Bilk

Magazine Overview

This issue of Bilk, number 69, is dated January 1969 and is edited by Ulrich Magin from Fribolinstraße 5, 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. The subscription price is DM 15 for Europe and DM 20 for the rest of the world. The magazine offers a "merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" greeting to its subscribers.

Featured Articles and Reports

Bibliography of Cryptozoological Reports

The issue begins with a bibliography of various cryptozoological accounts. These include African dinosaurs (Strange 16, p.6-11, 52-55), the Irish folklore legend of the "master of otters" (Strange 16, p.32-33, 49), and reviews of Karl Shuker's books "Dragons" and "In Search of Prehistoric Survivors" (Strange 16, p. 43). It also mentions "grunts of Nessie" heard by a submarine in Loch Ness (Magazin für Grenzwissenschaften 13, p. 764; Strange 16, p. 29), and sightings of a monster in Lake Tianchi on the Chinese-Corean border (Strange 16, p.5; Magazin für Grenzwissenschaften 13, p. 764). A report from Welt (Oct 24, 95) details a python in Kenya that swallowed a boy, who was subsequently saved. An article by Francois de Sarre discusses unidentified flying dragons in the French Alps (PROTEG News 3/95, p. 29-36).

Lake Van Monster, Turkey

The magazine revisits the Lake Van monster, first mentioned in Bilk 43. In 1990, many locals observed a monster. In July 1991, a 14-year-old named Semih Aliriz swam towards what people were pointing at, only to discover it was an inflatable mattress riddled with bullet holes. In October 1995, the monster reportedly surfaced again. Bestami Alkan, Vice-Governor of Van Province, claimed to have witnessed a dinosaur-like beast with a hairy body. In 1994, Member of Parliament Nadir Kartal told Parliament in Ankara that the creature had a black head and was furry. The issue of the monster was debated in the Turkish Parliament in October 1995, leading to the establishment of a commission to investigate sighting reports and define tracking methods. Journalists were reportedly crowding the lake shores with cameras and motorboats. The Frankfurter Rundschau (2. Nov 95), Welt (2. Nov 95), and Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung (2. Nov 95) are cited. However, not everyone took the affair seriously. According to the "Mannheimer Morgen" (2. Nov 95), opposition MP Edip Safter Gaydali remarked, "I think you mean the monster of inflation," to which Mustafa Zeydan replied, "Yes, it must be that monster we inherited from you." The article speculates if this is an attempt to boost tourism in the Van region, which has suffered due to the Kurdish liberation struggle and a decline in German tourists. Lake Van is described as a high plateau lake, 1,700 m above sea level, up to 100 m deep, with a surface area of 8,600 square kilometers. It is known as the Anatolian "Dead Sea" due to its high salt content and lack of outlet, supporting only simple algae and one fish species. The author wonders if the Lake Van monster will be resurrected in 1999.

Usan, Scotland Sea Serpent

An item from Nessletter 123 (R Hepple) references an Inverness Courier article from February 1, 1849, about a sea serpent caught at Usan, Scotland. Brian Herring researched the case and found at the Montrose Museum that it was only a species of marine worm. The author notes that Oudemans reported the incident in detail, and a summary can be found in Heuvelmans (p.221-22), suggesting that cryptozoologists sometimes rediscover existing information. The author emphasizes that the Inverness Courier covered major UK sea serpent stories in detail in the 19th century but never mentioned a sea serpent in Loch Ness. This is presented as proof that no monster was seen there prior to Alex Campbell's "invention" of Nessie in 1930. The article questions why local people, described as superstitious, would report sea serpents but not Nessie, and points out that stories of sea serpents in the Loch that turned out to be swimming ponies, dolphins, or eels are often overlooked.

Bibliography of Sea Monsters and Cryptozoological Myths

Further bibliographical entries include a review of Ellis' book on sea monsters (Fortean Times 83, p. 59) and a review of a new book on the Caddy, the British Columbian monster, by its investigators LeBlond and Bousfield (Strange 16, p. 45).

Monster Movies

Two recent movies about giant octopi were shown on German TV. The first, on Kabel 1 (Oct 14-15, 1995), was "It came from beneath the Sea" (USA 1956), directed by Robert Gordon, about a mutated giant octopus encountered by a submarine. The second, on Dec 9, 1995, was "Der Polyp aus der Tiefe" (USA 1972), featuring another large, unfriendly sea creature discovered off Mexico.

Recent Reports (UFOs and UAPs)

The issue lists recent reports of unexplained phenomena: undersea noises off California (Strange 16, p. 5), a UFO hovering over the sea at Tolo, Greece (summer 1992, Fortean Times 83, p. 55), a UFO over Lake Nahuel Huapi near San Carlos de Bariloche (Fortean Times 83, p. 8; Magazin für Grenzwissenschaften 13, p. 730), a glowing ball of light over the Pacific in June 1994 (Fortean Times 83, p.12), and circles on lake ice (Magazin für Grenzwissenschaften 13, p. 765).

Maria Laxara: A Mysterious Island

An article on Maria Laxara is mentioned from Strange 16, p. 12ff, describing it as a mysterious island that appears and disappears on maps. The author's research indicates it was first depicted as Isla Santa Maria la Garta on a 1730 world map by Guillaume DeListe. It is located halfway between Hawaii and Baja California. The inscription "Retour de Mendaña" suggests it was discovered by Alvaro de Mendaña de Neyra during his Pacific explorations in 1567-1568. The author speculates that Maria la Garta might have been Mendaña's name for a Hawaiian island he spotted and later moved on maps. The practice of filling sea maps with imaginary islands is noted.

Cryptozoology and Scientific Interpretation

The cryptozoology section critiques the methods of some researchers, particularly Karl Shuker, for turning mythical creatures into "real" ones. Shuker's column in Strange 16 is cited for stories of flying women abducting children. The author questions whether these creatures could be identified as gigantic bats, and draws a parallel to Erich von Däniken's interpretation of legends as evidence of ancient astronauts. The section concludes by suggesting that cryptozoologists find new species in every fairy tale, posing the question if the seven dwarfs might be Neanderthal men.

Unknown Horse Species Found in Tibet

According to press reports (TIME, Nov 27, 95; Spiegel, Dec 4, 95), zoologists have discovered an unknown species of horse in eastern Tibet, potentially surviving examples of ice age horses. DNA tests are expected to provide certainty.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Bilk demonstrates a critical and investigative approach to cryptozoological claims and unexplained phenomena. While reporting on various sightings and legends, the magazine often questions the evidence, methodology, and potential motivations behind such reports. There is a clear skepticism towards sensationalism and a tendency to debunk or provide alternative explanations, as seen in the analysis of the Loch Ness "monster tradition" and the Usan sea serpent. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous research and a cautious interpretation of evidence, often highlighting the tendency for researchers to find what they are looking for, even in folklore or misidentified natural phenomena. The magazine also touches upon the intersection of these topics with popular culture, such as monster movies, and the potential economic drivers behind some reported phenomena, like tourism for the Lake Van region.