REPORT TO THE ADMIRALTY ON A SEA SERPENT.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 4, 27 October 1877, Page 3

REPORT TO THE ADMIRALTY ON A SEA SERPENT.

Tins monster will always have an interest for the curious. Commander Hugo L. Pearson, of the Osborne, Royal yacht, which arrived at Portsmouth from the Mediterranean on June 11. has forwarded to the Admiralty, through Admiral Sir George Elliot, the commander-in-chief, a report respecting a sea monster the yacht encountered during her homeward voyage. The report states that on June 2, while the yacht was proceeding round the north coast of Sicily, towards Cape Vito, the officer on wati'h observed a long ridge of tins, each about 6 feet long, moving slowly along, the sea being very calm at the time. He called for a telescope, and was at once joined byother officers. The Osborne was steaming westward at a speed of about ten and a half knots an hour, and the fins were progressing in an eastwardly direction. As the yacht met the fins those on board noticed the foremost part of a gigantic sea monster. Its skin was apparently devoid of scales, and was almost as sleek as that of a seal. The head was bulletshaped, with an elongated termination, being somewhat like that of a seal, ami about (i feet in diameter. Its features were only seen by one officer, who described them as like those of an alligator. The neck appeared to he narrow, and the body was somewhat like that of a turtle, a tin about 1") feet long extending from ■cither side. The Appearance of the monster is accounted for by a submarine volcano which occurred north of Galita, in the Gulf of Sunice, about the middle of May. The spot in question is altout 100 miles distant from where the monster is reported to have been seen. The " Graphic." contains a picture of the serpent from the observations of an eyewitness.