The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-20
Just LIKE SEA SERPENTS.
Great Creatures of the Ocean That Have
Sometimes Deceived Mariners.

AVALON, CAL June lS-"This Is the time
when the seaside resort gathers its energies
together and often gives to the expectant world
a story about the sea serpent remarked a
man interested in science. Is there sea
serpent? Why. | certainly think So ! believe
that there is some strange animal that comes
up from the deep occasionally. Perhaps 1t may
interest you to know how easily people are de-
ceived and what things pass ms sea serpents.
Upon one occasion. some time ago. vessel in
the North Pacific sighted singular animal, not
five hundred feet away. which was pronounced
a sea serpent by the men. When first observed
there was what appeared to be a long neck
rising out OF the water. ten feet into tho air.
mounted by head sharp and pointed. Be-
hind this on the surface were seen irregular
undulatons or humps. supposed to be made
by the animal as 1t moved along. Its length
was estimated to be 100 feet. and some OF the
men saw it SO distinctly that they went into
particulars regarding its eye. its name and
other features. There was however. Il minor
ityreport. single observer OF some scientific
knowledge recognized in the singular animal a
gigantic cuttlefsh that evidently was fleeing
from an enemy. and in its efforts to escape
forced its body out Of water tail first so that it
resembled n neck. The tail I'm of the giant
squid resembles an arrow. and at slight dis
lance could readily be taken for n head The
length. and the ten undulating and sucker
lined tentacles following behind give the ap-
all sea serpent discoveries. have seen a small
squid Tapping along the surface in this way to
escape an enemy. its ia out o. water. resem-
bling perfectly large eel: and II j. easily seen
how larger one, could be confused with SER
Dent-like animal.
That whales have added to sea serpcnt lore
there is little doubt in'ny mind. A supposed sea
serpent was sighted by a ship in the Atlantic
and most graphic description given OF its enor-
IN II1r
The remark nbe feature Of it was that the ser
pent moved along the surface for twenty min
utes. holding its head aloit. suggesting that It
must have been an air breathing animal, This
SANE hH TTea'TT S WAS s'S9'ea Sy another Vessel
and found TO be large whale. which had grow
ing from It's head an eXtraordinary protuber-
eight feet in length and SIMPLE growth. the
result q some injury TO the head
feet form resembles sea serpent and undoubt-
edIy has been mistaken for one; 1t is called
,he. Anodon. i is long. slender creature,
but has long pills like some Of the dophins.
and, more remur kable yet, has decided neck.
than IN other whales, 1t il very rare, but no
on" can contemplate the skeleton in the Paris
Ike form In it's natural element this grace
ful creature might easily be mistaken for II sea
serpent.
suggest the great unknown. particularly the
band or ribbon hsh. specimens OF which
twenty-five feet long are common. while others
nearly 100 feet are known to exist Such
II creature moving over the surface with an
undulatorv movement m ght be mtstaEcn for
q monster sea Serpent. Some naturalstS be-
lieye. the sea serpent to be deep-sea shark.
astonish the behoder. This is justified by
tho discovery by Prof, Garman Of shark in
Japanese waters six feet long and but tour
twenty or thirty feet In length, and We have n
sea serpent that would correspond with many
OF the accounts given by seafarers"