182 THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, [1817.] 
without any other effect than alarming him and deterring him 
from suffering the approach of the boats. He is represented to be 
from 50 to 100 feet long, of the size of a barrel about the body, 
which is formed into parallel rings, which — when he is on the 
top of the water — are so prominent, that they resembled buoys 
attached to each other. Its motions, when in pursuit of its prey, 
are very rapid, and create a wake like a small vessel passing thro’ 
the water. My Brother — Colonel Perkins -- went down to Cape 
Ann two days ago to see it. He says that he is satisfied that such 
an animal is there. As he stood on the shore, it came within 
the eighth of a mile of him, but as he did not see it so distinctly 
as to be able to state all its points, he has not said any thing to 
the public about it. Many persons — who are well known as men 
of character — have assured me they have seen 30. or 40 feet of 
it out of water at once. These reports have created various opinions 
and sensations, many disbelieving the whole story, and others not 
doubting it, in the least. My brother goes again to morrow morning 
to pass a week at Cape Ann. It comes into the harbour daily, in 
pursuit of the herrings, which resort here in great quantities. All 
these facts, however, were loose, and from the variety of Reports, 
people had gotten to doubt their foundation, and supposed it was 
only a number of porpuses following each other, in rapid succes- 
sion. But on Saturday, the day before yesterday, a vessel arrived 
at Beverly from the banks of Newfoundland. The captain and crew 
report that, off Cape Ann Harbour, they saw a Sea-Monster of 
the Snake kind, lying on the water, of immense length. That 
the crew were so much alarmed, that they got away as soon as 
they could, and that they estimated it, at 100 feet long. Other 
particulars were stated, which I do not recollect. 'This had revived 
the belief, in its existence, and great efforts will be made to take 
it dead or alive. I heard to day that a subscription was on foot, 
and that an express has been sent to Nantucket for twenty whale 
men to come up with their boats and apparatus to destroy it. The 
Linnean Society have appointed a Committee to go down and 
investigate it, of which Judge Davis is Chairman.” 
43. — 1817, August 22? — We have already seen that the 
Chairman of the Committee asked Judge Nasu to give, if possible, 
an evidence of the fact that a woman saw the animal lying dor- 
