Bilk - no 032 - 1989 11

Magazine Overview

This issue of BILK, published bi-monthly by Ulrich Magin in West Germany, is dated November 1989. It is priced at 15 German Marks for a one-year subscription. The cover story, titled "Just My Imagination," explores outdoor mythology and supernatural beasts, inviting reader contributions. The magazine covers a wide range of unexplained phenomena, from lake monsters and sea creatures to UFOs and cryptids.

Behemoth

The "Behemoth" section compiles various reports of unusual sightings and creatures:

• Loch Ness: Andreas Trottmann reported a sighting of a dark gray hump with a white patch in Urquhart Bay on May 11, 1988. The sighting was brief but considered interesting due to the observer's familiarity with the loch.
• Nahuel Huapi: This lake is described as a 'hotspot' for fortean phenomena. Past reports include the killing of a pterodactyl in 1817, a ghost plane sighting in 1968, and the discovery of 'prehistoric petroglyphs' around the lake.
• Saone River: A 2m/7ft shark was found dead on the bank of the Saone River near Lyon, 400 km inland. Experts believe it was a hoax, as the shark could not have reached the spot on its own. A similar alleged catch in the Loire River in 1974 was also confirmed as a hoax. The Saone River has a reputation for 'giant fish'.
• Australia: The fight of Australian aborigines for the nest of the Wagyl, a mythical rainbow serpent, in Perth is ongoing. Police detained 54 protesters, including leaders and supporters, as the government planned a culture center on the site while aborigines sought to preserve it as a sacred place. Scientists have discovered an 8m fossil lizard in Australia, potentially linked to sightings of giant monitor lizards.
• Bibliography: The section includes brief mentions of a giant catfish caught near Cloppenburg, Germany, the death of wildlife expert Sir Peter Scott, the publication of 'Strange 4' with a review of Meurger's book, and a 17ft python serpent caught in Miami, Florida.

ISIS

The "ISIS" section focuses on more specific creature reports:

• Owlman: The Cornish 'owlman' is described as a bird-woman, a mix of owl and man. A similar creature was reported in the Halfren Forest in Powys, Wales. The 'Clifden Merman' was last seen in 1935.
• Aquatic Ape: The theory of an 'aquatic homunculus' leaving the sea to father land animals is discussed, referencing F. de Sarre's book "Des veritables Origines de l'homme." The author agrees with much of Sarre's work but disagrees with some points, encouraging readers to contact CERBI in Nice, France, for more information. 'Initial bipedalism' has also been mentioned in recent issues of Science Frontiers and INFO Journal.

Leviathan

This section covers large aquatic creatures:

• Megamouth: A fourth megamouth shark, a 4m adult male, washed ashore at Hamamatsu, Japan, on January 23. The body was lost at sea, but photographs were taken. The article notes the animal may be rarer than previously thought.
• Alaska: A cow drifting 210m below the surface was videotaped by scientists in a submersible near Baranof Island. It appeared to be recently dead.

Kraken

• Bermuda: In May 1988, a 'blob' washed ashore in Bermuda. The ISC Newsletter compared it to similar strandings in Tasmania and New Zealand, speculating they could be remains of giant octopi, though the traditional explanation is whale blubber.

USOS (Unidentified Submerged Objects)

• Japan: A town called Akui is becoming a 'UFO town' after over 40 sightings were reported in the summer. A UFO party exists in Tokyo, and 32% of Japanese people believe UFOs exist.
• Soviet subs: A new secret Soviet sub was reportedly spied during a US mission in the North Atlantic. Despite concerns, US diplomatic sources suggest 'some exaggeration' regarding Baltic USOs.
• Atazar Reservoir, Spain: Teenage UFO fans reportedly observed dozens of UFOs, USOs, and humanoids, including abductions, between 1979 and 1981.

Cryptozoology

• Cerro Neblina, Venezuela: Dr. Roy McDiarmid discovered 17 new species, mainly lizards and amphibians, in this area known for dinosaur encounters.
• Spain: Scientists are preparing an inventory of marine invertebrates, warning that pollution may have destroyed many species.
• Lake Bala, Wales: This lake is home to the Gwyniad, a fish found only there, and has a 'sunken city legend'.
• Lower Volga River, USSR: Several yetis were reportedly seen in September.

Marine Life

• Whales: Reports include 56 pilot whales stranding in New Zealand, a baby sperm whale beached in Texas, rare 'beaked whales' stranding in California, and sperm whales stranding in Prince Edward Islands, Canada.
• Sharks: A baby whale shark was caught in the Gulf of Oman, and sharks were observed off Sicily. A shark attack was reported off Santa Barbara, California.
• Coelacanth: An article discusses the possible existence of coelacanths near the Balearen Islands, Spain, with mentions of sightings in Galicia, Greece, and Mallorca. Scales from a coelacanth caught off Florida in 1949 are cited as proof of their existence. Japanese zoos' interest in catching coelacanths is noted as a potential threat to the species.

Just My Imagination (Continued)

• Owlmen: Sally Chapman and her friend reported seeing an 'owlman' near Mawnan Church in Cornwall, described as a large owl with red eyes and pointed ears. Similar reports come from Haltren Forest in Powys.
• Clifden Merman: The merman was last seen in 1935 in Clifden, Connemara, Ireland.
• Mermaids: Reports of mermaids off the west coast of Scotland are mentioned, including an incident in Benbecula in 1830 where a mermaid was stoned to death. Alexander Gunn reported seeing a mermaid in Sutherland.
• The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui: This yeti-like being has reportedly scared climbers since 1890. Professor Norman Collie fled from it, describing it as a muscular brute up to 25 feet tall.

The section concludes by advising that cryptozoological searches are done at the reader's own risk and encourages them to get a picture to 'make a cryptozoologist happy'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are the exploration of unexplained phenomena, cryptids, and folklore from around the world. The magazine adopts an open-minded yet critical stance, presenting various reports and sightings while also acknowledging hoaxes and natural explanations. There is a clear encouragement for reader participation and investigation into these mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of curiosity and a desire to document and share information on the fringes of scientific understanding, particularly concerning cryptozoology and fortean events.