The New York herald., 1879-08-24
TALL FISH STORIES.

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION GATHERED ON THE
BARK KENTIsH TARA MONSTER sUNFIsH, A
SEA SERPENT, BOTTLE OF sEAwEED AND
AN UPWARD METEOR.
In the log of the bark Kentish Tar. Captain Pot
finger. which arrived at this port on Friday from
Padang after avoyage days. there is the follow
ing entry August u. one r. NJ. passed monster
sunfsh measuring at least one hundred superficial
feet" In view of this interesting statement re-
porter the HERALD visited the vessel at her dock
pier No. At East River, yesterday afternoon where
lie succeeded in ecitng some very interesting sci
entifc information. The reporter found on ooaro
First Officer James g. Young. who at the time was
dining with his friends and companions OF the yoy-
age-James L Thatcher carpenter. United States
Navy; W. Z. Devlin. gunner. United States Navy.
and C. T. Tallman samaker. United States Navy
All were willing to be communicative in regard to
the wonders OF the they had encountered. and
while the reporter shared in their hospitaties he
listened to their marvellous tales OF scientific OBJ
servation.
THE MONSTER sUNFYsH
81 was at the wheel" said Mr. Young, 'some Of
the being i'll. 1t was bright, clear day, and
while was enjoying the fresh breeze which was
blowing at the time heard some of the forecabin
passengers say, There is a fish alongside! Looking
out on the starbcarl side saw it lying the water
lazily summing itself Its eyes open and its fins
going just enough to keep it Oh the top OF the
water. 1t about SIX feet by fourteen. and was
the finest specimen OF that species OF fish any of US
had ever Seen
"Six feet by fourteen" said the reporter, medi-
tatively, trying to bring all his arthmetica knowl
ege to bear upon harmonizing this statement with
II could not see it all at once. said Mr. Thatcher,
divining the reporters thoughts. but as near as
could make that was about the size OF 1t.
don't think Mr. Young estimate at all exaggerated.
II am good hand with the harpoon," Mr. Young
remarked 'and generally try to keep one on hand.
On this OCCASION unfortunately. my harpoon was
on the main deck. or would have had the fish on
board
Anything could Get with the harpoon.' intor-
posed Mr.. Devin his talk beginning to how freely
as the exciting cause I'VE gathered IN the interest
of science or anybody else
.Any sea serpents p queried the reporter gently
''Sea serpents! should say So" Devlin answered
confidently .I have been all over the world since 1
first went sea. I've been i'll Greenland, but not at
all of the year at the same time. I've been
round the Cape of Good Hope a good many times:
The Niagara saw the biggest snnsh of the Cape that
l ever read about"
"When was that?"
..In ls73-in ls69-before the war-when she was
taking the Japanese to their own country"
"But the sea serpent?
SEA SERPENT
"Tell him about the serpent, Young" Devlin
'.we did something very like a serpent"
Mr. Young said. THAT was on the 2Oth the aay be-
tore we encountered the sunish. 1t appeared the
crosstrees, and was probably thirty feet in
length. Other gentlemen besikes Mr.. Devlin saw
"It was in sections" Mr.. Devlin remarked. impa-
tient over the commonplace description of his
friend ''ike tapeworm. l couldn't see it all at
once, but each section was-well let me see-ten or
fifteen feet long.
what was its colorY'
"Brown or black.
"Are you sure 1t wasn't the remains of a garbage
scow?
Garbage scows must keep near shore,
Big sea serpepts venture more
sung of the sailors engaged cleaning the brass
work, d Ia "Pinafore."
bring out that bottle of seaweed, Young. cried
Devin and then turning to the reporter he said, i'm.
pressively :-"Renember. I'm . scientific cuss.
A sEAwEED.
The bottle OF seLweed produced. 1t was really
very beautiful thing of its kind beautiful in fact
that it would attract general attention and admira
and berries and minute specimens OF marine
life in the bottle. little shrimps and crabs the size
of pea and tish in size and shape very like u
plated whiplash. In color it was brown. purple
variegated. 1t looked more like q snake than fish,
what kind fish is thisY y the reporter asked.
"It is like sucker about the head but its body
resembles gar-ish," Mr.. Devln said.
"And It's color is zebra-iike." Mr.. Young added.
The reporter rose to take his leave.
AN UPWARD METEOR.
"Before you co." Mr. Devlin sa.d ''let tell
| you about the meteor we saw this voyage. have
meteors in the Grecian Archipelago-every-
| where-raining down all round the sky, but never
shoot up before.
THAT is so, said Mir. Young. "It started near
| the horizon"
"On line with the mainmast." interrupted
Devlin.
.It started near the horizon and seemed to follow
the path or the milky way, upward, upward, de-
scribing semicircle in the heavens never
nything more beautiful. and wish could write.
80 that might write about 1t.
"It is something for the astronomers to settle"
Devlin added.
"Gioodby," said the reporter.
'.Goodby. and be sure to give a good report"
cried . number of voices after him.