American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-09-23
From the President Of the .Neac Fork Lycsmn o
Natural History to the Members, dated .Nsu
Rorie, September II, 1925.

Natural History, to the Members, dated .New
Rork, September II, 1925.
THE VAMPIRE OF THE OCEAN.
On the 9th day Of September, 1928, returned
from cruise off Delaware Bay, the fishing smack
Una. She had sailed about three weeks before
from New York, for the express purpose of catch.
ing an enormous 6sh, which had been reported TO
frequent the ocean few leagues beyond Cape May
and Cape Henlopen. The adventurers in this bold
enterprise have been successful. They have
brought for the enlargement of science and the gra-
iIhcatlon OF curiosity, uncommon nhabtant Of
the deep, which has never been seen on the land
before.
The creature is one Of the huge individuals OF the
family of Rajd /; or perhaps may be erected, from
its novelty and peculiarly, into new genus, between
that the SGuatas and the .3cipenSer Its strength
was such that after the body had been penetrated
by two strong and well formed gigs OF the best tenn
pered iron, the shank Of one of them was broken
off, and the other singuary bent. The boat, con-
tanning the three pid men, John Patchen, The
ophiius Beebe and William Potter, was connected
after the deadly instrument had taken hold with
the wounded inhabitant of the deep, by strong
wary or line. The CELEBRITY with which the fish
swan, could only be compared to that of the har-
pooned whale, dragging the boat after il with SUCH
speed as TO cause to rise on each side Of the
iurrow in which he moved, several feet higher than
the boat itself
The weight Of the fish ate death was such, that
three pair OF oxen, one horse, and twenty two men
al pulling together, with the surge of the Atlantic
wave TO help, could not convey it far 10 the dry
beach twas estimated fiom this, and probable
estimate, to equal four tons and half, or perhaps
FIVE tons
The size was enormous for the distance from
extremity OF one wing or pectoral fin to the other,
expanded like the wing of an eagle, measures
13 feet.
Over the convex Of the back, and on
the right line Of the belly, 16 feet.
The distance from the snout to the
end OF the tail, Ia feet
Length oil the toll, q feet. |
Width OF the mouth, 9 #. in. !
he operation of combat and killing lasted nine
hours 1t was a heroic achievement, and was wit
messed by crowds Of citizens on the shores of New
sey and Delaware, and by the persons on board
the iiotllla OF vessels in the bay and ofinp
During the scuffe, the wings, side flaps, or vast
aaied fms oil the monster dashed the sea with such
Vehemence that the spray rose to the height of thir.
y ieet and reined round to the distance of ffty
ieet IL was tremendous encounter. On shore
a was awe and expectation.
M. Patchen, whose taste and zeal in zoology are
well known. has attended very much to the man
ners OF the pamPyrs OF the Ocean, to the preserya
ton OF the skin and extended parts TO the oseoloey
and skeleton, the internal organizations and in
short TO every circumstance that was practicable
during such hazardous business and The tempes-
'nou' weather which distressed them almost from /,
the beginning TO the end of their voyage.
merely mention, before lay down my oen, :
that this aama! is viviparous, and of course CON
meets fishes with memniferous animals; ard thaJ J,
The respiratory, motory, genitiye and sensitive Or
gans' present an extraordinary amount of rare andl
interesting particulars. Incomprehensibe as WE'LL
as wonderful are thy works. 0 Creator in con.
summate sasscity thou hast executed them all r
rms Is but an outline; intend to finish this :
sketch and prepare it well as can for the So
ciety's formal notice. o
While express iuli appreciation Of our friends, :
whom neither difficulty nor danger could discour- =
age, utter further sentiment, that they may be
well repaid BY their intended exhibition.
SAMUEL L. MITCHELL.