Bilk - no 018 - 1987 11

Magazine Overview

This document is issue 18 of BILK, a publication dated November 1987, edited by Ulrich Magin and based in West Germany. The subscription price is $8, £4, or DM 15. The editor expresses hope that subscribers find the magazine worthwhile and notes that the next issue will be a double issue focusing on 19th-century Scottish lake monsters, marine life, and other fortean subjects.

Behemoth

The section on 'Behemoth' primarily focuses on Loch Ness and its famous monster. It includes a bibliography with references to articles and reports, such as C. Mackenzie's 'The Rival Monster' and a Loch Ness Monster symposium. It also mentions a car sticker and a cartoon depicting German politician Strauss as the Loch Ness Monster. Astrophysicist James Cornell is quoted as saying that New Age people believe in astrology, UFOs, and the Loch Ness Monster.

Sightings reported in July 1987 include a 'small hump' approximately 20 ft long and 2 ft high, and a long neck observed by witnesses Mary Appleby and Barbara Grant. These sightings occurred near Drumnadrochit and on the way to Urquhart Bay.

An expedition led by Adrian Shine, involving 22 yachts with sonar, explored Loch Ness to investigate its ecology and archaeology. According to sources, two inconclusive sonar contacts were made on October 8 and October 9, 1987. The second contact, made off Urquhart Bay, was described as larger than a fish. The article lists numerous newspaper clippings from various international publications that covered these events.

Beyond Loch Ness, the magazine briefly mentions Loch Awe in Scotland, referencing legends of a '12-legged something' between an eel and a horse, and strange sounds attributed to a 'Great Beast' trying to break out of the loch. It also notes similar legends of many-legged water monsters in Europe.

Isis

This section covers various unusual creatures and phenomena. A report from BBC Wildlife (January 1987) discusses Steller's Sea Ape, an animal described as a mixture of monkey and shark, seen near the Aleutian Islands. A sketch shows Gesner's drawing of the 'Danish Sea Ape' from 1588.

A Sasquatch was reported in August 1986 by a construction crew building a bridge across the Kern River in California. The article references an article in FATE magazine and suggests a connection to aquatic hominids, also mentioning a Newsweek article on Bigfoot.

Leviathan

In Falmouth, Cornwall, the 'Morgawr' was observed and photographed in August 1985 by B. Clark and C. Holden. It is described as a 'most horrendous beast' moving in an easterly direction. A sketch is provided, based on a photograph.

An article in TIME (June 22, 1987) about the ancient geomantic art of Feng Shui in Hongkong is mentioned, relating the practice of harmonizing buildings with nature to Western ideas about ley-lines. The example of the Regent Hotel is used, where a Feng Shui master recommended a panoramic picture window to allow 'nine dragons' access to their bathing spot, highlighting that these dragons are nature spirits, not dinosaurs.

Reports from the Aleutian Islands mention several marine monsters, including the sea cow, sea ape, sea serpent, and giant octopuses. Additionally, there are reports of giant polar bears, described as semi-aquatic animals. A Soviet expedition in the Kamchatka region of the extreme north is tracking the 'Irkuiem,' a giant one-ton polar bear that reportedly crawls like a caterpillar. Scientists believe it might be related to a species of bear that vanished 10,000 years ago, likening it to the Abominable Snowman and the Loch Ness Monster.

Kraken

Michel Raynal, a French cryptozoologist, describes the history of the giant octopus of the Bahamas in 'Le Clin D'Oeil' and suggests a new identification for the mystery beast.

Other Alien Animals

Brief mentions include letters in 'Shooting Times' about pumas in Scotland and two articles in 'Journal für UFO Forschung' discussing flying saucers, Bigfoot, and water monsters and their potential relation.

Future Issues and Closing

The editor announces that the next BILK (issues 19 & 20) will include regular sections, plus topics on UFOs, the sea, USOs, new whale strandings, shark attacks, and coelacanth news. The issue concludes with holiday wishes from Ulrich.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are cryptids, lake monsters, sea monsters, and unexplained phenomena, often referred to as 'forteana'. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena from various sources, including witness accounts, newspaper clippings, and scientific or cryptozoological investigations, without necessarily endorsing them as fact but presenting them for reader consideration. The editor actively seeks information and encourages reader participation, as indicated by the subscription and address details provided.