APPENDIX. 589 
eight and nine in the morning. The “monster” was also seen by 
the ship’s officer in charge. It would from time to time lift its 
head and part of its body to a great height perpendicularly, and 
when in that position would turn its body round in a most peculiar 
manner, displaying a black back, white belly, and two armlet ap- 
pendages of great length, which appeared to dangle about like a 
broken limb on a human being. It would then suddenly drop back 
into the water, scattering it in all directions. It had a flat head, 
and was about half a mile distant from the ship. The reason, 
Mr. Martuews added, that he had not mentioned the matter before 
was that people were likely to treat it with derision.” 
1891, August 1. — Off the East-coast of North Island, New 
Zealand, on board the Rotomahana, a steamer of the Union Steam- 
Shipping Company. — Standard of 22th. September, 1891; Mew- 
castle Evening Chronicle of September 23, 1891.—(R. P. G. and 
GILBERT BoG1z.) 
“The Chief Officer, Mr. AnExanpER Linpsay Kerr, on being 
interviewed by a newspaper reporter said: — 
“On Saturday morning last, August Ist., about 6.30 o'clock , 
we were off Portland Light, between Gisborne and Napier. I was 
on deck looking over the weather side, to see if I could see the 
land, when I saw the object, whatever it was, rise out of the 
water to the height of about 30ft. Its shape was for all the world 
like a huge conger eel, with the exception that it had two large 
fins that appeared to be about 10 feet long. The creature was not 
more than 100 yards away at the outside, and I should estimate 
its girth at between ten and twelve feet. I could not see its back 
as it was coming straight towards the steamer, but its belly and 
fins were pure white. The creature’s head did not appear to be 
particularly definite, the neck running right up to the head the 
same as that of a large eel. It was broad daylight at the time, 
and the sun was shining clearly. When it went beneath the water 
it did not fall forward like a fish that is jumping, but drew itself 
back as if with a contortion. I only saw it the once which was 
the last time it rose. I looked out for it, thinking it might pass 
under the ship and reappear on the other side, but I did not see 
it again. Had the weather not been so rough the steamer might 
have gone alongside and ascertained its dimensions. One of the 
Quartermasters Peter Nelson, was watching the thing, and it so 
startled him that he took upon himself to rush on to the bridge 
and ask mé if I had seen it, a thing a sea-man never does unless 
