Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-20

A WONDERFUL FGSn.-A siogular fish was
caught near Eastpcrt, Maine, few weeks ago.
picture of it appears in Harper's Weekly,
and thc following description is published by
the Bangor Wing -: st#.77tz wv
|''The strange animal recently captured near
.iEsstport, meagre reports Of which had reached
ms arrived in this city a few days ago, and has
Z hsen on exhibition, during which it has been
visited by our citizens, all of whom have ex
nrcsscd their wonder as well at the remarkable
size of the monster as at its anomalous charac-
ter. This animal, part beast and part fish, is
over thirty feet in length, and girts twenty. one
feet It has one enormous dorsal fin, two side
belly Gns and broad, shark like tail. About
ope-third of Its length from its tail, In connec-
u ton with small fns it has two huge legs, ter.
minating in web feet. Its mouth makes liue
five or SIX feet in length, the whole extent OF
which is set with innumerable small teeth, very
much resembling in size and shape the kernel
Of a species OF sharp pointed popcorn. 1t
like the founces once the style in ladies' dresses.
Its immense body, which was estimated to
have weighed when captured about eleven tons,
had no framework of bones, its most solid por-
ton consisting of cartilage Incapable Of preser-
vation. It's skin is dark and tough, lik that of
the elephant and rhinocerous. o.
'"There is no record of his species, and to
none is tia greater wonder than the naturalists,
whose attention is being drawn to it. Among
others who have had the opportunity of seeing
it is Professor Baird of the Smithsonian In
stitution at Washington, who is as yet unable
to place it in the known lists of the animal
kingdom. It is indeed veritable wonder, cal
culated to excite popular curiosity, and to in
vite the researches of the scientific. ri
"At various times during the past fifteen
years strange monster believed to be a huge
serpent, has been reported seen in Lake Utopia,
in New Brunswick, just across the State iae
but as these reports in each instance rested up
on the testimony of but one or two individuals,
they were generally discredited. Latterly, how
ever, the reports and the number Of, witnesses
had so increased as to take the story out of the
realms of fiction. On Sunday, August 8, the
monster was discovered near the shore on the
west side Of Eastport Island, where Passama-
quoddy Bay is connected with Lake. Utopia
by marsh quarter of mile long Being
attacked by ,musketry, it struck for the marsh,
and probably for the lake, which was undoubt-
edly its home and before being rendered inca
pable of locomotion, it had worked its way with
its fns and legs number of rods The report
of its presence at once spread to the town, at
tracing large number to the spot to aid in
its destruction. 1t received some seventy mus
ket balls, and although attacked in the fore
noon, it exhibited signs of life the following
day. :. 'ts. A.1a'.i&- 81. i.A ,z.z&1s "a -
'sThus the northeastern point of our State,
with the assistance of New Brunswick, has the
honor of producing the nearest approach to
vcritable sea serpent, which is destined to make;
Z a popular sensation wherever exhibited. 1t is
to be at Portland during the Forthcoming ST. tie
fair, and is thence bound for Boston, New
York and other principal cities '@y =