Washington telegraph., 1856-11-12
The Sea Serpent of the Norwegiaa Seas.


animal with the form and motions of a
serpent, has long been believed In Norway
Many traditions, as we'll as recorded attes-
tations of a sea serpent, on the Norwegian
coast, have been preserved for rmany years
Among other accounts, the missionary,
Hans Egedc, declares that he witnessed
a dreadful sea monster, resembling huge
serpent, in 1874, in 81 degrees of lati-
tude. Its body as bulky as ship, and
three or four times as long. In Pontop-
pidon's Natural History of Norway, the
existence of this animal is recognised
The learned bishop says: 81 have ques-
toned its existence myself, till that sus-
picion was removed by full and sufficient
evidence from credible and experienced
fishermen and sailors, of whom there are
hundreds who can testify that they have
annually seen him." He also publishes
number of documents from persons of
great responsibility, all going to show that
an enormous monster exists on that coast,
which appears to be about 600 feet long,
that it lies in the water in many folds,
and these appear like so many hogsheads
floating in a line at considerable dis
tanee from each other.
An animal resembling the description
given of these serpents, was stranded on
the island of Stronsa, one of the Orkneys,
in the year 1903. 1t was examined by
many individuals, and was afterwards
broken up, and the skull, the upper bones
of the swimming paws portions of the
vertebr;e, Nc, were preserved, and depos-
tied in the Royal Museum of Edinburg,
and in the Royal College of Surgeons
| An able paper relating to this animal was
prepared by DIR. Barclay, and read before
the Wernerian Society-and may be found
among its transactions. This animal
measured fifty six feet in length, and
twelve feet In circumference. The head
was small-and neck slender, extending to
the length of fifteen feet. 1t had blow
holes-and something like bristling
mane-also three pair of fins or paws,
ones measured four feet in length-and
their extremities were somewhat like toes,
being partially webbed. The skin was
smooth, without scales, and of greyish
color, and the flesh was like coarse, i'll
favored beef Many afhdavits of respect
able individuals, as well as other circum-
stances, 90 far to show the existence of
such an animal as is above described.
In the same year, 1908, an animal of
similar kind was seen by Mr.. Mclean the
parish clergymen of Eigg, 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 a creek, and APP
pears to have frightened the worthy ,cler-
! ii ~
the crews of thirteen fishing boats, VINO
were much terrified, and FASTENED to the
shore as fast as possible.
1t is stated by DIR. HILBERT, that the
great sea serpent has been recognised occa-
sionally in the Shetland seas, and he spe-
ciies one which was seen off the Isle of
Stonness, Vaeley Island and Dunvossness
Sir Arthur De Capell Brooke, in his
''Travels in Norway, makes allusIon to
this animal, which. according to the state
ment of many fishermen and others, was
seen in Folden Fiord in 1918. 1t also
made its appearance In 1919 off Ottersun,
in Norway, and according to Captain
Schiderup, was seen daily during the
whole month of July-when the weather
was very warm, it appeared to be doing
in the sunbeams. Captain Schilderup es-
timated its length at 600 feet The Bish-
op OF Nordland testified that he saw two
sea serpents, about eight miles from Dron-
theim, the largest of which appeared to be
about 100 feet long.
| Again it 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 of Loroe, near Sinmask,
and was seen by many of the Islanders.
The most recena account of this mons
ter, in that quarter, is believed to be con-
tained in the newspaper 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 con-
stantly during this summer near StOrfos
en-, at the Kergvang Islands. Several
fishermen have been so dreadfully alarm
ed at the sudden appearance of the ser
pent so near their boats, that they did
not know in what direction to escape
The serpent did not attack, but followed
the boat for some distance, and the men
in their haste so over-exerted themselves,
that two were confined to their bed. We
ry credible persons affirm that the length
of the sea serpent may be taken at 600 or
500 ellis, or more-as when those people
were near its head they could not discov-
er the tail Its greatest thickness is near
est the head These observations were
made within few days, and among others,
by credible, sensible man, who with his
two sons, was on an island where they
landed, and where the serpent after fol-
lowing their boat swan slowly by"
So much for the sea serpent on the
coast of Norway! What has become of
the sea serpent which was wont to honor
the North American coast with visit ?
He has not been seen for years Has
some stalwart fisherman or "old salt
been shaking harpoon at him
Boston Portfolio.