Bilk - no 080 - 1997 11

Magazine Overview

This is BILK Nr. 80, a bi-monthly publication from November 1997, produced by Ulrich Magin in Rastatt, Germany. The subscription cost is 15 DM for Europe and 20 DM for the rest of the world, with payment to be sent in bank notes only.

BEHEMOTH

The "BEHEMOTH" section leads with a report from Peru in the summer of 1997, where the Peruvian navy was reportedly searching for a 40-meter-long giant serpent in the Amazon River, resembling the Loch Ness Monster. The source cited is "Focus", a German news magazine (35/1997). The author notes a lack of further details.

Next, the issue discusses the Lake Van monster in Turkey. CNN's internet page from June 12, 1997, featured a "bad quality amateur picture" of the local monster. Andreas Trottmann provided a movie on a computer disc containing a video sequence supposedly from one recording, but analyzed as three separate parts from different times, weather, and surface conditions. Clip one is identified as the wake of a motorboat, and clip three as a rock in shallow water. Two occasions showed a thin silver line of a long wave approaching the shore, with pebbles visible in the wave valley, suggesting a stone moved by wave motion. The middle part is described as difficult to explain, showing a dark, fin-like object surfacing in rough waves and moving quickly, followed by splashing. The author considers whether this is a monster's back or an object towed by a boat. The conclusion is that if the sequences are presented as a single sighting of the Lake Van monster, the affair is likely a hoax. If they are separate videos, two are explained, but one remains unexplained.

A bibliography lists related topics: Karl Shuker on Lake Brosno (Russia), Loch Ness, Loch Morar, and Lochy, and Lake Storsjo and the Amazon River in "Strange 18". It also mentions a sighting of the Flathead Monster in October 1996 and a wave of sightings in 1993, also in "Strange 18". A separate note mentions a 70 cm iguana caught by police in Munich, Germany, on September 24, 1997.

ISIS

The "ISIS" section reviews "Bipedia" #15 from September 1997, noting it's the first time in years that two issues have been published within a year. The review criticizes "ancient astronaut speculation by some inept German authors" but praises Carlos Bonet's study on Lovecraft's amphibians. It also highlights Francois de Sarre's "About Early Water Stages in Humanity: A Comparison between Aquatic Ape Theory and the Initial Bipedalism Theory". The author supports "Bipedia" despite finding it "somewhat too open minded", and provides contact information for CERBI in Nice, France. A bibliography entry points to "lizard people underneath Los Angeles" in "Strange 18".

LEVIATHAN

Under "LEVIATHAN", a report from Solaro, Corsica, describes a UFO sighting from July 1994. The witness, Axel F, observed lights from the beach about 1 to 2 meters high and about 15 meters away, described as 8 to 12 triangles of equal size, with a baseline of 50 cm and a height of 1 meter. They had different luminosities and were constantly in motion like musical keys. The author speculates this could be interpreted as a multi-finned sea serpent or marine lightwheel, referencing a similar case by Heuvelmans off Madagascar. The witness may have seen a school of dolphins.

In the Bahamas, diver Brian Skerry photographed an oarfish, described as having a comb-like structure and antennae-like features. The fish was 10 ft long and 10 cm wide, standing vertically in the water with only its dorsal fin moving. It dove quickly when approached. This observation, documented in "Focus", rules out oarfish as contenders for sea serpent sightings. Additional information is provided from "Fortean Times 102".

A letter to the editor in "Focus" (40/1997) from Adolf and Brigitte Sommer of Wörthsee, Mexico, describes finding a 4-meter-long oarfish on the shore of Baja California after a stormy night in February 1996. Local fishermen, unfamiliar with the animal, approached it with caution. The creature broke into three pieces when hung on a scaffolding. The Sommers later realized it was an oarfish after seeing a photo of the Bahama oarfish. The article notes "Focus" refers to the oarfish as "Bandfisch" instead of the German name "Riemenfisch".

A bibliography mentions "Megamouth shark captures" in "Strange 18". Another note reports a leatherback turtle caught in a fisherman's net at Miramar Beach, Gaia, northern Portugal, in early September 1997, accompanied by a large photo in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". The turtle was described as being as large as some kids playing with it.

KRAKEN

A brief entry mentions "Strange squids ex nihilo in toxic waste" from "Strange 18".

