The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-03-12
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.

THE SEA SERPENT OF THE NORWEGIAN SEAs.-The
existence of an immense marine animal, with the form
and motions of a serpent, has long been believed IN
in Norway. Many traditions, as well as recorded attes-
tations of Il sea serpent, on the Norwegian coast.
have been preserved for many years. Among other
accounts, the missionary Hans Egede, declares that
he witnessed n dreadful sea monster, resembling n
huge serpent, in 1874, in 81 degrees of ATTITUDES. It's
body was as bulky as a ship, and three or four times
us long. In Pontoppidon's Natural History of Nor
way, the existence of this animal is recognised. The
learned bishop says, 81 have questioned its existence
myself, till that suspicion was removed by full and
sufficient evidence from credible and experiences
fishermen and sailors, W which there are hundreds
who can testify that they have annually seen him.
lie also publishes Il number Of documents from per-
sons of great reSpectabiity, 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
hOgsheadS floating in q line at a considerable distance
from each other.
An animal resembling the description given of the
sea serpent, was stranded on the island of Stronsa,
one of the Orkneys, in the year 1903. 1t was exam
ined by many individuals, and was afterwards bro
ken up, and the skull. the upper bones of the SWIM
ming paws, portions of the v~ertebre, &C., were
preserved and deposited in the Royal College of Sur
geons. An able paper relating to this animal was
prepared by DR.. Barclay, and read before the Wer-
merriam Society, and may be found among its transac-
tions. This animal measured ffty-siX feet in length
and twelve in circumference. The head was small
and the neck slender, extending to the length of tf-
q IL ndl UlOW-uOIcS, dlIi SOuiStiiiAS n %
bristling name; also three pair of fius or paws, con-
nected with the body-the anterior ones measured
four feet in length, and their extremities were some
what like toes, being partially webbed. The skin was
smooth. without scales, and of a greyish color, and
the flesh was like coarse, ill-favored beef. Many
afidavits of respectable individuals, as we'll as other
circumstances, go far to show the existence Of such
an animal as is above described.
In the same year, 1908, an animal of a similar
kind was seen by Mr.. Mclean, 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 q creek, and appears to have
frightened the worthy clergyman very much. He
was also seen by the crews of thirteen fishing boats,
who were much terrified, and FASTENED to the shore
as fast as possible.
1t is stated by DR.. HILBERT that the great sea SER
pent has been recognized occasionally in the Shetland
seas, and he specifies one which was seen off the Isle
of Stonness, Vaeley Island and Dunyossness.
Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke, in his g Travels in
Norway makes allusion to this animal-which &C
cording to the statement of many fishermen and
others, was seen in the Foldcn Fiord in 1917. 1t
also made its appearance in 1919 off Otersun in Nor
way, and according to Captain Schilderup 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 estimated its
length at 600 feet. The Bishop of Nordland testifes
that he saw two sea-serpents about eight miles from
Drontheim-the largest of which appeared to be about
100 feet long. Again it is stated that in 1922, one of
these monsters, with a body as large as an OK, and a
fourth of a 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 fsinee
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
S%torfosen, at the Kergvang islands. Several fisher
men have been so dreadfully frightened at the sudden
appearance of the serpent 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 ovcr-exerted
themselves, that two persons were confined to their
beds. Very credible persons affirm that the length OF
the sea serpent may be taken at 600 or 800 els, or
more-as when those people were near its head they
could not discover its tail. Its greatest thickness is
near the head. These observations were made within
a few days, and among others, by a credible, sensible
man, who with his two sons was on an island where
they landed, and where the serpent after following
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 won't
to honor the North American coast with a visit? He
has not been seen for years. Has some stalwart fish
erman or odd salt'' been shaking a harpoon at him
Boston Portfolio.