Monstrous fishes – a correction

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Monstrous fishes – a correction Howard Mendel’s note An early record of stranded Whales (1986, TSNS 22: 71) suggested that the ‘monstrous fishes’ found near Nacton in 1568 were likely to have been Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas), but the illustrated broadside clearly shows Orca or ‘Killer Whale’ (Orcinus orca). This appears to be the only confirmed record of this species from Suffolk. Three other old records of ‘Grampus’, all less than 17 ft long, might have been this species, or the equally rare Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus); see Bullion (2009, p172) for details.

Timothy Granger’s account makes interesting reading, I have modernised the spelling, but retained the phrasing of the original text: A most true and marvellous strange wonder, the like hath seldom been seen of 17 monstrous fishes, taken in Suffolk, at Downham bridge, within a mile of Ipswich. The 11 day of October. In the year of our Lord God 1568.

First you shall understand, that the beginners first venturers to take these fishes, was Nicholas Tibbins and John Carnaby, with their men: after came John Baker, and Robert Haulley with their men, being all sailors and shipmen dwelling in Ipswich, with other, besides many of the country there about, which when they heard of it, came thither to help, and see the taking of them.

Also, of these 17 fishes, there was a male, and a female, that was more huge and monstrous than the other 15. For the least of these 2 fishes were 27 foot long: and as big in the middle each of them, as 3 butts of malmsey, and of a marvellous great strength, as it is well known to divers [various people] in

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Ipswich and other places, beside those men above named. For they tied one of these fishes to a boat to bring it to Ipswich wharf, and being tied to the boat, swam away with the boat and all the men that were in it, toward the sea a marvellous swift pace, for all that they could do: this was when the tide came in, for they had made provision before, when the water was low, to tie great ropes about their tails and fins with small boats, and by such means as they could.

(And as I said before) the tide coming in and the fish having water, swam away with the boat so fast toward the sea, that if there had not been rescue of other boats and such vessels as they had there , that boat and all they in it, had been lost and utterly cast away. But as God would have it, by the help of the other boats and vessels, tying the fish also. Brought him by force to a convenient place, and tied him fast to a tree with strong cable ropes, and so bring them one by one, found means to bring them to Ipswich wharf. Where they were laid with great labour and trouble. Beside breaking of their windlass and a great cable rope with hauling them up, they were of such marvellous greatness, strength and weight. Some of them lay upon the wharf 2 days and a night before they were dead, and yet they struck them with axes and other weapons to kill them. The river wherein they were taken was coloured red with the blood that issued from their wounds, while they were a taking, the water being so deep that a hoy [barge] might well ride therein. There was also 3 butchers a whole day cutting out one of these fishes, and as many to carry it away with hand barrows to the town warehouse, and the butchers were fain to put on boots to stand in to cut it out, it was so deep and full of garbage. This fish was a man’s height in thickness, from the top of the back to the bone, and his bones as hard as stones, that the butchers marred all their axes they occupied about them. The other 15 fishes were 24 foot long, and some of them 21 foot, and big according to their length. But the 2 biggest, male and female, was 27 foot long, and as big in the middle as 3 butts of malmsey. Having a round snout, his mouth wide, gaping above a yard broad. And had 44 teeth, one being weighed and weigheth a pound and a half, 8 inches and a half long, and above 6 inches in compass about, yet none of the biggest.

Also a great long tongue, a marvellous big head as is a yard between the eyes. Upon their heads were holes, as big that a man might put in both his fists at once, out of which they did spout a great quantity of water while they were a taking, that they had almost drowned 2 boats men and all with spouting of water: for the water would ascend upward from the fishes, as high as any house, and so fall down and wet all them that were within their reach most cruelly. Also they were white beneath the eyes a hand broad, their eyes black, and no bigger than the eyes of a calf. Their backs as black as ink, so smooth and bright that one might have seen his face on it, as in a dim glass. Their bellies as white as milk. And upon their backs they had each of them one great black fin growing, and some of them were a yard and a half long, very thick and strong, and 2 great black ones underneath the fore part of his belly. Also the male, one of the 2 biggest had a yerde [penis], that when it was out, was more than 3 quarters of a yard long and as big towards his body as a man’s arm, sleeve and all, by the elbow. His tail was 3 yards long, and 2 yards broad

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very thick and black, and wonderful strong: for 5 tall men stood upon his tail, and he lifting his tail up, overthrew them all. Also when he had lifted by his tail it was of such monstrous weight, strength and bigness, that when it fell the very ground would ring, and shake therewith. This fish was cut out in pieces, and given away to divers [various people] in the town that did eat of it, and it was very good meat, either roasted or baked, (so much of it was kept sweet [fresh]) and the meat of them baked tasted like red deer. And as they cut it out it was weighed by pieces, so that the very body of this one fish, weighed 52 hundred [hundredweight? = 2¡6 tons] The bare carcass, before many little pieces that was given away unweighed to cravers that stood by, and besides a cart load of garbage that came out of his belly, so that altogether was above threescore hundred and odd [=3 tons; probably an under-estimate a full grown orca weighs between 4 and 6 tons].

If the men of Ipswich had known so much betime while they were sweet, as they have since, they might have made 2 hundred marks [= c. ÂŁ130. In England the mark never appeared as a coin, but was only used as a unit of account] more of them than is now made. But now they have been barrelled up to make oil of, and will not be sold for a great piece of money.

And this you may see, the perfect and true description, of these strange fishes, wherein is to be noted the strange and marvellous handiworks of the Lord, blessed be God in all his gifts, and holy in all his works, the Lords name be praised, in them, and for them, for ever and ever. So be it.

Quod. Timothy Granger Imprinted at London in Fleet Street at the sign of St John the Evangelist by Thomas Colwell.

Editor Martin Sanford S.B.R.C. Ipswich Museum High Street Suffolk

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 47 (2012)