CRYPTOZOOLOGY

This section features a quote from Karl Shuker in "Strange 18", who states that "blatent disregard" of cryptozoology skeptics is unwarranted, as new animals are discovered annually. The author of BILK expresses skepticism, arguing that the discovery of numerous unknown animals actually argues against cryptozoology as a science, questioning how creatures like Nessie or Bigfoot could remain undiscovered in explored areas. The author suggests that cryptozoology is more of a pastime. The section also notes that "Weekly World News" is a good source for unusual cryptozoological information, and mentions a "Süddeutsche Zeitung" article from November 26, 1996, detailing photos of angels and insects from Mars.

Marine Life

New microorganisms have been discovered by the submarine "Alvin" in hot springs on the ocean floor, as reported by "Spiegel". The thylacine has reportedly been "rediscovered" on Irian Jaya, Indonesia, with farmers in Jayawijaya province claiming thylacines killed pigs and goats. The local government offers a reward for a captured thylacine, but the article notes that despite claims, the thylacine remains extinct. The frog "Rheobattrachus silus", discovered in 1972 in Queensland, Australia, is thought to be extinct, notable for breeding young in the mother's stomach.

American biologist Charles Fisher discovered a new species of worms on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico off New Orleans. These creatures live in methane ice and feed on bacteria, described as rosé-skinned with white hair. The source is "Focus".

Darwinism

This section discusses recent discoveries questioning Darwinism, specifically Michael Richardson's findings that Ernst Haeckel's 1866 textbook illustrations of "ontogenesis repeating phylogenesis" were faked. Haeckel claimed embryos resembled fish, then reptiles, then ape-like creatures, a claim Richardson refuted with specimen collections. The article suggests this revelation should challenge biology and alternative theories, such as Francois de Sarre's initial bipedalism, which used Haeckel's law as an argument.

USO

On February 2, 1988, Spanish fishermen observed "six luminous spheres" emerge from the sea off Casablanca, Morocco. A night of sightings followed across Spain, with witnesses reporting balls of light diving into bodies of water. The report by Rubia-Munoz in "INFO Journal" suggests these might be bolides, but the Casablanca case is deemed fascinating and potentially related to "lightwheel" phenomena.

REVIEW ELLIS: SEEUNGEHEUER

This review discusses a book by Ellis on sea monsters, finding it disappointing due to its heavy reliance on academic cryptozoology and questionable interpretations. The reviewer criticizes Ellis for accepting dubious claims, such as equating a recovered shark spine with a large unknown reptile, and for misattributing historical illustrations. While praising Ellis's descriptions of real animals, the reviewer finds his writing on sea monsters to be unconvincing and error-filled, particularly his assertion that mermaid sightings are due to manatees. The reviewer recommends the book only for its sections on real animals.

MARINE FORTEANA

A note mentions the 50th anniversary of Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki raft journey, referencing "Neue Zürcher Zeitung". It also reports that "New Scientist" stated in May 1997 that giant ice cubes orbit the Earth and routinely enter the atmosphere, according to Louis Frank of the University of Iowa.

LOST LANDS

The Nile delta is sinking into the Mediterranean Sea at a rate of 5 millimeters per year, calculated by a Smithsonian expert. This rate suggests a loss of 30 km of land by the end of the next century. The article dismisses Atlantis fanatics' dating of underwater ruins, suggesting slow geological processes as a more likely explanation.

DINOSAURS

New findings suggest that the Oviraptor was not an egg thief but protected its own eggs. Dinosaur imagery has changed, moving away from Spielberg's depiction of them as monster killers. A French-Portuguese research team in Portugal discovered dinosaur eggs, including embryos, near Lourinha, north of Lisbon. These were from carnivorous dinosaurs, each 13 cm long with a 8 cm diameter.

MARINE LIFE

A large school of whales stranded in New Zealand, resulting in many deaths despite rescue attempts. The article notes that whale strandings are common around Christmas time in both hemispheres.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of BILK magazine consistently explores phenomena that lie outside mainstream scientific understanding, including lake monsters, UFOs, and cryptozoological creatures. There is a clear editorial stance that encourages critical examination of evidence, as seen in the analysis of the Lake Van monster videos and the skepticism expressed towards certain cryptozoological claims. The magazine also engages with scientific discoveries, such as new microorganisms and evolutionary debates, often framing them within the context of unexplained phenomena. The recurring theme is the exploration of the unknown and the questioning of established narratives, while maintaining a degree of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims.