A special to the N.Y. Times from Locust Point, on the shore of Lake Erie, near Toledo, Ohio, says,

“The French settlers along the lake shore, in Erie Township, Ottawa County, a few miles east of here, were surprised and amazed on May 12th over the appearance of an unknown fish of mammoth size. Two brothers named Dusseau, both fishermen, were returning from the fishing grounds, when they discovered a phosphorescent mass upon the beach. It was late in the evening, but they succeeded in making their boat fast to the shore, and, upon examination, discovered a lake monster writhing in agony.

The brothers say that it was like a large sturgeon in shape, but that it had long arms, which it threw wildly in the air. While they were watching it, the great fish apparently died, and the Dusseau boys, badly frightened, hurried away for aid.

When they returned with ropes the fish had disappeared. In its dying efforts it had succeeded in tumbling into the lake and had been carried away by the waves. The marks on the beach indicate that the serpent was between 20 and 30 feet in length.

Several scales as large as silver dollars which were cast off were picked up.”

Source: “A Monster in Lake Erie,” Winnipeg Daily Free Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 9, 1887.

Thanks for this new historical item from Jerome Clark.