Thursday 29 April 2021

THE DEATH OF A GRAMPUS, BUDLEIGH, 1828

 From The Exeter and Devon Gazette   May 10th 1828:

"A very large Grampus has been basking about the southern coast of this county for several days, and was killed at Budleigh Salterton on Thursday.  In the course of its gambols it has paid a visit to most of the fashionable watering places, and no summer visitor could have excited more attention.   Rumour has conferred on the animal the royal fishly dignity, and had magnified his bulk to about the size of our Cathedral tower.   But though no whale, he has got into high favor with the fishermen, having driven into their nets many thousand mackerel, of which they have made a good market, and supplied the neighbourhood with a cheap dainty." 

The lovely word grampus derives at long-range, believe it or not, from the Latin crassus piscis meaning fat fishFishly is a nice original-looking word.  It seems a pity the grampus had to die.  It was boosting the tourist trade, supporting the fishing industry and, incidentally, providing cheap and dainty food for the population until some bloody-minded Budleigh Salterton fishermen felt they needed to chase and kill it.  The very large Grampus would have fared better these days.

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