THE CANTON ADVOCATE — DECEMBER 15, 1881
An Alleged Mermaid.
A New Orleans correspondent of the Louisville Courier Journal writes : The arrival of a veritable mermaid in this port is the sensation of the day. This semi-mortal, semi-finny being arrived on the steamship Netley Abbey, Capt. Horne, from Panama, a few days since. It was captured by a native fisherman, in the bay of Aspinwall, about two months since, during one of the violent storms to which that beautiful bay is at times exposed. Capt. Home came in possession of it through Mr. Groch, the superintendent of the Boston ice company, at Panama, and has courteously exhibited it to many scientists and others since its arrival.
This wonder of the deep is in a fine state of preservation. The head and body of a woman are very plainly and distinctly marked. The features of the face, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, arms, breast and hair are those of a human being. The hair on its head is of a pale silky blonde several inches in length. The arms terminate in claws closely resembling an eagle's talons, instead of fingers, with nails. From the waist up the resemblance to a woman is perfect, and from the waist down the body is exactly the same as the ordinary mullet of our waters, with its scales, fins and tail perfect. Many old fishermen and amateur anglers who have seen it pronounce it unlike any fish they have ever seen. Scientists and savans alike are “all at sea” respecting it, and say that if the mermaid be, indeed, a fabulous creature, they cannot class this strange comer from the blue waters.
