THE SEA SERPENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3939, 15 October 1891, Page 3

THE SEA SERPENT.

Another lionsterMore than 70 Peat LoneCaptain Palleson, of '.lie schooner Glenc*irn,-'which arrived at Thames from Tuesday last, reports hauu met v with a monster of the September 14, when abont 30 mileß south south-west of Portland Island. In length it was longer than the vessel.-which is between 60 and 70 feet from end of bowsprit to stern, whilst its body was of a slate colour and as larse as a whale. Its head resembled very much that of an alligator, whilst on its back were two fins, which were about 20 feet apart, about six inches in height, and two feet in depth. From the hinder fin the boay of the monster gradually tapered off, but the extreme «nd of his tail was never visible. Captain Palleson says it kept the vessel company for about 15 minutes during which ti me it several times dived under the vessel and came up on the other side. When diving it blew like a porpoise, but never sported water, neither did it lash the water with its tail when diving. At first sight he thought it was the much-talked-cf sea serpent, but a close inspection proved to him that it would be impossible for the monster to raise its head above the water as the sea serpent is said to do, consequently he surmises it was a member of the whale family. It would have been an easy matter to have harpooned it, but its size and apparent strength prevented any such extreme measure being taken for fear of njury resulting to the vessel.