The ISC Newsletter

Magazine Overview

The ISC Newsletter, Summer 1983, Vol. 2, No. 2, published by the International Society of Cryptozoology, features a lead article on a New Guinea expedition that observed the 'Ri', a mysterious marine creature. The newsletter also includes reports on Society meetings, a comprehensive bibliography of recent cryptozoology books, and a 'Message from the Editor' regarding address changes and publication schedules.

New Guinea Expedition Observes Ri

The main article details a three-person expedition to New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, led by Roy Wagner, a cultural anthropologist. The team aimed to gather information, physical evidence, and potentially observe the 'Ri', a creature known to the local Barok natives. Wagner had previously collected numerous reports of the Ri during his anthropological fieldwork. The Ri is described as a marine mammal with human-like characteristics on its upper torso and head, distinct from other known marine mammals. The expedition team, including J. Richard Greenwell and Gale Raymond, traveled through Port Moresby, Rabaul, and Kavieng, eventually establishing a base at Ramat Plantation. After spending time gaining the trust of the Barok natives, the team visited Nokon, where an 'Ilkai' (the local name for the Ri) was reportedly seen regularly. On July 5, 1983, Dr. Gale Raymond observed an animal in shallow water near Nokon, estimating it to be 5 to 7 feet long, 'long and skinny,' and a rapid predator with no dorsal fin. The animal was observed for about 20 minutes, with fish jumping to avoid it. Photographs were taken but did not develop well due to the animal's rapid movement and poor light. Other team members, Wagner and Greenwell, also observed the animal from a reef, noting its rapid surfacing at intervals of approximately 10 minutes, its pronounced vertical flexure, and mammalian flukes. Attempts to approach the animal in a boat were made. The team later attempted to capture a Ri by lowering a net, but only caught fish. Consultations with marine mammalogists were ongoing at press time to determine if the observed animal is a known species or unknown.

ISC Board of Directors Meeting and Membership Meeting

The newsletter reports on the Second Annual Meeting of the ISC Board of Directors held in New York on June 10, 1983, hosted by New York University. Key decisions included establishing a committee to review Society expeditions, their appropriateness, and necessary controls; producing an expanded Society brochure; and issuing a 'policy statement' on cryptozoological claims. The Board also decided to hold its Third Annual Meeting in France in 1984. The First ISC Membership Meeting took place on June 11, 1983, with about 50 members attending. The event featured a keynote address by ISC President Bernard Heuvelmans on 'Cryptozoolgy: The Past and the Future,' and a progress report by Secretary J. Richard Greenwell on 'The ISC: Purpose and Plans.' The afternoon session included four informal slide shows on topics such as 'Is There a Giant Octopus?', 'Searching for Mokele-Mbembe,' 'Sasquatch and the Walla Walla Evidence,' and 'Closing the Net on Nessie.'

Cryptozoology Books 1978-1983

This section provides a comprehensive bibliography of cryptozoology books published between 1978 and 1983. Each entry includes the author(s), title, publication details (publisher, pages, price), a synopsis, and notes on whether the book has been or will be reviewed in the journal 'Cryptozoology.' Principal works covered include books on the Tasmanian Tiger, Alien Animals, Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Mokele-Mbembe, sea serpents, and the Loch Ness Monster. Related works that touch upon cryptozoology, such as those on the paranormal, Komodo monitors, and ancient astronauts, are also listed.

Cryptoletters

This section features correspondence from readers. Dmitri Bayanov praises the first issue of 'Cryptozoology.' John Colarusso expresses his admiration for the Society's objective approach to cryptozoology, contrasting it with the field of linguistics. Robert Takaroff suggests that the Loch Ness Monster might be an optical illusion, a claim that the editor notes is debatable given persistent sonar data. Henry H. Bauer proposes the term 'cryptid' for unknown animals. The section also includes a request for help in compiling a bibliography of writings about the Loch Ness 'monster.'

