BILK

Magazine Overview

BILK 22, published in May 1988 by Ulrich Magin from West Germany, is a magazine dedicated to unexplained phenomena, including UFOs, cryptids, and other mysteries. The subscription price was 15 German marks for six issues.

Behemoth: Sea Monsters and Land Creatures

This section delves into various reports of large, unidentified creatures. A significant focus is placed on the Loch Ness Monster (LNM). The Spanish ufologist Antonio Ribera is cited for a 1958 land-sighting near Fort Augustus, where Mr. Macintosh allegedly observed the creature crossing the road. Ribera's book "Existen los monstruos marinos?" is mentioned as a source. The report questions the accuracy of a similar sighting by Hamish McKintosh, noting a discrepancy in the details provided by William A. Nicholas.

The magazine also touches upon "Landdragons," referencing a Spanish occult magazine "Karma 7" which reported that the Tatzelwurm is still seen regularly in the Alps, though without specific dates or locations. Other related topics include a "Creationist" claim about a tooth found with a dinosaur track being human, and articles on "fiery dragons" in European skies.

Bibliography of Lake Monsters and Ghostlights

A bibliography section lists several relevant publications: OMNI (January 1988) for an article on Igopogo, the INFO Journal (issue 54) for an article on Californian lake monsters, and "Journal für UFO-Forschung" (issues 56 and 2/88) for articles on ghostlights and lake monsters, with the latter being written by the editor.

Destino and Mermaids

The Spanish-language magazine "Destino" (2/1988) is noted for an article by Malvin Kristus on mermaids, described as a good but not entirely new information piece.

Leviathan: Sea Serpents

Reports of sea serpents are presented. From "Science Frontiers" (January-February 1988), an account by J. N. Thompson describes a sea serpent sighted in January 1984 on the Spanish Banks off Vancouver, British Columbia. The creature was estimated to be 18-20 ft long, two feet wide, with a whitish-tan throat and lower front, two small horns, floppy ears, a pointed black snout, and a streamlined body that moved efficiently by up and down motions. This description is compared to features from Heuvelman's and Costello's accounts.

Another sea serpent sighting is reported from Djibouti, quoted from "Calypso Log" (November 1987). This report is from "Barloy's Newsletter" (January 1988).

Kraken: Marine Mysteries

This section covers reports related to the legendary Kraken and other marine anomalies.

Bibliography of Sea Serpents

Further bibliographic references are provided, including "The Gate" (January 1988) and "Pursuit" (Nr.79) which reprint articles on the "irkiuem" and Lehn's refraction hypothesis applied to the Midgard serpent. Walter Hansen's book "Asgard" is mentioned. Fort's notes are cited for mentions of the Daedalus sea serpent (1848) and a "Monster snake" in Massachusetts, as reported in the London Times (January 4, 1849). A monster in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, and a giant sturgeon in Lake Washington near Kirkland are also noted, sourced from INFO 54.

Monster Jellyfish in the UK

A brief mention is made of a "monster jellyfish" in the UK, already noted in previous BILK issues, with a reference to "Pursuit 79."

USO: Unidentified Submerged Objects

This section focuses on sightings of unidentified objects in or near water.

Galicia, Spain: Marine UFOs and Hairy Creatures

"Karma 7" (issues 8 and 9, 1986) is cited for two articles on marine UFO sightings in Galicia, Spain. Numerous witnesses reported observing balls of light diving into or emerging from the ocean in September and October 1985. "Mother ships" were also reported. Coincidentally, during the same period, big hairy gorilla-like creatures were seen in the province.

Sweden: Submarine Encounters

Sweden's Minister for Defense, Roine Carlsson, declared that unidentified submarines would be attacked without prior warning in Swedish waters. Bengt Gustafsson, Supreme Commander of the army, stated that 30 cases of foreign submarines in Swedish waters had occurred in the preceding six months.

Short Bits: Channel Sub, Tropical Lights, and Ice Holes

A crew of the trawler "L'Echo de la Mer" reportedly caught a French submarine in their net in the Channel. "Science Frontiers" (Nr. 55) is mentioned for reports on mysterious lightwheels in tropical waters. "Fort's notes" and "Pursuit 79" are cited for two UFOs over Inverness in 1848. A mysterious circular hole discovered in the ice cover of the Pite River in Sweden is discussed, with similar holes found in Germany and Norwegian fjords. While usually attributed to UFOs or Russian subs, this particular hole had a natural explanation related to river currents, as per a CENAP Report.

An observation on the Bermuda Triangles is mentioned from "Pursuit 79" and "Journal für UFO-Forschung" (2/1988), including a Russian observation.

Cryptozoology: Yeti, Puma, and Wolfman

This section covers various cryptid reports from different parts of the world.

Yeti Search in Tibet

Chris Donington is planning to search Tibet for the abominable snowman with the support of the Chinese government. He also intends to climb Mount Melungtse. English scientists have stated that they require "teeth, bones, hairs or a whole yeti" to be convinced of its existence.

Puma in Saar Country

Another German puma sighting is reported in the Saar Country, near Saarlouis. Police officials suspect an escaped pet, similar to a sighting in the summer of 1983.

Ecuador: The "Wolfman"

A "wolfman" has been frightening villagers near Quito, Ecuador. Described as a hirsute human with claws and a wolf-like appearance, it hides in vegetation and hypnotizes people. Local authorities dismiss the stories as fiction, but villagers believe it to be a carpenter transformed into an animal to find the son who sold his soul to the devil. This story is reported from IDEAL (Granada, Spain).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are the investigation of unexplained phenomena, including lake monsters, sea serpents, UFOs, and cryptids. The magazine appears to be a compilation of reports from various sources, including other magazines, books, and newspaper articles, often citing specific issues and page numbers. The editor's stance seems to be one of diligent reporting and cross-referencing, as evidenced by the detailed bibliographies and the editor's own contributions to "Journal für UFO-Forschung." There is an evident interest in presenting diverse accounts, even when questioning the accuracy of certain details, as seen in the Loch Ness Monster section. The magazine aims to keep its readers informed about the latest news and views in the field of the unexplained, with the next issue, BILK 23, scheduled for July.