Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-03
EVENING STAR,
The Sea Serpent Of the Norweeisn Sea.

NAL, with the form and motions of a SERPENT.
has long been believed in Norway. Many
traditions, as well as recorded atte.tatiops. Of
sea serpent, on the Norwegian coast, have
been preserved for many years Among other
accounts, the missionary, Hans Egede, de.
clares that he witnessed q dreadful sea mon
ster resembling huge serpent in 1888, in 81
degrees of latitude. Its body was as bulky
as ship, and three or four times az long
In Pontoppidon's Natural History OF Norway,
the existence Of this animal is recognised
The learned bishop says, IL have questioned
Its existence myself, till that suspicion was
removed by full and sufficient evidence from
creditable and experienced fishermen and
sailors, OF which there are hundreds who can
testify that they have annually seen him.
he also publishes Q number of documents from
persons of great respectabillty, all going to
show that an enormous monster exists on that
coast, which appears to be about six hundred
feet long, that it lies in the water in many
folds, and these appear like so many hogs
heads floating in q line at considerable dis
tanee from each other.
An animal resembling the description given
CT the sea serpent, was stranded on the island
OF Stronsa, one of the Orkneys, in the year
lS0S. 1t was examined by many individuals,
and afterwards broken up, and the skull, the
upper bones OF the swimming paws, portions
OF the vertebr3, &c, were preserved and de
posted in the Royal College of Surgeons.
An able paper relating TO this animal was
prepared by DIR. Barclay, and read before the
Wernorian Society-and may be found among
Its transactions. This animal measured fifty
six feet in length and twelve in circumfer-
ence The head was small-and the neck
slender, extending TO the length Of fifteen
feet 1t had blOwhOles, and something like
bristiing name; also three pair of fms or paws,
connected with the bOdy-the anterior ones
measured four feet in length, and their ex-
tremities were somewhat like toes, being par
TALLY webbed. The skin was smooth, with
out scales, and Of a greyish color, and the
flesh was like coarse, ill favored beef Many
afhdavits of respectable individuals, as well
as other circumstances, 20 far to show the ex-
istence of such an animal as is above des-
cribed.
In the same year, 1903, an animal of sim
liar kind was seen by Mr.. McLern, the parish
clergyman Of Egg, on the coast of Coll, near
the isle Of Gamma, one Of the western isles of
Scotland. He followed the boat into the
mouth of creek, and appears to have frigh-
tened the worthy clergyman very much. He
was also seen by the crews of three fishing
boats, who were much terrified, and hastened
to the shore as fast as possible.
1t is stated by DR. Hilbert that the great
sea serpent has been recognized occasionally
IN the Shetland seas, and he specifies one
Island Dunyosspess.
Sir Arthur De Capel Brooke, in his stTravels
in Norway" makes allusion to this animal,
which, according to the statement of many
fishermen and others, was seen in the Folden
FiOrd in 1Sl7. 1t also made its appearance in
1919 Oh Otersum, in Norway; and, according
to Captain Schilderup, was seen daily during
the whole month of July; when the weather
was very warm il appeared to be doIing in
the sunbeams. Captain Schilderup estima ated
its length at 600 feet. The Bishop Of Nord-
land testifes that he saw two serpents about
eight miles from Droutheim-the largest Of
which appeared to be about leo feet long
Again 1t is stated that in 1922 one of these
monsters, with body as large as an OK and
fourth of mile long, appeared off the
island Loroe, near Tinmask, and was seen by
many of the islanders
The most recent account of this monster in
that quarter, Is believed to be contained in
the newspapers of Drontheim in 1887. The
account says that since the beginning of dog
days the serpent has been seen at various
parts of the coast. One Of them seems to have
remained constantly during the summer near
Storfosen, at the KergvaDg islands Several
fishermen have been SO dreadfully frightened
at the sudden appearance of the serpent go
near their boats that they did know in what
direction to escape. The serpent did not
attack, but follow the boat for some distance.
and the men in their haste so over-exerted
themselves, that two persons were confined to
their beds. Very creditable persons affirm
that the length Of the sea serpent may be taken
at 800 CT 500 ellis, or more-as when those
people were near its head they could not dis
cover the tail. Its greatest thickness is ne ar
the head These observ vations were made
within a fow days, and among others, by a
creditable, sensible man, who with his two
sons, was on an island where they landed, and
/ l. Al- 4
swan slowly by"
So much for The sea serpent on the coast #
Norway! What hes become of the sea serpent
which was wont to honor the North American
coast with visit? lie has not been seen for
years Has some stalwart fisherman or "old
SALT been shaking harpoOn at him ?-BOs-
ton Portfolio.