ISC Newsletter - Vol 06 No 1 - 1987

Magazine Overview

The ISC Newsletter - Spring 1987, Vol. 6, No. 1

This issue of The ISC Newsletter, published by the International Society of Cryptozoology, features several key articles on cryptozoological topics. The cover story details a "Close Encounter in Lake Okanagan," presenting the account of a woman who had physical contact with an unknown aquatic animal in 1974. Other significant articles include the formal naming of Sasquatch as *Gigantopithecus blacki* and an exposé on the "Raiders of the Lost Auk" expedition, which was revealed to be a publicity stunt.

Close Encounter in Lake Okanagan Revealed

The lead article details a remarkable "close encounter" that occurred in Lake Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, in mid-July 1974. The witness, identified as Mrs. B. Clark, was swimming when an unknown animal bumped her legs. She described seeing a hump or coil about 8 feet long and 4 feet above the water, moving north. Behind the hump, she observed a forked, horizontal tail, 4 to 6 feet wide, similar to a whale's. The animal was estimated to be 25 to 30 feet long and 3 to 4 feet broad, with a dull dark grey color. Mrs. Clark noted that the animal moved in an undulating manner, creating a large wake, and swam at an estimated 3-5 miles per hour. She felt the animal was "curious" about her. The article discusses the history of "lake monster" reports in Lake Okanagan, including the name "Ogopogo," and explores various hypotheses for such sightings, including trapped marine animals or archaic cetaceans like zeuglodonts.

Sasquatch Given Fossil Name

This section reports on Grover S. Krantz, a physical anthropologist from Washington State University, who has proposed the formal scientific name *Gigantopithecus blacki* for the Sasquatch (Bigfoot) of the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Krantz's article, published in *Northwest Anthropological Research Notes*, reviews the anatomical characteristics of *Gigantopithecus* based on fossil remains from China and India. He reconstructs it as an erect, bipedal primate weighing about 350 kg and standing 2.5 meters tall. Krantz argues that an animal fitting this description is often reported in North America as Sasquatch. He discusses evidence such as footprint casts with dermal patterns and sweat pores, asserting that such physical impacts are valid evidence for describing fossil species. Krantz suggests that Sasquatch is unlikely to be a separate species from *G. blacki* and proposes alternative names (*G. canadensis* or *Gigantanthropus canadensis*) if future discoveries warrant distinctions based on geography or morphology. He calls for increased efforts to find physical evidence and serious scientific investigation of existing evidence.

Raiders of the Lost Auk

This article exposes "Operation Aukfinder," an expedition to the Orkney Islands in May 1986, organized by five Britons to find the Great Auk (*Alca impennis*), believed extinct since 1844. The expedition, sponsored by Canadian Club whiskey, was revealed to be a publicity stunt. Journalist Stephen Pile uncovered that the "hunters" were part of a public relations campaign to promote the whiskey brand. The article describes the elaborate setup, including the use of a "remote-controlled auk" and the involvement of "folklorique croft-ers" on Papa Westray. Pile concludes that the event was a "totally cynical publicity stunt" designed to exploit the public's fascination with eccentric British endeavors.

Würsig, Zug Join Editorial Board

This brief announcement states that marine mammalogist Bernd Würsig and herpetologist George Zug have joined the Editorial Board of *Cryptozoology*, the Society's journal. Their backgrounds and research interests are briefly outlined.

David James, 1919-1986

This obituary commemorates David James, an Honorary Member of the ISC and founder of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau (LNIB). Written by his friend Richard Fitter, it highlights James's adventurous spirit and dedication to solving the Loch Ness Monster mystery. The LNIB was established in 1962 and conducted study conferences and operated a camp for Nessie-watchers. The obituary also touches upon James's other adventures, including sailing, wartime service, and an Antarctic expedition.

Message from the Vice President

Roy P. Mackal reflects on the first five years of the International Society of Cryptozoology, founded in 1982. He expresses surprise at the willingness of respected scientists to participate. Mackal details the Society's accomplishments, including the publication of twenty newsletters (approximately 200,000 words) and five volumes of the journal *Cryptozoology* (700 pages). He also lists five membership meetings held and a symposium on "Cryptozoology: The Search for Unknown or Supposedly Extinct Animals." Mackal asserts that the Society has made a significant impact on the scientific community, media, and public by demonstrating that cryptozoology is a legitimate scientific endeavor.

