[Ne. 36. | REPORTS AND PAPERS. 159 
wards. It seems that sea-lions too often become the prey of the 
sea-serpent, otherwise these creatures would not have been so afraid 
of it. 
As to the pieces of flesh, I am convinced that they are not of 
a sea-serpent, but either of sea-lions, of porpoises, or of another 
smaller kind of whales, which are the rests of a meal of our 
friend. They are washed ashore in a putrified state, and their not 
being to the taste of the ravens is probably a story, which, like 
the report of the death of the Aleutians who had tasted of it, 
must without doubt be considered as a mere fable. This report is 
reprinted in the Philosophical Magasine and Journal, Vol. LVIII, 1821. 
“In the month of August, 1817,” we read in the Report of a 
Committee, &c. printed Dec. 1817, Boston, by Cummines and 
HInnarp, | 
“In the month of August, 1817, it was currently reported on 
various authorities, that an animal of very singular appearance had 
been recently and repeatedly seen in the harbour of Gloucester, 
Cape Ann, about thirty miles distant from Boston. It was said to 
resemble a serpent in its general form and motions, to be of im- 
mense size, and to move with wonderful rapidity; to appear on 
the surface of the water only in calm and bright weather; and to 
seem jointed, or like a number of buoys or casks following each 
other in a line.” : 
“In consequence of these reports, at a meeting of the Linnaean 
Society of New England, holden at Boston on the 18th. day of 
August, the Hon. John Davis, Jacob Bigelow, M. D. and Francis 
C. Gray, Esq. were appointed a Committee to collect evidence with 
regard to the existence and appearance of any such animal. The 
following report made by that Committee is now pe olned by 
order of the Society.” 
“Linnaean Society of New England.” 
“The Committee appointed on the 18th. of August last to collect 
evidence with regard to the existence and appearance of a Sea- 
Serpent, said to have been recently seen in the harbour of Glou- 
cester, now lay before the Society the following facts and docu- 
ments,” 
“On the 19th. of August your Committee wrote to the Hon. 
Lonson Nash of Gloucester, requesting him to examine upon oath 
