Bilk - no 016 - 1987 07

Magazine Overview

Title: BILK
Issue: 16
Date: July 1987
Publisher: Ulrich Masin
Location: 6.704 Mutterstadt, Stuhlbruderhofstrasse 4, West Germany

This issue of BILK is a compilation of various reports and articles concerning unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and unusual events from around the world. It is presented as a collection of clippings and brief summaries, with sources often cited from newspapers and other publications.

Behemoth

This section focuses on reports of large, unidentified creatures.

• Loch Ness: A German TV program called "Nessie" aired on ARD is mentioned, which featured interviews with locals and researchers. The crew of the trawler "Vic 32" reportedly saw the monster on three occasions. The film was produced by Margit Wagner for Bayerischer Rundfunk.
• Loch Ness: In March 1987, Dr. Ayles and his wife reported seeing a black, cylindrical object in the loch, which they described as a "headneck." This report is cited from Nessletter 81.
• Frankfurt, Germany: An unusual find of an 80 cm long crocodile in a box in mid-June 1987 is reported, with a source from Rheinpfalz.
• Hungary: Hungarian fishermen reportedly caught a 10-foot sturgeon in the Danube near Paks. The fish was transported to Budapest Zoo but died. The report notes that similar catches in the past were attributed to freshwater snakes.
• Lake Monsters Bibliography: A list of articles on lake monsters is provided, including references to Lake Hanas, Champ, Nessie, Memphre, and Lake Tianchi in China.

Leviathan

This section covers reports of sea monsters.

• Morgawr: The Cornish sea serpent, Morgawr, is reported to be back. BBC Radio Cornwall allegedly reported a sighting of a long-necked sea serpent off Newquay in late February. This is noted as an unusual report from the north coast of Cornwall.
• Italy: An article translated from Corriere della Sera (September 28, 1986) describes a monstrous shark sighted off Rimini. The creature was observed from the ship "Gatto Nero." A young man named Mr. Priccinetti has a video-tape of the creature, and Captain Mr. Sancisi reportedly had the monster on his lines but it escaped. The author suggests a basking shark might fit the description.

Kraken

This section details reports related to large cephalopods or sea creatures.

• New Zealand: The Cousteau Foundation's magazine, Calypso Log, reported in February 1987 that the crew of the Calypso observed a giant octopus at Auckland. However, it was later revealed that the crew had filmed an ordinary octopus, and the report was a hoax.

USO (Unidentified Submerged Object)

• Sweden: The Swedish navy reportedly hunted for an unidentified submarine in their territorial waters in early June 1987 without success. The article speculates that USOs might become more prevalent in tabloid news than UFOs.

UFOs and the Sea

• China: An article from "China im Aufbau" (April 1987) discusses UFO reports in China and Taiwan, citing 2000 reports from 1978 to 1986. Six reports over lakes are mentioned, including an 11th-century observation and a 1981 sighting by Liu Kuanxing over the Longyang Reservoir, Qinghai province, showing a diffuse light.
• Italy: Signor Ugo C. reportedly observed six UFOs over the Adriatic Sea near Ancona. Further details are referenced from Flying Saucer Review.

Marine Life

This section provides brief notes on various marine animal reports.

• Sharks: A general report about sharks versus humans from Arab News is mentioned, along with an explanation of why sharks might be attracted to submarine cables in the Atlantic.
• Crocodiles: Several crocodile-related incidents are noted: an Australian man escaping an attack by a 10-foot saltwater crocodile in the Solomon Islands; crocodiles introduced to Neyhar Dam in India becoming a menace; and a reference back to the "OOP-croc" from Germany mentioned in the Behemoth section.
• Whales: Greenpeace reportedly revealed that Japan continues to hunt whales illegally, despite officially ending its whaling industry.
• Turtle: A giant turtle caught in the Taiwan Strait was released.
• Mass Death: An 8 km stretch of coastline in Tamil Nadu State, India, was covered by dead fish, with no apparent reason found.

General Stuff

• Beliefs: Polls conducted in California, Texas, and Connecticut indicate that many young Americans believe in ghosts, flying saucers, Bigfoot, and Atlantis.
• Eyewitness Unreliability: An article from The Times (May 11, 1987) is cited, discussing the unreliability of eyewitnesses based on recent scientific investigations.

Dinosaurs

This section lists recent articles and discoveries related to dinosaurs.

• New Dinosaur Discovery: American palaeontologist Peter Dodson discovered a new, 3-horned dinosaur in Montana, named Avaceratops lammersi, measuring 2 meters in length.
• Largest Dinosaur: In New Mexico, the remains of the largest dinosaur discovered to date were presented by David Gillette. This dinosaur is named Seismosaurus.
• Extinction Theory: A report from Rheinpfalz discusses the theory that a large meteor caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
• Dinosaur Care: A report from The New York Times (August 26, 1986) discusses dinosaur care for their young.

Acknowledgements and Closing

Thanks are extended to Regina for her contributions. The issue concludes with a note that the next issue will be released in September.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are the reporting of unexplained phenomena, particularly cryptozoological sightings (lake monsters, sea serpents) and UFO/USO reports. There is also a consistent interest in unusual animal reports, ranging from crocodiles and sharks to dinosaurs. The editorial stance appears to be one of information gathering and dissemination, presenting various reports from different sources, often with citations, and occasionally offering brief commentary or speculation (e.g., the USO prediction). The magazine seems to aim at cataloging and sharing intriguing, often fringe, news items with its readership.