NEW ZEALAND ONCE HAD SEA MONSTER LIKE HUGE CONGER EEL

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 19 March 1952, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND ONCE HAD SEA MONSTER LIKE HUGE CONGER EEL

Reports of sea monsters have come from all parts of the world, but it is perhaps not generally :nown that between July and August 1891, New Zealand producecl a marvellous sea monster. It was reported as having been 10 to 12 feet in circumference, and was capable of rising out of the water to a height of some 30 feet, and it looked like a buge conger eel with 10 feet long fins. It was suggested that it might have been a giant squid which, with its tentacles, sometimes measure forty feet. For a squid to rise fchirty feet out of the water, the body would have to be about fifty feet long and the tentacles 150 feet. This, of course, is hard to imagine. In 1871 a well authenticated sea serpent was reported at Gloucester, United States. It was about fifty feet long and had a head like a turtle. . It was seen on three seperate days and signed affidavits were made by one Amos Story and some friends of his before a Justice of the Peace. In 1833, a party of army officers were fishing of Halifax, Nova Scotia, when they saw a monster, at least 80 feet in length. swimming rapidly along with the head raised above the water. They said there could be no mistake. A similar creature was seen in 1846 also off Nova Scotia. Famous Daedalus Serpent. Ihe Daedalus serpent is perhaps one of the most famous. On August 6, 1848, H. M. S. Daedalus was sailing to Engiand from the East Indies when a most unusual object was observed by the officer of the watch, the master and the captain, to be rapidly approaehing the ship. It was an enormous serpent at least 60 feet long with its head raised four feet above the water. It took no not ice of the ship, but proceeded on its way at an estimated , speed of 10 to 12 knots. Other unexplained monsters have been seen from time to time and reported, the most circumstantial of all being reported during the First World War. In May 1917, the Hilary, an armed merchant cruiser, sightea an object in the Atlantic Ocean on which they closed to 30 yards and was lound to be a sea serpent. The head was black and described as being the size of a cows. From the head to the dorsal fin no part showed clear of the water, but the total length was estimated at about 60 feet. It did not seem in the least alarmed, and the captain -decided to do a -little target practice at it. He opened to 1,200 yards and after firmg a few rounds a direct hit was scored. There was a tremendous commotion and the monster disappeared. The evidence that spch creature? as sea serpent s oxist see^s very conclusive and well authenticated, and yet no dead sea serpent has ever been seen or washed ashore, and, until one has been caught or killed many people will . not be con- ■ vmced.