A SEA MONSTER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2807, 23 March 1882, Page 2

A SEA MONSTER.

Regarding the strange monster which attached itself to the Wakatipu on her last voyage to Sydney wo now have, detailed* particulars ;—“ At first, it was supposed to be,a sunfisli, an idea which was dispelled upop closer , acquaintance with the animal. It was first observed by the ship’s carpenter, who thought it was a lump of seaweed, as being far under the water-line and close to the curve of the stem it could not be seen distinctly, especially as the iWakatipu was going 10, knots through the water. Some ehildren saw it later on and it was again declared to be seaweed, but Captain Wheeler going forward accidentally the next morning observed it, and immediately saw it was something very different that had formed such an attachment to bis good ship. The monster was then dead and could only have .kept its hold of the bow by reason of'the force with. which it was pressed against it. Means wore then devised to secure’ the prize. To stop the ship would have caused it to drop off, so speed was slackened and a boat

anchor thrown out as a grapnell. Owing to the Wakatipu being without overhang in the stem, or a bowsprit, it was a matter of great difficulty to make the anchor grasp the bulky mass of blubber, some two tons in weight, and when it did catch it, it was not sharp enough to penetrate the skin, so that when they hove.on to the Hue, attached, tp it, aU that it did was to loosen the fish's hold, and cause* it to-turn over and drop off, without being secured. The ship was about midway between the, continent: and New Zealand when the presence of the animal on the stem was noticed. Captain Wheeler declares that long as he has sailed in saltwater he never saw such a monstrosity, and ho does not believe that ever so curious an adventure befel a ship and fish before.”