BOSTON, Aug. 9.—A bogus mermaid was sold at auction at the customs warerooms here Monday. The body was apparently of wood, and the hands and claws fitted up with bears’ talons. A material that looked like seaweed clung to the head for hair. A cow’s tail was joined so cunningly to the body that a very careful inspection was needed to reveal the joint. It only brought $1.95.

Jamestown Weekly Alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]), 14 Aug. 1890. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.