Other News and Notes

• The passing of Erastus Corning 2nd, former mayor of Albany, New York, and a supporter of cryptozoological fieldwork, is reported. He contributed financially to the Lake Champlain Phenomena Investigation (LCPI).
• Updates are provided on various ISC members' activities, including Robert Rines' expedition to Loch Ness, Nikolai Spassov's investigation of Tokoloshe reports in Mozambique, and Philip Tobias's work in Arizona.
• Roy Wagner's team's expedition to New Ireland is further detailed, with mention of Kurt Von Nieda joining them. Zhou Guoxing's study of new hominid fossils in Xinjiang is also noted.
• An erratum corrects a date in a previous issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes rigorous scientific inquiry into cryptozoological phenomena, emphasizing the importance of fieldwork, evidence collection, and objective analysis. The ISC appears to encourage the development of new terminology to describe subjects of study, as seen in the 'cryptid' proposal. While acknowledging the potential for misinterpretation and illusion, the Society also supports the investigation of claims that challenge conventional scientific understanding. The publication aims to inform its members about ongoing research, expeditions, and relevant literature within the field of cryptozoology.

The ISC Newsletter, Summer 1983, Vol. 2, No. 2, published by the International Society of Cryptozoology, addresses the ongoing debate surrounding Sasquatch research and the role of different types of researchers.

Sasquatch Research Debate The issue features a letter from Gordon Strasenburgh of Moss Landing, California, who challenges the editor's observation about the disparity between the number of anthropologists who have read Napier's 'Bigfoot' and those who profess interest in the subject. Strasenburgh suggests that the interest in Sasquatch research is evident from the fact that most of the work has been accomplished by laymen. He urges Dr. Krantz to collaborate with laymen or risk intellectual isolation, noting that the collection and analysis of Sasquatch data have largely been the domain of amateur researchers. He also suggests that the Society consider a conference that includes papers from unpublished researchers and encourages anthropologists to pay admission.

The editor responds to Strasenburgh's points, clarifying that their survey data was generated from a larger, more diverse sample of respondents under different conditions than Dr. Krantz's approach, which aimed to elicit favorable comments from a smaller group of leading specialists. The editor states that their survey indicated 33% had read 'Bigfoot,' 46% were aware of it, and 59% had read other scientific literature on the subject. The editor questions Strasenburgh's reference to a 'larger number who professed interest' as it was not a question included in their survey due to its subjective nature. The editor also notes a lack of recollection regarding Strasenburgh's previous indication of this disparity in 1981.

The editor emphasizes that the Society serves as a neutral meeting ground for both laymen and scientists. The most productive approach, according to the editor, is for researchers to publish their data in the Society's journal, allowing scientists to study the evidence objectively without external pressures or accusations. Published data are presented as more powerful than accusations.

Correspondence A letter from Richard Rosenblatt, Chairman of the Graduate Department at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, is included. Rosenblatt thanks the Society for an invitation but declines membership, stating that his activities in investigating UFO landings and extrasensory perception leave him no time for other organizations, even those with laudable aims.

Cryptoquote The issue includes a 'Cryptoquote' from Ivan T. Sanderson, originally from a Saturday Evening Post article dated January 3, 1948. Sanderson argues against the notion that the Earth is fully explored and mapped, asserting that vast areas on every continent remain untouched and unexplored. He posits that unknown creatures, even large ones, could exist in these remote regions and remain undiscovered by science, despite potentially being known to local populations for centuries. He uses the example of Dutch Guiana as a place where large animals could exist undiscovered.

A small illustration accompanies the quote, depicting a scene at an 'ISH MUSEUM' with a caption stating, "This Loch Ness monster business is nonsense! If such animals existed, people would keep seeing them!"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the methodology and acceptance of research into anomalous phenomena, particularly Sasquatch. There is a clear tension between the established scientific community and independent or 'layman' researchers. The editorial stance, as expressed by the editor's response to Strasenburgh and the inclusion of Rosenblatt's letter, leans towards a structured, evidence-based approach, welcoming contributions from all but emphasizing the need for objective data and scientific scrutiny. The inclusion of Sanderson's quote serves to underscore the potential for undiscovered phenomena in unexplored regions, a common theme in cryptozoology and related fields.