A QUEER FISH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 54, 9 July 1913, Page 5

A QUEER FISH.

SEEN OFF EAST GAPE.

WEIRD SEA MOBSTER

A strange marine monster, variously estimated as liom oO to SO icet long, otiUiißiS aim square-neuuea, covered nitu .targe wiii&e bariiuciuSj aiai attended oy a "scnooi oi porpoises, is icp.;rccci to nave ns nuiiuiig grouuuu ui me vicimts oi mt i'.astvape. Some Lime ago nnen tne Alokoia arrived at Auckland sue reported Having passeu uie "stranger," and ou xiie trip south to bii&Dorne at tne same time oiu

-)l tne oiiiceis oi Uie .Rosamond, which ,i;,o in Auckland on Saturday ai tornoon, stated tliat lie Jiad seen some thing union appeared to be a huge sea snake rise bodily from tne water and fall again rignt ahead of the ves-

Althougn the coincidence of the reports lent credence to the story, u tvas not till the last trip of the Kosamond down the coast tliat Captain H. ihyden and his chief officer (Mr 0. ALcDonald) got a proper look at the creature.

In speaking to an Auckland Star reporter of the incident, Mr McDonald remarked that he was loath to say anything that might be regarded as ;me of the old-time sea-serpent stories, although, perhaps, personally, he saw no reason why there should not ')o such monsters in the deep, "ft was while on the run from Tologa r3ay to Gisborne, during my watch on deck, that at about 3.10 p.m. I sawwater breaking over what appeared to be an upturned schooner right ahead. I at once summoned Captain Dryden, and in order to avoid the obstruction he kept the vessel off - points, or in the landmen's language, altered the course from south to south-west. When we came up closer we could see that what had seemed to be a wreckage was alive, and that it was a strange sea monster, swimming slowly, with a sinuous snake,ike movement. The disturbance in the water was caused by a "school" of porpoises, which were swimming about on either side of the monster. Captain Dryden brought the vessel up closer, and for a time we moved along within ten fathoms of the stranger. Closer examination showed that it was six feet across the back, about eighty feet long, and of a snakelike appearance. Three huge fins were seen at intervals along the back, and where its big square-shaped head joined the body was a large growth which looked very much like a cock's comb. The monster's sides were covered with white barnacles as big as a man's hand.

The officers of the Rosamond realisft/that their story will be met with many doubts, and in order to make juiTe sure next time a camera hae been purchased to be kept in readiness for the next appearance.