time to make such exact observations. Again, about the 
scales; why not sent some to London or Dublin? — why keep 
them at the light-house? And again, the bearing of Kinsale bay 
did not quite correspond with my remembrance of the place: so I 
epistolized the chief actors, and particularly entreated Mr. Travers 
to send me a handful of scales, and a more detailed account: 
alas! there was no response. After a while I bethought myself of 
a friend in London who corresponds with the accountant of the 
Principal Bank at Bandon. To this gentleman my friend, with 
prompt kindness, applied, and I have now the pleasure of laying 
his most explicit answer before the readers of the “Zoologist”.” — 
“Dear Sir, — I reply to your note relative to the Sea-Serpent, 
there is not one word of truth in the statements put forward in 
the newspapers: there is no such person as Roger W. Travers, but 
there is a person named James W. Travers, to whom I believe 
it has been done to annoy (and indeed with great effect). Mr. 
Thomson’s family has been staying in the neighbourhood, but do 
not hear a word of it except what is to be seen in the papers 
about it. Dear Sir, yours truly, H. O.’ Callaghan.” — Bandon, 
Sep. 18, 1850. | 
“Any comment on this would be superfluous. — Edward Newman.” 
The trouble Mr. Newman gave himself to get possession of the 
scales, and to know whether the reports were true or not, is the 
best proof that he was caught in the snare! 
The Sea-Serpent caught at last! (See The New York Tribune 
for 1852, lebruary, Gauianant’s Messenger for 1852, Februari, 
The Illustrated London News for 1852, March, 13, The Times 
for 1852, March 10, The Zoalogist for 1852 p. 3426—3429, 
Spenerische Zeitung for 1852, March). 
“Ship Monongahela, at Sea, Feb. 6.— A small vessel has just 
been reported from my mast-head, and as she is apparently bound 
into some of the northern parts, I intend to speak her, purposely 
to acquaint, through your widely diffused journal, the people of 
the United States, of the fact of the existence and capture of the 
sea-serpent —a monster deemed fabulous by many — but the truth 
