Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-14
Remaining, dear sir, yours truly, &c;
To Felix PascaIis, NJ. D. corresponding
member of the Society and Faculty
of Medicine OF Paris, SC. &C."
SOMETHING UNCOMMON.


DR.. Mitchell has published in the New
York Gazette the following interesting, Gu
rjous and uncommon death Of fishes and
whales, driven ashore on the coast Of South
Carolina, during the drought Of July, 1918,
Georgetown. IS. c. July 80, 1918.
"DEAR SIR trouble you with this
communication relative TO most extraor-
binary, and to us most unaccourtable cir
'cumstance that has attracted the attention
and excited The curiosity OF those residing
in its vicinity. The summer retreat OF The
generality OF inhabitants OF the adjacent
country, is situated upon the small Islands
which are extended along the sea coast. and
which at present exhibit spectacle totally
unprecedented in the recollection Ut their
oldest soiourners. The entire seahoard.
together with the waters that hound or IN
tersect il. are strewed with the immense
quantity of the carcases OF fish, consisting
not only Of the various species generally
attendant, but CT many that have been but
seldom previously Witnessed IN these la
titudes. There are, likewise, avaStQuan'
THY floating near Tie surface oil The water
in state nearly approaching the torpidl,y,
some of which have been caught, and when
from motives of curiosity again cast into
their natural element, have made an exer-
ton OF their remaining powers OF action
merely to propei themselves either upon or
10 the shore. Six OF the whale species,
have been discovered upon the beach, lew
miles distance from the entrance TO The mar
bor-the largest about twenty ieel IN length.
1t is more than probable that the extInc-
ton of their vital action has originated
from the same source.
Many hypothesises have been circulated
with reference to The cause, yet none have
been either supported or corroborated BY
reasons in any way Satisfactory. The eX'
isting conjectures are not even probable.
The surface of the sea is coated with an eX-
traneous substance OF an unactuous appear
ance, which at times emits an extremely
disagreeable ieter, but entirely distinct
from the odor exhaled from the putresence
of animal matter, which is an evidence OF
its not being the effect, but is in some de-
gree connected with the cause OF The NOR
talty Of the fish, The agitation OF the
waves or surf does not create the usual toa-
my Appearance, Jul tiic uuDoIco oiS '"'
and isolated-in some proportion gluii-
nous.
The heat has been for some weeks ex-
cessively intense, the thermometer being
seldom below 80 of Fahrenheit. The winds
have been for the greater part Of the time,
from the southwark and Westward. attend
ed with very little rain; but after every
shower The offensive exhalation is conside-
rably diminished, which indicates, in the
opinion OF many, that the drought has anal.
fnityto the cause. will not pretend to OBJ
trude the various suggestions, and merely
relate the simple fact, trusting that your
sagacity and scientific research aided by an
extensive acquaintance with ichthyology,
will enable you TO assign some reason in
explanation Of this phenomenon, and to dis
sipate the darkness that surrounds it.
Your goodness will | hope excuse this
intrusion upon your politeness, which has
been prompted by :he request of gentle
men of the first responsibility, and has been
instgated by an admiration for your Ii
terary character, and the feelings with
which have the honor 10 be, with the sin
cerest respect your tbedient servant,
"J. Motto ASTON"
To Samuel l.. Mitchell, Professor OF Natu-
raj History, Surgeon General of the Mill
tia of the State of New York, &c.
Econ, tbe Ns-, Vail Do,J,, aI,,ert