Bilk - no 063 - 1995 01

Magazine Overview

This issue of Bilk, number 63, dated January 1995, is published by Ulrich Magin in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. Subscriptions are DM 15 for Germany and DM 20 for the rest of the globe, with a note that foreign cheques cannot be accepted due to heavy bank charges. In a departure from the usual format, this issue leads with the USO (Unidentified Submerged Object) section, presented as the most important news item.

USO (Unidentified Submerged Object)

The primary focus of this section is the Swedish navy's submarine hunts from the 1980s and early 1990s. The article reveals that the navy has finally admitted these hunts were based on misidentification of common objects and an over-reaction to perceived threats. Two articles from German newspapers, Tagesspiegel and taz, are summarized. Haakon Neckman, former commander of a special navy unit trained to track Soviet submarines, stated that tapes of ordinary animal noises, such as seals, otters, mink, and shoals of fish, proved identical to the 'alien submarine noises' recorded during the hunts. Neckman admitted that some hunts might have been triggered by animal noises during his command between 1990 and 1993. Despite extensive use of water bombs, no alien submarine was ever confirmed in Swedish waters, even after the U 137 Soviet submarine ran aground off Karlskrona in 1981. Civilian sightings were often explained as strange waves, trawlers in fog, or occasional seals and whales. The acoustic confirmation was also found to be faulty. Ultra-modern microphones installed in 1991 along the Swedish coast recorded 'engine and caterpillar-like sounds,' leading Bengt Gustafsson to predict in February 1993 that 'we will know in the next months who is visiting us.' However, the navy now knows the sounds were likely from mink. The article suggests that this story offers lessons for Loch Ness monster hunters regarding the reinterpretation of sonar and photographic evidence.

An episode on September 13, 1992, is recounted where the Navy fired torpedoes and water bombs at an alleged intruder, but found no dead fish, oil leak, or wreckage. Press spokesman Owe Wagermark explained that hunts up until the summer of 1994, triggered by the detection of underwater sounds, were often preceded by reports of 'identical sounds.' He noted, 'We've got mainly mink.'

Book Review: Forbidden Archeology

This section reviews "Forbidden Archeology" by Michael A Cremo and Richard L Thompson. The reviewer describes it as one of the most interesting Fortean books, incorporating cryptozoology. Published by Govardhan Hill Publishing, associated with the Hare Krishna movement, the book aims to demonstrate that current perceptions of human evolution are incorrect. While the reviewer disagrees with the book's main thesis, finding it as preconceived as the scientific dogma it attacks, they acknowledge that the authors have assembled a vast collection of anomalous human fossils and artifacts, including many favorites for which the reviewer had previously found little information. The reviewer recommends the 800-page book as a source of material but expresses distrust in its conclusions. Areas of the book related to cryptozoology, such as Bigfoot and almas, are noted as relying heavily on professors who believe in these creatures rather than critical evidence from dedicated forteans. The book is recommended for those interested in exploring unusual ideas on evolution, with a mention of Francoise de Sarre's beliefs.

Behemoth (Bibliography)

This section lists various reports and articles related to large, mysterious creatures:

• A joke from a local newspaper about Nessie's usual 'appearance time' after several whiskies.
• Reports of 'dog-faces' fish in Clear Lake, California, identified as catfish, with F de Sarre suggesting they might be intermediate mammalian-fish creatures.
• Giant turtles in USA lakes and big beavers in Illinois.
• A surgeon's photo of the Loch Ness monster from 1934 is identified as a hoax.
• Reports of seals in New Jersey and the East River, New York.
• Lake monster news in Fortean Times, including the Lake Windermere Tizzie-Wizzie being a publicity stunt and a lake serpent in Llyn Cynwch, Wales.
• A 'flying dragon' in Southern France in 1930/1931, with research by F de Sarre.
• Flying snakes in Bulgaria.
• A sighting of a big serpent in June 1993 at Cisterna, Italy.
• A new book on bunyips and other mystery beasts from Australia.

Isis (Bibliography)

This section covers reports of mermaids and human-like water monsters:

• A Hong Kong mermaid sighting in October 1993.
• Mermaids and human-like water monsters are mentioned by contributors to "Fortean Studies," a new venture by Fortean Times. Two studies by Sven Rosen and Michael Goss on historical forteana are recommended.

Leviathan (Bibliography)

This section focuses on sea serpents:

• In October 1993, pilots spotted two mating sea serpents in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada.
• An article by the author discusses the Irish sea serpent wave of 1850.
• A Tecolutla sea monster sighting in Mexico in 1969 is confirmed by new research to have been a sperm whale.

Kraken (Bibliography)

This section details the St Augustine, Florida, monster:

• An article by Michel Raynal in "Fortean Studies" provides a detailed account of the St Augustine monster. The reviewer considers it excellent 'scientific' cryptozoology and suggests that the 1896 carcass might have been a gigantic new species of Cirroteuthis, though identification as a sperm whale is also considered valid. Raynal proposes new tests to support his theory.
• A similar article on the monster by Raynal and others appeared in "Of Sea and Shore."

Lights in/over the Sea

This section reports on unexplained aerial and underwater phenomena:

• The US denied that its nuclear submarines were responsible for an incident in October when Russian forces detected an unidentified submarine off Kola Peninsula. Admiral Jerofejew stated the sub left the naval base after several warnings.
• In May 1994, a meteorite fell into the North Sea off the Dutch coast, with blue and red points of light observed, and one part allegedly crashing at Alkmaar.
• In July 1994, a 1.5 km long and 300 m wide strip of sea off the Dutch island Texel was found to be devoid of life, attributed to an explosive spread of luminous sea animals.

Marine Life

This section provides brief reports on marine animals:

• Whales: A 20-tonne, 8-meter whale was rescued after five days by divers in the Persian Gulf. A 15-meter sperm whale stranded on a sandbank in Germany died, causing mild panic due to fears of explosion from gases formed during decomposition.
• Shark: A 42-year-old man was attacked and killed by a great white shark off Santa Barbara, California.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Bilk are Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs), cryptozoology (including sea monsters, Bigfoot, and almas), and anomalous marine phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting reports and research while maintaining a degree of skepticism, particularly regarding definitive conclusions in cryptozoology and the interpretation of unexplained events. The publication seems to favor detailed bibliographical listings of various phenomena, encouraging further research and reinterpretation of evidence, as seen in the commentary on the Loch Ness monster and the review of "Forbidden Archeology."