An account in Gloucester, Massachusetts

I, M a TT H E w G a F FN E Y, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, Ship carpenter, depose and say : That on the fourteenth day of August, A D. 1817, between the hours of four and five o’clock in the afternoon, I saw a strange marine animal, resembling a serpent, in the harbour in said Gloucester. I was in a boat, and was within thirty feet of him. His hea ! appeared full as large as a four-gallon keg ; his body as large as a barrel, and his length that I saw, I should judge forty feet, at least. The top of his head was of a dark colour, and the under part of his head appeared nearly white, as did also several feet of his belly, that I saw. I supposed and do believe that the whole of his belly was nearly white. I fired at him, when he was the nearest to me. I had a good gun, and took good aim. I aimed at his head, and tlunk I must have hit him. He turned towards us immediately after I had fired, and I thought he was coming at us ; but he sunk down and went directly under our boat, and made his appearance at about one hundred yards from where he sunk. He did not turn down like a fish, but app ared to settle directly down, like a rock. My gun carries a ball of eighteen to the pound; and I suppose there is no person in town, more accustomed to shooting, than I am. I have seen the same animal at several other times, but never had so good a view of him, as on this day His motion was vertical, like the caterpillar. Q. How fast did it move ? A I should say he moved at the rate of a mile in two, or at most, three minutes. Q Did it appear smooth or rough ? A. I thought it smooth, though I was endeavouring to take aim at him, and will not say positively, that he was smooth, though that is still my belief. Q- Does he turn quick and short, and if so, what is the form of path that he makes, in turning ? A. He turns quick and short, and the first part of the curve that he makes in turning, is in the form of the staple ; but his head seems to approach rapidly towards his body, his head and XT tail moving in opposite directions, and when his head and tail come parallel, they appear almost to touch each other. Q Did he appear more shy, after you had fired at him ? A. He did not; but continued playing as before. Q. Who was in the boat with you, when you fired at the serpent ? f A. My brother Daniel, and Augustin M. Webber. MATTHEW GAFFNEY. Essex ss. August 28, 1817. Then Matthew Gaffney made oath that the foregoing, by him subscribed, is true according to his best knowledge and belief. Before