Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-09-15

hard sHsu like that of Tortoise, which
could resist the harpoo1 OF the most pow
erful wbaleman. Curiosity was still alive
to see this iiHiisiisi monster Of the deep;
but disappointment and complaint at being
hoaxed soon succeeded and the existence
Iof the Sea Serpent itself il now stoutly
denied. Insthis opinion we do not agree.
1t is much more easy 10 believe, hat the
persons engaged in The expedition, per-
ceiviBg rapid movement iii the water,
by large fish, were deluded With the
idea of his being the Serpent-thar to
suppose the testimony, under oath, of fifty
or sixty respectable individuals, could be
unfounded 10 truth. The length, diane
ter, appearance, motion and form OF the
Serpent, has been published under the
strongest sanctions-and young animal
OF the Serpent species, was last year dis
covered aud taken ii the same place, 10
which the Sea snake resorted. This
specimen, agreed with the dispositions re.
lative to The old one 10 regard TO the pro-
tuberaDces on the back; and the vertebrse
of the back bone, instead of being straight
as in other snakes, conformed to the un~
dulatory shape Of the surface. Besides
which, the young Serpent was found en-
tireiy different from any other snake, ever
described by naturalists. We therefore
are still believers 10 the existence Of the
Sea Serpent.
The fish now exhibiting has been well
known from the earliest ages-it is the
T'nnny Fish, of the MackereI genus. II
is sometimes entitled the great Mackerel;
and by seamen generally called the Al
baCore.
Pennant gives an accurate representa-
ton Of this fish. He says, " they are not
uncommon in the Lochs on the Western
Coast OF Scotland, where they come in
pursuit of herrings; and often during the
night, strike into the nets, and do con-
siderable damage. When the fishermen
draw them up in the morning, the Tuany
rises towards the surface, ready to catch
the fish that drop out. On perceiving it,
a strong hook, baited with herring, and
fastened to rope, is instantly flung out,
which the Tunny seldom fails to take.
AS soon as hooked, it loses all spirit; and,
after very little resistance, submits to its
fate. The pieces, when fresh, look like
raw beef; but when boiled, turn pale, and
nave something of the favour of salmon.
"The one which was taken when was
at inyeraray, in 1869, weighed 400
pounds. The fish examined was feet
10 inches iong--the greatest circunser-
| ence feet inches. The body was round
and thick, and grew suddenly very s!en-
der towards the tail, and near that part
was angular The irides were of a pale
green, the teeth very minute. The first
dorsal fin consisted of thirteen strong
spines, which, when depressed. were so
concealed in deep slit III the back, as TO
be quite invisible until very closely 10
spected. Immediately behind this was
another, tall and falciform; almost oppo-
site to it was the anal fin of the same
form. The spurious fins were of rich
yellow colour; of these there were ii
above and 10 below. The tail was in the
form of a crescent, and 2 feet inches
between tip and tip. The skin on the
back was smooth, very thick and black
on the belly the scales were visible. The
colour Of the sides and belly siIvery,
tinged with cerulean aud pale purple
near the tail, marbIed with grey"