264 THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, [N°. 112, 1138.] 
friend being a porpoise shooter, as many have believed that a shoal 
of porpoises following each other has given rise to the fable, as 
they called it, of the sea-serpent.” 
BEA. — 1845 or 1846, Summer. — (Copied in the /dlustrated 
London News of June, 13, 1857, from the Cape Argus of March, 
14, 1857). 
“Sir, — I inclose a letter addressed to me by a friend Dr. Bic- 
card (with a drawing) containmg an interesting account of the 
sea-serpent seen by him and others off the old lighthouse at the 
entrance of Table Bay on the 16th. of last month. It savours not 
a little of presumption to maintain that such a marine monster 
does exist, in the face of the deliberately recorded opinion of the 
greatest living Zoologist, Professor Owen, yet I venture to do so 
upon the simple testimony of my own eyes. In the year 1845, or 
6, Mr. G. D. Brunette (of St. George’s-street, the conveyancer) 
and myself were fishing at Camp’s Bay one bright, clear summer 
day. ‘There was not a breath of air, and the water was as smooth 
as the surface of a pond. About midday we were leaving the rocks 
to proceed to the marine villa, when Mr. Brunette suddenly 
directed my attention to what he at first thought was a whale. A 
moment's inspection was sufficient, however, to detect the real 
nature of the animal. At about a mile from the shore we saw a 
line of shining black objects, like a string of large casks, floating 
on the surface of the water, lying parallel with the shore. It kept 
gently bobbing up and down, and on one occasion we saw the 
whole length for a few seconds above the water. Judging from the 
size of an Indiaman, 1000 tons, at a similar distance, I should 
say the animal’s length was from 150 to 200 feet. Of its girth I 
can form no estimate; but, from the show it made at so great a 
distance, it must have been at least three feet above the level of 
the sea. Nor could we distinguish head from tail, though near 
one extremity we saw what looked like foam or froth, as though 
the animal was blowing water in a lateral direction. It seemed to 
be basking in the warm sun, with no other motion than that I 
have described, or dipping under occasionally. After watching it 
for about a quarter of an hour we started for the villa, for the 
purpose of borrowing a telescope, but we had scarcely walked ten 
yards when we observed the animal turn slowly round and then 
