THINK ABOUTIT ENTITY SIGHTING REPORT
Date: April 20, 1814
Sighting Time: 1600
Day/Night:
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
Urban or Rural: -water
Entity Type: creature
Entity Description: half its body above the water, a creature of a tawny color, appearing like a man sitting, with his body half bent. – as swarthy, his hair short and curled, of a color between a green and a gray, he had small eyes, a flat nose, his mouth was large, and his arms of extraordinary length. Above the waist, he was shaped like a man, but as the water was clear the men could perceive that form the waist downwards, his body tapered considerably or, as they expressed it, “like a large fish without scales.”
Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter III) Close observation with animate beings associated with the object.
Duration:
No. of Object(s): 1
Size of Object(s):
Distance to Object(s): few yards
Shape of Object(s):
Color of Object(s):
Number of Witnesses: 2
Source: The Historical Mermaid
Summary/Description: Two fishermen were returning from fishing in Sprey Bay, when about a quarter of a mile from the shore, the sea being perfectly calm, they observed, at a small distance from their boat with its back turned towards them, and half its body above the water, a creature of a tawny color, appearing like a man sitting, with his body half bent. Surprised, they approached the creature, till they came within a few yards, when the noise by the boat occasioned the creature to turn about, which gave the men a better opportunity of observing him.
They described his countenance as swarthy, his hair short and curled, of a color between a green and a gray, he had small eyes, a flat nose, his mouth was large, and his arms of extraordinary length. Above the waist, he was shaped like a man, but as the water was clear the men could perceive that form the waist downwards, his body tapered considerably or, as they expressed it, “like a large fish without scales.” The creature then dived and surfaced some distance away and was not alone. With him was what appeared to be a female of his species for she had breasts and hair that reached past her shoulders. The two men then rowed as fast as they could to land.
Investigative Analysis: The Portgordon “Sea-People”
The 1814 Portgordon account is a remarkable entry in historical cryptozoology because it provides a rare “double sighting” of both a male and female entity. Unlike many fleeting glimpses, this encounter occurred in broad daylight at a distance of only a few yards, allowing the two fishermen to note specific physiological details that distinguish these creatures from known marine life.
Anatomical Anomalies and Witness Reliability
The description of the male entity as having extraordinarily long arms and short, curled hair colored between green and gray is particularly striking. These features do not align with the sleek, streamlined anatomy of seals or other common North Atlantic pinnipeds. Furthermore, the witness’s observation that the body was “like a large fish without scales” below the waist suggests a smooth, perhaps cetacean-like skin rather than a traditional fish-like tail.
Behavioral Context: The “Humanoid” Element
The entities’ behavior—sitting half-bent and reacting to the noise of the boat—suggests a level of awareness and physical structure capable of maintaining an upright posture in water. The presence of a second, female entity with long hair and distinct mammalian features further solidifies this as a Close Encounter III (CE-III) report. In the context of 19th-century Scottish sightings, such detailed accounts were often reported by seasoned mariners whose livelihoods depended on their ability to accurately identify everything that moved in the water.
Concluding Summary
The 1814 Portgordon sighting remains one of the most compelling maritime mysteries of the 19th century. By moving beyond mere folklore and providing specific anatomical observations, the witnesses left behind a report that continues to intrigue modern researchers. Whether these beings were an unidentified species of marine mammal or something far more anomalous, the consistency and detail of the account ensure its place as a significant CE-III event in Scottish history.
