434 



THE ORKNET ANIMAJ,, 



Kirkwall, Nov, 19, 1808. 



Compeared Johi* Peace, tenant in Douna- 

 toun in Rothiesholm ; and being interrogated, so- 

 lemnly declares, That on the 26th day of Septem- 

 ber last, he went a fishing off the east part of Ro- 

 thiesholm-head, when he perceived, as he imagi- 

 ned, a dead whale, on some sunk rocks, about a 

 quarter of a mile from the Head : That his atten- 

 tion was first directed to it by the sea- fowl scream- 

 ing and flocking about it ; and on approach of it, 

 in his boat, he found the middle part of it above 

 the surface of the water : That he then observed 

 it to be different from a whale, particularly in ha- 

 ving fins or armSy one of which he raised with his 

 boat-hook above the surface of the water : That 

 this was one of the arms next the head, which was 

 larger and broader than the others nearer the tail; 

 and at that time the fin or arm was edged all 

 around, from the body to the extremity of the 

 toes, with a row of bristles about ten inches long, 

 some of which he pulled off, and examined in the 

 boat : That about ten days afterwards, a gale of 

 south-east wind came on, and the surge drove the 

 fish ashore on Rothiesholm-head : That he mea- 

 sured it by fathoms, and found it about nine fa- 

 thoms, rather more than less ; that is, about fifty- 

 four or fifty- five feet in length : That be observed 

 the six arms, or wings as they are called on the 

 island ; but perceived no part of the bristles then 



