The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-29
COLD SEI-SERPENT FACTS.
Not the slightest Evidence That such n
Creature 'habited the Sea.

From ne san Frdariscp ErIDl'ns-.
The question Of the existence Of the =" sen
serpent" Is solely one OF fact There IL no
priori reason why such reptiles could not exist,
and creatures to which such name would
apply did exist In abundance in mesozotc
TINES. Nevertheless. although there have been
many reports Of the discovery OF the sea SER
positive evidence IN proof that such creature
now inhabits the sea IL Is not within he
realm u rTobae,llty that any marine REPTILES
land. The fishes of the sea from the, surface
TO the depth ot live miles. are as we'll known
as the animals OF similar size on any OF tho
continents except Europe. The larger ami
mails which swim near tho surface in the open
ocean are for the most part well known. and
have been known ever since oceanic naviga-
ton began: hToha1ly not hall dozen species
feet have been discovered in our century.
Most OF those now known were known to the
ancents.
The sea serpent stories may be classified as
follows:
]. Pure, Inventions, forecastle yarns. &c.
3. Stories with a foundation Of fact the basis
being y seal. fragment OF wreck. long
strip OF klein. or somo other natural object
/. Practical Jokes as the india rubber sea
serpent seen on silver Lake \. Y, about 1855.
This appeared usually in the evening and in
sight .! the veranda Of the hotel.
Rss s.ea, 2s ksg Oi sas sspIss
ribbon shaped fish OF the open sea. II swims
In swift un!ulAtions. with great speed. on
Of twenty feet or more. The dorsal lin on
ITS head forms a high crest. like tho name
Ing object. |. has been but once taken in
American waters, specimen having come
h e 4smotely alIea to the mSekereL AeaoFdins
10 DR.. Goode. all the sea serpents with 'up-
reared head aud the name OF horse" can DO
4 smaller hsh OF this type too small to seem
like u serpent. Is occasionally taken OF our
mock Indians believe that II this fish is caught.
the salmon will cease running. similar
noXious Influence is eNerted by the birth Of
twins. other swiit-m9ylng ribbon shared
surface fishes. as the thread eel, the cutlass
nsh, NC nave been reported as Young sea
Il The great frlll-shaIk lChlamyd oselachus
Vsnt. Il was correctly drawn as such by
Maine fisherman before Its occurrence In the
Atlan.te ocean Was En9w W. this Is very
and Growsto be iiiteen feet or more in length.
II has the general structure OF the shark, or.
rather o. the extinct SHARK for one has TO go
back 10 the carbOullerOus age to ind any like
him. THIS shark. with its irlll 81 gills about
It's neck. is one OF the rarrst Of fishes only
about four existing in collections. Its thought
70 be the oldest living vertebrate. for all other
SHARKS OF similar structure havo lang since
Iassed away. Ii Is the Original % the sea SER
pent that swlins low, with IIs head under water.
-. The great killer. or gladiator vOTcaorcaL
pprpOise and dolphin. IL is very swift and
strong. and OF so savage disposition that II
10 lHo terror OF WINES. seas. bhhThs, bHoTl-
fishes and Of large fishes generally. II reaches
length OF 20 To 10 feet. II Is ordinarily de-
tested by fishermen. but this Summer Il served
them \ good turn 10y rounding up In Mon
tsrey bay the shoals VI salmon from the neigh
boring ocean.
Ia il. srltS,ul attacks on the whale-and It
Will ktll even the biggest Of them u has cen
taken for "A sea seIEent. It's swOTd-shAped
dorsal lin. some slG feet nigh helps on the IL
fusion. Al the sea seTpents Which attack
whales, choking them IN their g gAntlc folds
and laEhlng tho water Tor rods into bloody
foam" aTs druhtless killers.
.. henomnus .lItlo sea snakes exist In the
Indian ocean. These are well known and are
never taEen for sea ssTDents"
The above record Includes all the sea s"T-
penis Of which have seen records up to date.