ISC Newsletter - Vol 03 No 2 - 1984

Magazine Overview

The ISC Newsletter, Summer 1984, Vol. 3, No. 2, published by the International Society of Cryptozoology, focuses on a proposed Sasquatch hunt that has stirred new controversies. The issue also features an interview about a Mokele-Mbembe sighting in the Congo and reports on new ISC Board decisions made in Paris.

Proposed Sasquatch Hunt Stirs New Controversies

The lead story details the plans of Mark E. Keller, a 33-year-old Vietnam combat veteran, to hunt and shoot Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest. Keller, who quit his job and planned to spend five months in the Cascade Mountain Range, believes his experience and night-vision equipment give him a good chance of success. He stated that tranquilizers and drugs are not feasible, and that shooting the creature with a rifle is the only way to prove its existence and ensure its protection. He criticized the focus on photographic evidence, arguing that pictures are often dismissed.

Grover S. Krantz, a physical anthropologist, supported Keller's approach, advocating for the killing of a specimen to prove Sasquatch's existence and lead to conservation measures. This stance has led to clashes with other investigators who oppose killing any individuals due to potential extinction.

State officials in California indicated that such a hunt would be illegal, as Sasquatch is not officially recognized. Hal Mefford of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) stated that killing animals not on the state's list is illegal, and a determination would likely require the State Attorney General's office. Sandra Wolf of the DFG noted that a permit would be needed, but permission is difficult to grant as Sasquatch's status as an animal is undetermined. The DFG also expressed concern about the illegal use of night-vision scopes.

Federal involvement could lead to Sasquatch being added to the Endangered Species List. Office of Endangered Species officials reportedly monitor cryptozoological news.

Erik Beckjord, director of the 'National Cryptozoological Society,' opposed Keller's plans, forming a 'Committee Against Shooting Sasquatches' and threatening to disrupt the hunt. Beckjord's past claims about Sasquatch's paranormal nature contrasted with his current opposition. He was also involved in a lawsuit regarding a documentary film, 'The Bigfoot Solution,' for which he was found in default.

Skamania County Commissioners in Washington State reconsidered a 1969 ordinance that made killing a Sasquatch a felony. They voted to revise it to a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor, aiming to establish the county as a Sasquatch 'sanctuary' and allow for examination of any slain specimen. The revised ordinance also precluded insanity pleas as a defense in such cases.

Other counties, including Walla Walla and Umatilla, were considering similar protection measures. Vance Orchard, a retired reporter, presented a resolution calling for protection of Sasquatch.

Special Interview: Marcellin Agnagna on Mokele-Mbembe

The newsletter features an interview with Congolese biologist Marcellin Agnagna about his alleged sighting of a Mokele-Mbembe-like creature in Lake Telle in April 1983. Agnagna described the animal as reptilian, with a long neck and head, and a black, shiny body. He noted that it submerged slowly and had eyes resembling crocodiles. He ruled out known animals like crocodiles, manatees, or large pythons.

Agnagna also reported seeing unusually large turtles in Lake Telle, one estimated at two meters in length, which he caught and ate. He clarified that the Mokele-Mbembe sighting was distinct from these turtles.

The interview addressed translation ambiguities in previous reports and clarified details about the filming of the encounter, including an accidental 'macro' setting on the camera and running out of film.

New ISC Board Decisions

The ISC Board of Directors met on June 8, 1984, in Paris, France, and made several decisions:

1. The membership fee of $25 (and $35 for institutions) would remain unchanged for 1985.
2. A 'member-get-a-member' program was initiated to increase membership, offering a $10 discount for members who recruit new members or library subscribers.
3. Two new affiliation categories were established: Benefactor (for individuals contributing $1,000 or more, with lifetime membership) and Corporate Sponsor (for business firms contributing a minimum of $1,000 annually).
4. The Society would no longer sponsor field expeditions, citing concerns about ramifications, financial aspects, review methods, endorsement implications, and competition with existing groups.
5. A revised 'Policy Statement' on cryptozoology and specimen acquisition was drafted and would be circulated for approval.
6. The Board accepted an invitation to host the 1985 Board and Membership meetings in San Diego, California.

Membership Meeting in Paris

The Second Membership Meeting of the Society was held on June 9, 1984, at the University of Paris VI, attended by nearly 100 members from various European countries and the United States. The meeting featured presentations on cryptozoology, including:

• Bernard Heuvelmans reviewed the nature and history of cryptozoology.
• Marie-Jeanne Koffmann discussed reports of the alleged 'wildman' of the Caucasus Mountains (Almasti), suggesting they might be living Neanderthaloids.
• Grover Krantz presented findings on Walla Walla Sasquatch footprint casts, highlighting their dermatoglyphic patterns as evidence of authenticity.
• Marcellin Agnagna spoke about his government's expedition to the Likouala swamps and his sighting of an unidentified animal in Lake Telle.
• Jacqueline Roumeguere-Eberhardt presented her research on possible unknown hominids in East Africa, categorizing sighting reports.

Lengthy discussions followed, sharpening the thinking of attendees on various cryptozoological claims and future pitfalls.

Message from the Editor

J. Richard Greenwell expressed thanks to the French ISC members for sponsoring the successful Paris meeting, noting the international nature of the Society. He also recounted a visit to Bernard Heuvelmans' Center for Cryptozoology in Le Bugue, France, and the rewarding experience of seeing Heuvelmans and Roy Mackal converse.

Past ISC Publications Available

Information is provided on the availability of past issues of The ISC Newsletter and the journal Cryptozoology, with prices listed for members and non-members.

