18 
■A. His head appeared to be about the size of the crown of a 
hat, at the distance from whence I saw him. The shape of his 
head I cannot describe, and I saw no ears, horns, or other ap¬ 
pendages. I had no spy-glass, and cannot describe him so mi¬ 
nutely as I otherwise could. I have seen him at other times, 
but my view of him was not so good, as on this day. 
JAMES MANSFIELD. 
Essex ss. August 27, 1817. Then James Mansfield made 
oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. 
Before Lonson Nash, Jus. Pacis. 
IX. 
I, John Johnston, jun. of Gloucester, in the County of Es¬ 
sex, of the age of seventeen years, depose and say : That on the 
evening of the seventeenth day of August, A. D. 1817, between 
the hours of eight and nine o’clock, while passing from the shore 
in a boat, to a vessel lying in the harbour in said Gloucester, I 
saw a strange marine animal, that I believe to be a serpent, ly¬ 
ing extended on the surface of the water. His length appeared 
to be fifty feet at least, and he appeared straight, exhibiting no 
protuberances. Capt. John Corliss and George Marble were in 
the boat with me. We were within two oars length of him, 
when we first discovered him, and were rowing directly for him. 
We immediately rowed from him, and at first concluded to pass 
by his tail; but fearing we might strike it with the boat, con¬ 
cluded to pass around his head, which we did, by altering our 
course. He remained in the same position, till we lost sight of 
him. We approached so near to him that I believe I could 
have reached him with my oar. There was not sufficient light to 
enable me to describe the animal. 
JOHN JOHNSTON, jun. 
Essex ss. August 25, 1817. Personally appeared John John¬ 
ston, jr. and made oath that the foregoing deposition, by him sub¬ 
scribed, is true according to his best knowledge and belief. 
Before Lonson Nash, Jus. of Peace. 
1 
* 
