Part 46

=41=.--1817, August 14.--See also no 41 on p. 164.--(Report of a Committee, 1817).

“I, Epes Ellery, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, shipmaster, depose and say; that on the 14th. day of August, 1817, I saw a sea animal that I thought to be a serpent, in the harbour in said Gloucester. I was on an eminence, near low water mark, and about thirty feet above the level of the sea, when I saw him. I should judge that he was about one hundred and fifty fathoms from me. I saw the upper part of his head, and I should say about forty feet of the animal. He appeared to me to have joints, about the size of a two-gallon keg. I was looking at him with a spy-glass, when I saw him open his mouth, and his mouth appeared like that of a serpent; the top of his head appeared flat. His motion when he turned was quick, but I will not express an opinion of his velocity. The first part of the curve that he made in turning was of the form of a staple, and as he approached towards his tail, he came near his body with his head, and then ran parallel with his tail, and his head and tail then appeared together.”

“Q. At what time of the day did you see him?”

“A. It was a little after sun set.”

“Q. What parts of it were above the surface of the water, and how high?”

“A. I did not count the number of bunches, but they appeared about six inches above the surface of the water.”

“Q. Were its sinuosities vertical or horizontal?”

“A. Vertical.”

“Q. Did it appear to pursue, avoid, or notice any thing?”

“A. It did not appear to avoid any thing. He appeared to be amusing himself, though there were several boats not far from him.”

“Q. Did you see more than one?”

“A. I did not.”

“Q. How many persons saw it?”

“A. There were fifteen or twenty persons near where I was.”

“Epes Ellery.”

Essex ss. August, 25, 1817. Personally appeared Epes Ellery, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing facts by him subscribed.

“Cor. Lonson Nash, Jus. Pacis.”

Not a single fact which has not been stated before.

* * * * *

=41=.--1817, August 14.--(See also n^o. 41 on p. 164 and n^o. 41 on p. 167.)--(Report of a Committee, 1817).

“I, William H. Foster, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex, merchant, depose and say: That on the fourteenth day of August, A. D. 1817, I first saw an uncommon sea-animal, that I believe to have been a serpent, in the harbour in said Gloucester. When I first discovered him, his head was above the surface of the water, perhaps ten inches, and he made but little progress through the water. He was apparently shaded with light colours. He afterwards went in different directions, leaving on the surface of the water, marks like those made by skating on the ice. Then he would move in a straight line west, and would almost in an instant, change his course to east, bringing his head, as near as I could judge, to where his tail was; or in fact, to the extreme hinder part visible, raising himself as he turned, six or eight inches out of water, and shewing a body at least forty feet in length.”

Its being shaded with light colours is already mentioned by PONTOPPIDAN. Its leaving a wake behind it has already been stated many times, and will often be stated afterwards. Also its mode of turning, giving to its body the form of a staple.”

* * * * *

=41=.--1817, August 14.--(See also n°. 41 on p. 164, p. 167, p. 168.)--(Report of a Committee, 1817.).

“I, Matthew Gaffney, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, ship carpenter, depose and say: That on the fourteenth day of August, A. D. 1817, between the hours of four and five o’clock in the afternoon, I saw a strange marine animal, resembling a serpent, in the harbour in said Gloucester. I was in a boat, and was within thirty feet of him. His head appeared full as large as a four-gallon keg, his body as large as a barrel, and his length that I saw, I should judge forty feet at least. The top of his head was of a dark colour, and the under part of his head appeared nearly white, as did also several feet of his belly, that I saw. I supposed and do believe that the whole of his belly was nearly white. I fired at him, when he was the nearest to me. I had a good gun, and took good aim. I aimed at his head, and think I must have hit him. He turned towards us immediately after I had fired, and I thought he was coming at us: but he sunk down and went directly under our boat, and made his appearance at about one hundred yards from where he sunk. He did not turn down like a fish, but appeared to settle directly down, like a rock. My gun carries a ball of eighteen to a pound; and I suppose there is no person in town, more accustomed to shooting than I am. I have seen the animal at several other times, but never had so good a view of him, as on this day. His motion was vertical, like a caterpillar.”

“Q. How fast did it move?”

“A. I should say he moved at the rate of a mile in two, or at most three minutes.”

“Q. Did it appear smooth or rough?”