Final Edinburgh Program

This section outlines the program for the Society's 1987 Membership Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, held on July 25-26. The meeting included two symposia: "The Search for Nessie in the 1980s" and "Some Cats of Cryptozoology." Speakers included Richard Fitter, Roy P. Mackal, Henry H. Bauer, Paul H. LeBlond, Adrian J. Shine, Robert H. Rines, Tim Dinsdale, Di Francis, Karl P. N. Shuker, and Lena and Paul Bottriell. The event was hosted by the Royal Museum of Scotland and sponsored by ISC and the Society for the History of Natural History. The meeting was dedicated to the memory of David James and Ian Lyster.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of unexplained phenomena, particularly aquatic mysteries like the Loch Ness Monster and the Lake Okanagan creature, and terrestrial cryptids like Sasquatch. The publication also addresses the scientific community's engagement with cryptozoology, highlighting both genuine research efforts and the exploitation of these topics for commercial purposes, as seen in the "Operation Aukfinder" exposé. The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous investigation, scientific procedure, and a commitment to exploring the boundaries of known zoology, while also being critical of hoaxes and publicity stunts. The Society aims to legitimize cryptozoology as a scientific endeavor.

The ISC Newsletter, Spring 1987, Vol. 6, No. 1, is a publication of the International Society of Cryptozoology. This issue features a "Cryptoletters" section with correspondence from readers and an article titled "Wood's Animal Facts."

Cryptoletters

The "Cryptoletters" section opens with a letter from James D. Lazell, Jr., a zoologist affiliated with the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. Lazell critiques the views of Jared Diamond regarding molecular studies and systematics, arguing that biochemistry is not true biology but a branch of chemistry focused on popular science and medical technology. He asserts that cryptozoology is the most important branch of modern biology, essential for understanding the planet's biodiversity and the resources we might be squandering. Lazell highlights the practical and educational value of rediscovering species like the thylacine in Tasmania or the Onza in Mexico, and emphasizes the need to catalog existing species before focusing on molecular details.

Following Lazell's letter is a contribution from Stanley Samuelson, who shares personal anecdotes about the Lee brothers and their knowledge of cougars, supporting the credibility of their claim about the Onza. Samuelson lived near the Lee brothers in Tucson, Arizona, before World War II and recalls their expertise in hunting and raising cougars.

Robert Shatkin writes to express interest in Christine Janis's findings on the possible survival of fossil ungulates into historical times. Shatkin suggests that artistic artifacts from around the world could provide information on relict species and hopes such content will be featured in the journal "Cryptozoology."

The issue also includes a quote from George Bernard Shaw: "The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality."

Wood's Animal Facts

This section, abstracted from "The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats" by Gerald L. Wood, details facts about large frogs and toads.

Goliath Frog

The largest frog in the world is the rare goliath frog (Conraua goliath) from Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, West Africa. On August 23, 1960, Dr. Jorge Sabater Pi and a native helper caught a female measuring 13.39 inches (340 mm) snout-vent length, 32.1 inches (815 mm) overall, and weighing 7 lb., 4 3/4 oz. (3.305 g.). A slightly longer female (14 inches, 356 mm) collected in December 1966 weighed 6 lb., 134 oz. (3,100 g.). An unverified record from Cameroon mentions a specimen with a 24-inch snout-vent length and a weight of 13 lb.

Most adult female frogs are larger than males due to egg production. The heaviest American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) on record was a female weighing 1 lb., 4 oz. (567 g.). In 1949, Jim Pratt reportedly caught an outsized freak frog in Washington that scaled 7 lb., 4 oz. (3,289 g.) and measured 36 inches (914 mm) in total length, though further details are lacking.

The "Coleman Frog," an exhibit at the York-Sunbury Historical Society's museum in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, allegedly weighed 42 lb. (19 kg.) when it was dynamited from Killarney Lake in 1885.

Marine Toad

The largest toad in the world is the marine toad (Bufo marinus) of tropical South America. An enormous female collected in Miraflores, Colombia, on November 24, 1965, had a snout-vent length of 9.37 inches (238 mm.) and weighed 2 lb., 14 oz. (1,302 g.) at the time of her death. This specimen is preserved at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Society Information

The issue also lists Honorary Members and Benefactors of the International Society of Cryptozoology, along with Corporate Sponsors. The publication's address is P.O. Box 43070, Tucson, Arizona 85733, U.S.A.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the definition and scope of cryptozoology, its relationship with other scientific disciplines like biology and biochemistry, and the importance of discovering and preserving unknown species. The editorial stance, as reflected in the "Cryptoletters" and the publication's focus, strongly supports the pursuit of cryptozoology as a vital scientific endeavor, emphasizing fieldwork and the cataloging of life on Earth over purely molecular or biochemical approaches. There is a clear advocacy for the value of cryptozoological research in understanding biodiversity and natural resources.