Bilk - no 025-026 - 1988 11

Magazine Overview

This issue of BILK, identified as numbers 25 & 26 from November 1988, is a bi-monthly publication from Germany, costing 15 German Marks. The contact person is Ulrich Magin. The issue features a prominent headline "BEHEMOTH:" and includes a quote from T.S. Eliot.

BEHEMOTH: Scotland

The lead article, "BEHEMOTH: Scotland," investigates historical accounts of sea serpents and lake monsters, particularly in Scotland. The author notes that while half a dozen newspapers were published in Inverness during the 19th century, and three are indexed in the local library, none mention the Loch Ness Monster. Instead, these papers reported sea serpent stories from around the world but ignored Nessie. The article traces early reports, including a mermaid at Ullapool in 1832 and the Stronsa beast in 1809. The Daedalus serpent was discussed with irony in the Inverness Courier (IC). The first mention of a sea serpent connected to Inverness comes from 1848, when a "monster eel" measuring 5 ft in length and 14 inches around was caught at Kessock Ferry. The next mention of a monster is the "Scene at Lochend" in 1852.

An article in the Inverness Advertiser in 1854 discusses "large whales" in Highland lochs, called "Muc Shealchaig" in Gaelic, seen in Loch Bhadluachraich and Loch Ness. The author, M. Bankes, later suggests these might be European catfish. The article also lists sea serpent sightings from Scotland, including two from Inverness-shire in 1872 and 1873. A Golspie sea serpent report mentions witnesses seeing only a sandbank that appeared alive. A reference to a 1884 sighting in the IC could not be verified as the paper was not published on that date. A 1906 report of a sea serpent in Loch Broom turned out to be a basking shark. A 1915 report mentions an "Unusual Visitor" – a 12 ft bottle-nosed whale killed in the River Ness at Thornbush, which is in the tidal zone. A 1926 report humorously describes a "huge pike" swallowing a rat at Fort Augustus. The modern era of Nessie reports begins with a 1930 sighting. A 1898 sighting of "Morag" from Loch Morar is mentioned, with the creature said to appear when a native dies. The article notes that the long-necked sea creature is a modern myth, and earlier loch monsters were likely goblins, mermaids, or big fish, suggesting no monsters were in Loch Ness prior to 1930.

Loch Ness

On September 1, 1988, a skipper's sonar in Foyers Bay detected a "red blob" at 700 ft, described as a large, moving, apparently living mass about 100 feet in length, comparable to a densely-packed shoal of fish. Adrian Shine commented that it was a significant echo from the loch bottom. The Inverness Tourist Office had a notice seeking "Nessie spotters." Eastenders star Linda Davidson visited Loch Ness hoping for a sighting but was disappointed.

Dr. Gordon R. Williamson's "Scientific Report of the Whale Research Institute" (No. 39, March 1988) reports on "Seals in Loch Ness," indicating that seals visit the loch at the rate of one every two years. The article notes that seals were common visitors, with sightings from 1934 and a specific case of a seal in the loch from 16.xi.1984 until it was shot on 11.vi.1985, observed about 60 times. Between 1972-80, four seals were in the loch, and in 1985, two were seen and photographed. Williamson concludes that a jumping seal could be mistaken for a monster. The editor of the Scots Magazine refuted Williamson's findings in the September 1988 issue.

Big Fish

1. A 2.36m catfish weighing 74kg was caught in the Kablower Fließ, Potsdam district, GDR, after a two-hour struggle. It fed on small ducks, swans, and water hens.
2. The Spanish magazine "Cambio 16" reported on the "monstruo de 'Caspe Lake'" (Mequinenza Reservoir, Zaragoza). George Wall promoted the lake as home to monsters after introducing catfish, attracting fishermen from Europe.

Living Dinosaur

The Saudi Gazette reported on Scott Doggett's expedition to Namibia to search for pterodactyls, white bushmen, giant lizards, and monster snakes.

Bibliography

Several items are listed under bibliography, including: Chinese Lake monster, Paluxy prints, Kubans discovery, the Loch na Beiste monster, and investigations by Steuart Campbell suggesting otters. It also mentions Fortean Times articles on "Deepscan," "Dinsdale," "Lake Washington sturgeon," and "Mackal."

