BILK

Magazine Overview

This is BILK Nr. 75, a bi-monthly publication by Ulrich Magin, based in Rastatt, Germany, dated January 1997. The magazine covers a range of unusual phenomena and reports.

BEHEMOTH

Lake Toplitz Hoax

The article discusses a reported discovery of a "gigantic swimming monster" by British divers in Lake Toplitz, Austria, on October 8, 1996. The divers claimed the creature attacked them, biting through camera cables. However, Austrian experts doubted the story, and it was later revealed to be a hoax staged for the German TV show "Verstehen Sie Spaß?". The report references CENAP Report Nr. 236 and newspaper clippings.

Loch Ness

Briefly mentions that there are "lots of news and sightings" related to Loch Ness, referencing Andreas Trottmann's "Loch Ness Newsclipping Service".

ISIS

Philippines

Reports that Segundina Jimena claims her three children and late husband have gills and can stay underwater for six minutes. This is cited from Fortean Times 93.

Florida, USA

An unidentified woman was rescued off Fort Lauderdale on September 12, 1996. She stated she lived in the sea and had only surfaced for air. This is from Fortean Times 94.

"Humanoids from the Deep"

Mentions a 1980 movie by Barbara Peeters, screened on German TV on November 18, 1996, which depicted monsters, half fish and half human, attacking and raping women.

LEVIATHAN

Benbecula, Scotland

In 1990, Louise Whitts found a strange sea creature on the shore of Benbecula. Described as about 12 ft long, with a curved back, covered in "eaten away flesh or even a furry skin," it smelled disgusting and had "shapes like fins along its back like a dinosaur or something." Alec Coles, curator at the Hancock Museum, could not identify it. The author compares it to the "globster" of Tasmania (1962), which was later identified as decomposing whale.

Mont Saint Michel, France

A modern statue, dried camel, or "some sort of sea creature" was photographed by Sian Thornton at Mont Saint Michel. This is from Fortean Times 94.

Madagaskar

In Anakao, villagers fear the "Akiu Futi," a great white shark that has regularly approached the beach for 20 years. They believe it is possessed by ancestral spirits. Albrecht Heise reported on this in a documentary for German TV channel ZDF on August 30, 1996.

Bibliography

References a bibliography by the author on "Heuvelman'sa methods and manipulations in his sea serpents book," found in Fortean Studies, 3.

KRAKEN

Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

Six giant cuttlefish, the largest measuring 70 cm, were washed up on the beach in Lowestoft in the first week of June 1996. This is from Fortean Times 93.

Bibliography

References Michel Raynal defending the reality of the Florida monster octopus of 1896, in Fortean Studies, 3.

BIGFOOT

Bigfoot Photo Hoax

On September 17, 1996, the author received a letter from Otto Kreuzotter of N Merrick, New York, with a photo of what Kreuzotter claimed was Bigfoot. Kreuzotter described seeing the figure in a foggy morning forest. The author replied, suggesting it was a "homo sapiens furcoatiensis" (human in a costume) and questioned the photo's authenticity. Kreuzotter responded defensively on November 25, criticizing cynicism in scientific research and stating the photo was taken years ago. He claimed editors of unusual magazines dislike the unusual and that those terrified of it become "authorities." He explained the photo was taken in a wooded area on Long Island in the early morning, with the unusual light effect caused by sunlight playing on thick morning fog. He speculated about alien or inter-dimensional beings entering the mundane world. He requested the photo be printed, despite potential "cynical sneering." The author maintains his opinion that the photo is a crude and unconvincing hoax, citing clear artificial light sources and a studio environment. He questions why the photo is in focus and the subject centered if it was a surprise encounter, concluding it looks like a human in a badly-made costume. The author asserts he is not afraid of the paranormal but calls a hoax a hoax when he recognizes one.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK include reports of unidentified sea creatures (behemoths and leviathans), mysterious human-like figures (Bigfoot), and unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance, particularly regarding the Bigfoot photo, is skeptical and critical of hoaxes, emphasizing a rational approach to unusual claims while acknowledging the existence of the paranormal.