BILK

Magazine Overview

This issue of BILK, number 83, published bi-monthly by Ulrich Magin in May 1998, focuses on a variety of unexplained phenomena, from cryptids and sea monsters to UFOs and historical mysteries. The subscription cost is 15 DM for Europe and 20 DM for the rest of the world.

BEHEMOTH

The "BEHEMOTH" section compiles numerous reports related to mysterious creatures. For Loch Ness, sightings from June 1937 to July 1997 are listed, including a woman spotting "something" off Torness, a family seeing an object in February 1997, a couple seeing two humps off Abriachan, and Richard White's 10-picture series in March 1997 near Urquhart Castle. Additional reports include a visitor's sighting near Foyers in April 1997, a "dark object" moving swiftly in June 1997, sonar contacts in July 1997, and a camper's report of a "strange incident" in August 1997. Gary Campbell of the "Ufficial Loch Ness Monster Fan Club" reported 11 sightings in 1997. The reports are sourced from Andreas Trottmann's "Loch Ness Newsclipping Service".

Under bibliography, the search for Mokele-mbembe by English naturalist Redmond Ü'Henion is mentioned, with his book "Congo Journey" published in 1996. The Roraima mountain range in Brasil is noted for sightings of tiny dinosaurs, though large forest fires occurred to the south. A ritual by Yanomami chief Davi Kopenawa Yanomami to call for rain is also mentioned.

A disturbing incident on the Philippine island of Luzon involved a large python swallowing a two-month-old toddler. Nearby, a 32-year-old hunter had been swallowed by a python months earlier. Other brief mentions include a "Nessie conspiracy" by tourist officials, a 20-foot eel in a Birmingham canal, and a "slug-like giant creature" crossing moors in the Pennines, UK.

ISIS

In Easter Island folklore, the god Tangaroa is described as having the ability to transform into a tunny, turtle, or seal. The myth resembles the selkie belief found elsewhere.

Under bibliography, a mermaid sighting in Pennine moors, a Copenhagen mermaid beheading, four tiny mummies washed ashore in Java in 1972, the "Fish Boy of Naples," and a "werwolf" seen in Wisconsin in 1936 are listed. L. Coleman has identified three species of ape in the US: Bigfoot, an aquatic chimpanzee, and a three-toed ape.

LEVIATHAN

An entry from Nathan Bailey's "Universal Etymological English Dictionary" (London 1721) describes a "Unicorn whale" as an eighteen-foot fish with a horse-like head, scales, six large fins, and a nine-foot horn. This is presented as an example of how traditional imagery was used to describe unfamiliar creatures like the narwhal.

The section also lists "Extinct" whales rediscovered, a Tasmanian sea monster, a giant penguin hoax in Florida, and 37 reports of oarfish in England. A basking shark in Scotland is referred to as an "old chesnut."

KRAKEN

Reports of strange miniature squids in toxic waste in the USA are mentioned.

UFO

The movie "Sphere," directed by Barry Levinson and written by Michael Crichton, is discussed. The plot involves a flying saucer found on the ocean floor, which is suggested to be from our own future and materializes fears. The movie is described as boring by some reviews.

Brief bits:

Ron Halliday claims a UFO, not an iceberg, sunk the Titanic. In Patagonia, efforts are underway to raise and restore a Nazi submarine spotted in Golfo de San Matias, which reportedly served Nazi officers fleeing after World War II.

WHALES

Twenty dead dolphins washed ashore near Perpignan, France, in February 1998. Conspiracy theories suggest that 22 dead dolphins found later had holes in their throats, possibly caused by the US Navy training dolphins as "swimming weapons" to explode mines. The article questions the US Navy's involvement and the lack of reporting in quality papers, while also noting the tendency for some to blame pollution or the Navy for mass whale strandings.

Mass strandings of sperm whales along the North Sea shore are noted as common. A dead fin whale found off the Spanish coast had a "ctw. ball" of plastic bags in its stomach. A sperm whale stranded in the Netherlands in February 1998 is described in detail from a contemporary broadsheet, noting its size and the description of its tongue.

The article mentions Richard Ellis' book on sea monsters and criticizes the killing of whales by Japan and Norway, urging support for Greenpeace.

A grey whale cow, nicknamed JJ, rescued after stranding near San Diego, was returned to the sea but did not join a shoal, raising concerns about orca attacks. An 8-year-old boy named Nikki Brice, who had suffered from lack of oxygen at birth, began speaking after swimming with dolphins.

MARINE MYSTERIES

Two scientists, William Ryan and Walter Pitman, propose that the biblical Deluge occurred in the Black Sea due to glacial melt flooding the Mediterranean and overflowing into the Black Sea, forcing inhabitants to move to higher regions.

A "ghost ship" incident involving Antonio Marciano, who disappeared after calling his family from a freighter, is reported. The article speculates whether this was a criminal offense rather than a supernatural event.

Finds of 14 artifacts on Flores, dated to 750,000 BP, suggest Homo erectus was capable of building boats or rafts to cross at least 20 miles of sea.

A mixed material report mentions an expedition for "Atlantis" off Cornwall.

CRYPTOZOOLOGY

The discovery of a biped ape, which died out 10 million years ago and is unrelated to humans, is described in "GEO" and "Spiegel." This ape is considered a candidate for "manimals."

An article on animal discoveries in Vietnam is mentioned from "Geo 3/1998."

The issue concludes with a call for reader feedback and a hope that the reader enjoyed the issue, with the next issue promised for July.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and mysterious events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports and theories, while also expressing a critical view of certain explanations and advocating for animal welfare (e.g., supporting Greenpeace and questioning military actions involving animals). There is a clear interest in folklore, historical accounts, and recent sightings that challenge conventional understanding.