Bilk - no 035 - 1990 05

Magazine Overview

BILK, issue 35, dated May 1990, is a publication that delves into various unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and intriguing reports from around the world. The magazine features a collection of short articles and news items, often referencing other publications and broadcasts.

Behemoth

The "Behemoth" section opens with a humorous anecdote about an elevator malfunction leading to a fabricated tale of the Loch Ness Monster. It then reports on a German radio station's broadcast by Hans-Georg Niemitz about the Loch Ness monster, detailing an exhibition in Drumnadrochit that attracts tourists from the US, Japan, and Germany. The exhibition reportedly emphasizes that there is no scientific proof of a monster and that logs, waves, and water birds are often mistaken for it. A Japanese businessman's unsuccessful attempt to find the beast is also mentioned. A query is posed regarding alleged articles about the Loch Ness monster in The Scotsman during the mid-1920s.

Further content in this section includes a mention of the "swissair Gazette" (3/1990) featuring articles on dragons and dragon folklore by Helmut Brinker, Robert H. Gassmann, Michael Henss, Iso Camartin, Peter Sager, and Toni Bürgin. The latter article, "They Really Lived the Legend and the Facts," discusses dinosaurs but also mentions the Loch Ness Monster. An article from the "Bulletin Mensual de la Société Linnéene de Lyon" (1990, 59) by Michel Raynal and Michel Dethier is cited, detailing recent cryptozoological discoveries such as a giant gecko from New Zealand and a strange bird from the Marquezas, which are linked to Maori legends and early discoverer's tales. A report from "El Pais" (Madrid) on a newly discovered dinosaur in Spain is also noted, alongside the paleontological view that birds are surviving species of dinosaurs.

Isis

Under the "Isis" heading, a peculiar story from a Manila tabloid, retold in the SAUDI GAZETTE, describes a "woman gives birth to fish." The report cautions readers about monster stories from the Philippines, noting that such sensationalist tales are common in Manila's tabloids. The specific case involves "Goldfish Flores Pascua," a mudfish supposedly born to Lilian Pascua, 22, of Paniqui. The story gained traction in local tabloids, despite skepticism from local officials like Mayor Cesar Cuchapin. The report concludes by stating that "Goldfish's" life ended when it was eaten by the family dog. The article also references other sensational tabloid stories from the Philippines, including an 8-year-old boy giving birth to a fetus and a teenage girl becoming pregnant by a spirit.

Leviathan

The "Leviathan" section briefly mentions a report in J.J. Barloy's Newsletter (49, March 1990) about a "white shark in South Africa, more than 9 metres long, in July 1989." It also notes an article in "Tauchen" (July 1989) about "monsters of the deep."

Kraken

The "Kraken" section reports an incident from The Sun (London) on December 27, 1989, where an octopus the size of a cow allegedly overturned an 18ft boat off the Philippines. Fourteen survivors were found, but a two-week-old boy drowned. The father, Alfredo Caballero, claimed the giant octopus grabbed the boat's outriggers.

Uso

In the "Uso" (Unidentified Submerged Object) section, it's reported that on February 28, the Swedish Navy fired underwater grenades at a USO south of Stockholm after detecting sonar signals. Despite extensive searches, no traces of a damaged ship were found. The report mentions that the Navy fired on USOs three times within a week with usual results (no conclusive findings). A note from "Cuadernos de Ufologia" (Jan 90) is included, referencing the legend of Laguna Tagua-Tagua in Chile, where a bewitched sunken city is said to appear on St. John's Day, causing blindness to those who see it. An article from "The Observer" is also mentioned, discussing the theory that early Britons originated from islands now submerged under the North Sea, referred to as a "Celtic Atlantis."

Cryptozoology

The "Cryptozoology" section highlights several new discoveries: new species of gecko and lemur found in Madagascar, a coelacanth filmed, and an article in the French magazine "Science & Vie" exposing the famous Shipton picture of a yeti's footprint as a hoax. However, Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner is quoted confirming he saw a yeti in Tibet, believing there are two types: a black ape and a red monkey or bear.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports on unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and folklore from various global sources. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these claims and legends, often citing other publications and media, while also acknowledging skepticism and the possibility of misidentification or hoaxes. There is a clear interest in creatures of myth and legend, such as the Loch Ness Monster, dragons, and yetis, as well as unexplained sightings like USOs and unusual biological claims.