Sea Serpent

It may be in the recollection of our readers, that a few years ago, the newspapers were filled with wonderful accounts of a sea serpent, of prodigious size, which infested the coast of North America, carrying terror and alarm wherever it went. If we are to believe the Exeter Flying Post, the scene of the exploit of a similar monster has now been transferred to our own shores :-
"Considerable consternation bas been excited in the town of Dartmouth, by the appearance of an immense floating body off the mouth of the harbour, bearing every appearance of animation, as it varies its position and direction, sometimes being almost close to the entrance of the river, and at others, between the same and Star-point. No judgment can yet be formed as to its extreme length and size; but the general conjecture is, that it must be either the immense Sea Serpent seen two years ago in the Bay of Honduras, or one of the Kraken species, described by Pontoppidos, in his "Natural History of Norway." Three parts of this monstrum horrendum has been visible at one time, of a greenish black, covered with scales and sea-weeds; the middle portion (apparently the largest) would cover several acres! and what we conjecture to be tbe head is sometimes elevated several feet above the surface of the water, with immense spouts like the whale! The whole of the town and neighbourhood are on the watch to catch a glance of this immense Leviathan of the deep when it rises, which is commonly at noon, and has hitherto disappeared about 1 P. M. The hills and the neighbourhood of the Castle are daily crowded with spectators from all parts of the country, and such has been the influx of strangers to our ancient borough, that the inns have not been able to accommodate them, and there are scarcely any lodgings to be had. The town has been for some time in a dull state, but this circumstance (exiting so much curiosity) has already been a considerable benefit to the inhabitants in general ; and, should our nautical friend by chance take up his quarters here, we may expect that, our season will be the gayest ever known, and that we shall drain all the adjacent places of fashionable winter resort."

Note the incredible attraction of the fantastic:

"The whole of the town and neighbourhood are on the watch to catch a glance of this immense Leviathan of the deep when it rises, which is commonly at noon, and has hitherto disappeared about 1 P. M. The hills and the neighbourhood of the Castle are daily crowded with spectators from all parts of the country, and such has been the influx of strangers to our ancient borough, that the inns have not been able to accommodate them, and there are scarcely any lodgings to be had. The town has been for some time in a dull state, but this circumstance (exiting so much curiosity) has already been a considerable benefit to the inhabitants in general"

100 years later, lake monster sightings in Scotland brings Loch Ness into the worldwide headlines and the surrounding towns have reaped the benefits of international tourism ever since.