Why is the existence of the American sea-serpent no longer credited?
Because of the following exposure of its fraud, as related by Professor Silliman. The first sea-serpent was a steam-boat, which, being established at Boston to coast along the shore, and from its powers and capabilities competent to injure the business of small boats, was described as a sea-serpent that had been seen off Nahant and Gloucester, and had probably come there to consume all the small fish in the place. This was received by many as a serious account, and believed accordingly. – Another sea-serpent history arose from the circumstance, that a small sloop, called the Sea-serpent, having been passed by another vessel, the captain of the latter, when asked, upon his arrival at home, for news, said he had seen a sea-serpent, and then described its bunches on the back, the action of its tail, and other parts; all of which being understood literally, actually appeared in print, as evidence for the existence of the animal. Then a piece of the skin of the bony scaled pike was taken fo
