Case file · Cryptid

Captain von Ferry's sea serpent

In August 1746, Captain Lorentz von Ferry and his boat crew reported a sea serpent with a horse-like head near Molde; two crewmen later swore to it.

1746 CE · 62.74, 7.16 · status: account

The account

Bishop Erik Pontoppidan printed the sworn statements in his 'Natural History of Norway' (1752–53) as proof that sea serpents were real.

The sceptical view

Possibly a line of porpoises, a basking shark or floating debris, read through the expectations of the time.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Erik Pontoppidan
  2. Wikipedia: Sea serpent
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