ISIS

An article mentions a novel "The Silkie" by Mr. Edmonds, which includes a "scientific appendix" on mermen. The SZ reported on Copenhagen's little mermaid statue. Kurt Vonnegut's "Galapagos" is mentioned in relation to humanity evolving into instinct-driven, seal-like creatures. The article also references a "lizard man" from Carolinas, a "crab-toed" tribe in New York State, a skin disease causing horny scales, "snake boys," a "martian with blue scales" observed in Argentina, and a "crocodile man" from Nyasaland.

LEVIATHAN

Magamouth: The Times reported on a "megamouth" shark found off the coast of Western Australia, the third such specimen found. It measured 13 ft and had lips that glowed in the dark. Previous specimens were found in 1976 and 1984.

Pacific Ocean: "Sea Breeze" featured an article by William Williamson about a 30-40 ft serpent he saw in the Pacific around 1961, described as scaly, red with black markings. He wrote to the Greenwich Maritime Museum, who could not identify it. He also saw a similar creature on TV. The article suggests it sounds like a giant sea snake.

Bibliography: Mentions "Pursuit 80" on giant turtles, Fortean Times on "irkuiem," and "Fortean Times" and "Fate" magazines on sea serpents off Nova Scotia. A book by Mr. Gibson, "Tales of an Orkney Island," mentions the 1808 Stronsa carcass. A leaflet by Tom Bryan on the Scottish Sea Serpent is described as a small and incompetent listing for tourists.

Red Sea: Reports describe a large, "rare female fish" netted off Thul, described as having a "wild strange face," a "hand which resembles that of a Dolphin's," and "two breasts, a fish tail and a thorny black cover on the face." The creature is identified as a dugong.

Big turtle: A leatherback turtle, 2.59m/8.5 ft long and weighing 907 kg, was washed ashore on the Welsh coast. It is described as the biggest turtle ever found.

KRAKEN

"Diver" magazine reported a 5m-span octopus filmed by an American TV crew off the Pacific Coast, described as the biggest octopus ever filmed.

USO

1. On July 2, the British nuclear sub "Conquerer" rammed the yacht "Dalriada" in the Irish Sea.
2. The Daily Telegraph reported on Sweden testing a new submarine detector.
3. The MUFON UFO Journal discussed submarine lightwheels, theorizing they are submerged UFOs.

Fort William

The Great Glen area of Scotland experienced a minor UFO flap in August. Sightings over Loch Ness were not confirmed. Witnesses reported seeing a "white brilliant shining light, going very, very fast" over Ben Nevis and the surrounding area. Some witnesses reported seeing two shooting stars cross the UFO's path, which astronomers identified as Mars. Mr. Moore from Australia claimed a UFO was his first trial for suspending fish farms from airships, stating that flying objects did not come from Mars.

WHALES

A 21 ft female pilot whale stranded in the Beauly Firth. Another unidentified pilot whale was spotted in Loch Fyne. A dead pilot whale was washed ashore in the Jadebusen, West Germany, measuring 5.4m and weighing 1.5 tons. The author notes that whale reports often come in waves.

CRYPTOZOOLOGY

Big Cats: BBC Wildlife featured a photo of the Exmoor Beast, a 4-4.5 ft black cat, with kills attributed to feral dogs. An early American report from 1875 described J.K. Markill's fight with a 7ft black panther in Norfolk, New York.

Yeti: Pravda reported on the search for the Dschestyrmak in the Tien Shan Mountains, concluding that the yeti is a myth.

Pygmy elephant: According to BBC Wildlife, the pygmy elephant of Africa is a myth.

Scottish Daily Record: Reported on Billy McLaren catching a fish in the River Devon, with experts trying to determine if it was a grayling or a humble dace.

This issue concludes with a note from the editor stating that this is the end of Bilk 25/26, with many reports compiled in one month. The editor hopes for a quieter flap year and plans to return in January with a normal two-page issue, wishing readers Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are the investigation of historical and contemporary accounts of cryptids, particularly sea monsters and lake monsters, alongside UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to debunk myths and find rational explanations for reported phenomena, while still presenting a wide range of unusual reports. The author expresses skepticism towards the modern myth of the Loch Ness Monster, contrasting it with earlier folklore. The magazine also covers a broad spectrum of unusual animal reports and unexplained aerial phenomena, suggesting a consistent interest in the fringes of scientific understanding.