The Massachusetts Sea Monster. 1817
Beginning on August 16th 1817, the coastal towns of the North Shore of Massachusetts were the scene of near continuous sighting of a strange sea serpent. First appearing in Gloucester harbor the creature was seen near in the harbor every day for a month. Witnesses claimed it was between 60 and 100 feet long, with a chocolate color body, and a large snakelike head the size of a horses head. All eye witnesses claimed that it moved through the water with the vertical movement of a caterpillar. Responding to the sightings the New England Linnaean Society (1814–1822), formed a committee "collect evidence with regard to the existence and appearance of any such animal". Zoologically naming the creature ‘Scoliophis Atlanticus’, (Atlantic humped snake) the committee became the first cryptozoological investigative organization. The creature was seen every year in the North Shore for the next 100 years. The Salem Gazette is a Salem, MA newspaper published from 1790 to the current day.