Memphré

The sea serpent of Lake Memphrémagog

Lake Memphrémagog, an international lake located in Canada and the United States, 70 miles east of Montreal, straddles the United States border. The white man has been living around the lake for only two centuries. Before this, the area was favoured by the Natives due to the abundance of game and fish.

When the white people settled, the Natives told them that they would not bathe or swim in the lake because it was inhabited by a sea serpent. A document relating to this fact in 1816 confirms their fear. Last summer a Viking petroglyph was found on the top of a mountain near the lake. It describes a sea serpent. Archeologists are verifying this finding.

Around 1980, I became interested in our history, intrigued by underwater findings while scuba diving; I started building archives and this brought me to the establishment of the société d'histoire du Lac Memphrémagog.

I have found many old documents relating to sightings. One of the first sightings which dates back to January 21, 1847 came from The Stanstead Journal. Here is an extract: "I am not aware whether it is generally known that a strange animal something of a sea serpent... exists in lake Memphremagog..." I have also found on the same subject articles written in 1850, 1853, l855, 1866, 1877, 1879, 1892 etc... In 1982, a writer from France, Michel Meurger, wrote a book entitled Les Monstres des Lacs du Québec. It was later translated into English as Lake Monster Traditions. The documentation that I provided helped to write a complete chapter in his book.

In 1983, after having completed over 1000 scuba dives, I had yet to find vestige or proof of an underwater lake-dwelling creature. I then decided to write an article on the subject on August 18, which was published in The Newport Daily Express entitled: Lake Memphremagog's Anaconda. My aim was to try to get some feedback. I did not have to wait long for an answer as I received a letter from lady from Newport,Vermont and here is an extract: " After reading your article on Memphremagog's mystery serpent... I just had to write to you relating our own phenomenal experience the day before... From out of nowhere appeared a brown object with a long wake etc... Should we believe there is a mystery serpent in lake Memphremagog or not?"

Similar testimonies followed. Therefore, On June 19, 1986, I founded the International Dracontology Society whose objective is to study the phenomenon at length. Dracontology, a branch of cryptozoology, only studies unidentified lake dwelling creatures such as sea serpents. This name was officially recognized by Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, founder of cryptozoology. It should be noted that in the years that followed (1993 to 2000 ) we collected in our archives 50 sightings involving 124 persons which now brings the total to 229 sightings to this day. We only keep signed declarations and declarations recorded on radio-cassette. We do not keep hearsay evidence. Times are changing and the openess of people is facilitating our research work. People come to our office describing their sightings.

A Canadian television reporter said while standing at the head of the lake: "I am watching in case I spot "Memphré" but, even if I don't spot it, I think that I have had just as much fun talking about it as actually seeing it."

Towards the end of 1995, we designed a pictogram that is now in around the lake to encourage the visitors to scrutinize the lake more closely in case they see "Memphré", our sympathetic creature.