ISC Journal Criticised Again

This section reviews critical assessments of the journal 'Cryptozoology.' A review by Tim M. Berra in 'The Ohio Journal of Science' praised Volume 2 for its increased rigor but criticized Volume 1 as 'creationist literature.' Evolutionary biologist George Gaylord Simpson's critique is also mentioned as a landmark in the field.

Cryptoletters

Michael J. Shields commented on the large turtles observed by Marcellin Agnagna in Lake Telle, noting their remarkable size.

Another letter raises an 'impertinent question' about why professional zoologists assume they are also professional photographers, citing instances where photographic evidence was lost or blurred during expeditions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the scientific study of cryptozoology, encouraging rigor and skepticism while acknowledging the importance of field reports and evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, with a focus on publishing research and facilitating discussion among members. The Society aims to be a forum for publication and discussion of expedition results, rather than directly sponsoring expeditions. There is an emphasis on distinguishing between scientific investigation and folklore, as seen in the reviews and the discussion of the Sasquatch hunt controversy.

The ISC Newsletter, Summer 1984, Vol. 3, No. 2, is published by the International Society of Cryptozoology and focuses on the intersection of nature photography, scientific expeditions, and the search for unknown animals.

Articles and Contributions

The Role of Photography in Cryptozoology

Thomas R. Williams from Berkeley, California, argues that the techniques used by nature photographers, honed by years of observing animals like lions and puffins, could be effectively applied to the search for unknown creatures, even suggesting that an experienced nature photographer might eagerly pursue evidence of a live dinosaur. He stresses that while photographic evidence might not fully establish existence, missing the opportunity to capture such evidence after significant effort is a profound loss.

Bob Clay from San Francisco, California, expresses amusement at the reliance of amateurs on automatic camera features. He contrasts this with professional photographers, whose thought and experience are valued by editors. Clay is disturbed by the lack of professional photographers on well-financed cryptozoological expeditions, asserting that eyewitness accounts from scientists are less credible than photographs or film. He notes that while even pros make mistakes, their probabilities of success are higher, especially in reacting quickly to photo opportunities, a skill developed through covering sports, riots, and wildlife. Amateurs, he suggests, might be too awestruck to operate their cameras effectively.

An editorial piece clarifies a previous report about a "lens cap incident" involving an observer named Agnagna. It explains that the ambiguity arose from a French/English translation. While Agnagna did have the wrong camera setting and was low on film, the expedition, funded by the Congolese government, did include a professional television cameraman. However, the animal appeared unexpectedly when Agnagna was 2 kilometers away from base camp, without the cameraman or more film. The animal, identified as the Ri, surfaced briefly every 10 minutes, making it difficult for even a professional photographer to capture images within such short "windows." The article also mentions the Mackal expedition to the Congo in 1981, which included a professional photographer but observed no animals.

The editorial further emphasizes the importance of professional photographers/filmmakers on expeditions, noting that such expeditions are often underfunded, leading to cuts in personnel and equipment. It acknowledges that even professionals would find it difficult to capture good images of elusive animals. Footage seen in television documentaries, which often appears effortless, is the result of months of fieldwork in accessible locations. Filming in challenging environments like swamp-forests, where one must wade through mud and water, is significantly harder. Photographers must contend with wetness, high humidity affecting electronics, and constant attacks on lenses by vegetation. They also face the trials of acquiring food, drinking water, enduring insect bites, and exhaustion. Heavy equipment can be a burden. The editorial concludes that the existence of large unknown animals in remote areas implies they are difficult to observe or photograph, and future expeditions need adequate funding for equipment and expertise, though luck remains a factor.

Tables of Contents Available

Members wishing to order back issues of the Newsletter and journal are informed that they can request free tables of contents listing published articles. Publication instructions appear on page 6.

Cryptoquote

J. Ferrell Colton, a mariner with extensive sailing experience, states that sailors, due to the quiet nature of their craft, were privileged to witness sights not revealed to those on power-driven vessels. He defends the credibility of "sea serpent" reports, arguing that experienced seamen and maritime officers, trained to judge size, distance, and use instruments, are more qualified observers than often assumed. He also notes that their calling trains them to be skeptics.

J. Ferrell Colton is described as a mariner who has sailed globally and authored books on marine history, oceanography, and climatology. His father, Harold S. Colton, was a marine biologist and director of the Museum of Northern Arizona. The letter is dated June 16, 1971, and was addressed to Forrest G. Wood at the U.S. Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego.

Wood's Animal Facts

This section abstracts information from "The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats" by Gerald L. Wood.

It states that the largest living chelonian is the Pacific leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea schlegeli), found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Adults average 6-7 feet in length (carapace 4-5 feet) and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. The largest recorded weight for a Pacific leatherback turtle was 1,908 pounds for a male captured in Monterey Bay, California, in 1961. This specimen measured 8 feet, 4 inches in total length but died shortly after capture.

The largest freshwater turtle in the world is the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) from the southeastern United States. Its normal upper weight limit is about 200 pounds, though an unconfirmed record of 403 pounds exists for a specimen caught in the Neosho River, Kansas, in 1937.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the need for rigorous scientific methodology and credible evidence in cryptozoological research. There is a strong advocacy for the inclusion of professional photographers and filmmakers in expeditions, highlighting the challenges and importance of capturing visual proof. The editorial stance supports the pursuit of unknown animals but stresses the difficulties involved and the necessity of proper funding and expertise. The inclusion of historical accounts and animal facts suggests a broad interest in natural phenomena and the unexplained.