Bilk - no 001 - 1985 03

Magazine Overview

Title: BILK MAGAZIN
Issue: One (Number One)
Subtitle: A NEWSLETTER FOR WATERMONSTER-SIGHTINGS / BY U. MAGIN
Publisher: Ulrich Magin
Location: Mutterstadt, WEST GERMANY
Publication Frequency: Bi-monthly
Subscription: £3 in Europe, $5 for the US.

This is the inaugural issue of Bilk Magazin, a newsletter dedicated to documenting and reporting sightings of water monsters and other unexplained marine phenomena. The editor, Ulrich Magin, aims to cover a range of aquatic mysteries, from freshwater and sea serpents to giant cephalopods and mistaken identities of known marine life.

Behemoth Sightings

The 'Behemoth' section details several recent sightings:

• June 6, 1984: Lina Griffiths and her family reported seeing a creature with seven dark greyish bumps moving in a straight line in Shisvap Lake, British Columbia, Canada. It was estimated to be 20 to 25 feet long and moving quickly.
• June 1984: In Loch Sheldrake, New York, USA, five people observed a large, dark object that created a wake 45 meters long and 90 cm high. A local man, Isenc Pegekow, suggested it might be a giant beaver otter.
• July 29, 1984: Approximately 70 people aboard the excursion boat 'Spirit of Ethan Allen' witnessed a seaserpent in Lake Champlain, New York. The object had three to five fins and was described as greenish-brown, about 10 meters long.
• August 1984: A seamonster was discovered in Steffora Lake, California, USA, during draining for a dam. It was identified as a 6-foot white sturgeon weighing 125 pounds.
• August 1985 & June 1934: Elmer Jackson reported seeing a monster in Saddle Lake, Alberta, Canada, with a single horn on its forehead. The creature was described as about three feet wide and 200 feet long. The Alberta government reportedly decided to fly a helicopter over the lake to investigate.
• November 1934: Two Icelandic hunters observed two monsters in Lake Aleiffarvath. Initially appearing as rocks, they moved and came ashore, leaving horse-like footprints before re-entering the water. They were described as resembling horses and swimming like seals.
• January 1935: Witnesses Eusebia za Guerra and Gabriel Fossatti reported a monster in Rio Falaquay, USA. The animal was estimated to be 5 meters long, with a round head, big eyes, a large mouth, a round body, and a forked tail.

Isis (Mermaid)

There are no recent reports, but the magazine quotes a historical account:

• 1317: Captain Asa Swift of the 'Leonidas' encountered a 'different animal' while crossing the Atlantic from New York to Le Havre. The creature had a white face resembling a human's, stood 20 cm out of the water, and was approximately 1.5 meters long. This is compared to detailed observations of mermaids.

Leviathan (Sea Serpent)

• Summer 1934: Mr. Barloy is investigating a strange bone found on the shore at Noustelin, Finistère, France.

Kraken

• Date unspecified: In Kributi, west of New Guinea, two local divers were reportedly killed by a giant octopus. The newspaper 'New Zealand Herald' stated the octopus was 4 meters long, implying a diameter of 8 meters or more. Reports of giant octopi from Macassar Strait and Sumbawa in Indonesia are also mentioned.

Marine Life

• November-December 1934: An unusually high number of four large whales were sighted in the German Bay. Within one month, three whales stranded, and one was seen swimming. The whales included a beluga, a sperm whale, a 'dwarf-whale', and a fin whale. The identity of the swimming whale remains unestablished. The presence of such diverse large whales in this area was considered a mystery.

Marine Mysteries

• Date unspecified: An English sailor encountered a ghost ship near New Guinea. He met Rollo Gebhard, a German who reported seeing an old freighter sailing directly over dangerous coral reefs. The ship vanished, and local natives identified it as the 'Mary', which had sunk years prior.
• April 29, 1982: A strange, wheel-like marine phosphorescence was observed in the China Sea by the ship 'Siem'. A detailed report is mentioned in 'Fortran Times', Issue 42, Autumn 1984.

Conclusion and Contact

The editor concludes the issue, expressing hope that readers enjoyed it, and provides his address for correspondence: Ulrich Magin, Stuhlbrudernofstr. 4, 5704 Mutterstadt, WEST GERMANY.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation of unexplained aquatic phenomena, particularly 'monster' sightings, and the exploration of folklore and historical accounts related to sea creatures. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and reporting, encouraging readers to submit their own experiences and observations. The magazine aims to be a comprehensive source for information on water monsters and related mysteries.