31 
years since. When he was seen by the inhabitants of Fox island, 
two persons were together at both times. People also of Mount 
Desert have seen the monster. One of those which were seen by 
Mr. Crocket was smaller than that seen by Mr. Cummings, and 
their motion in the sea appeared to a perpendicular winding, and 
not horizontal. The British supposed the length of that, which 
they saw, to be three hundred feet, but this Mr. Cummings im¬ 
agines to be an exaggeration. A gentleman of intelligence (Rev. 
Alden Bradford of Wiscasset, now Secretary of the Common¬ 
wealth,) inquired of Mr. Cummings whether the appearance might 
not be pr, duced by a number of porpoises following each other 
in a train; but Mi. Cummings asserts, that the animal held his 
head out of water about five feet till he got out to sea; for 
when seen he was going out of the bay, and Mr. Cummings was 
ascending it. The colour was a bluish green about the head and 
neck but the water rippled so much over his body that it was 
not possible to determine its tint. The shape of the head was 
like that of a common snake, flattened, and about the size of a 
pail. He was seen approaching, passing, and departing. Till 
this, Mr. Cummings was as incredulous in respect to its existence, 
as many of his neighbours. The weather was calm, and it was 
the month of August, in which month, Mr. Cummings remarks, 
that, as far as he has heard, the serpent makes his appearance on 
the coast.” 
I am inclined to suppose that Mr Cummings’ account is that, 
which in one of the public papers was lately alluded to, as hav¬ 
ing been communicated to the American Academy of Arts and 
Sciences, but mislaid. 
“Aug. 23, 1809. Mr. Charles Shaw, (then of Bath, now 
an attorney in Boston,) informed me, that a Capt. Lillis, with 
whom he had sailed, observed cursorily in conversation, that he 
had seen off the coast a very singular fish ; it appeared, said he, 
more like a snake than a fish, and was about forty feet long. It 
held its head erect, had no mane, and looked like an ordinary 
serpent. He asked Mr Shaw if he had ever seen, or read, or 
heard of such an animal.” 
