Nessletter

Magazine Overview

Title: Nessletter
Issue: No 6.
Date: December 1974
Publisher: Ness Information Service
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Nessletter focuses on "Loch Ness Investigations" and reports on the cessation of operations by the Loch Ness Investigations (L.N.I.). The publication expresses sadness at this development but notes it clarifies the situation and hopes to continue the L.N.I. spirit.

Loch Ness Investigations and Frank Searle

The newsletter begins by announcing the end of operations for the L.N.I. It mentions that many subscribers will have received the last newsletter from the L.N.I. The Ness Information Service (N.I.S.) is mentioned, with a hope to carry on the spirit of the L.N.I.

Frank Searle, associated with the L.N.I., has been moved from his campsite at Balachladaich Farm Dores. This action is described as inevitable due to his whereabouts being made public, with problems concerning planning permission and traffic cited as reasons. Similar reasons were given for the refusal of permission for the L.N.I. to stay at Achnahannet.

Loch Ness on Television

A television program sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, previously mentioned in N.I.S. issue 4, was broadcast on November 25th. The program, which lasted about 20 minutes for each subject, covered the Yeti, the Bigfoot, and Nessie. The general tone of the program was reportedly skeptical, and it featured many pictures, indicating that Frank Searle's pictures were likely fakes.

Sightings

Several sightings are reported:

• Early November: Two boys from the Abbey School reported seeing a head and neck approximately 6 feet tall, about 400 yards offshore near the canal entrance. No further details are available yet.

• September 30th, around 1:30 PM: A "local resident and his wife," who wish to remain anonymous, provided a detailed report. While having lunch, the resident observed a large, black, and glistening object moving slowly on the far side of the Loch, below the Horseshoe. Initially mistaking it for a boat, the size and shape quickly dispelled this idea. Using 10x magnification binoculars, they observed a large, irregular hump estimated to be about 10 feet high and 25-30 feet in length. The object then ceased moving, and a long, writhing neck or tail emerged, creating a significant disturbance in the water. The area was described as a flat mirror calm. The observer expressed certainty that it was a large monster, possibly feeding, and described it as an animal of an extremely primitive type, causing a feeling of revulsion. After watching for about an hour, a pleasure launch approached, and when they looked back, the object had vanished without any wash or ripples, leading them to assume it submerged vertically. The description was compared to an illustration in Tim's book, "Loch Ness Monster," on page 32, with the body noted as more square and irregular.

• P.S. to the above sighting: The visibility was good with sunshine. At one point, the single large hump appeared to split into two smaller ones with water in between. The glistening black color later turned to a dull grey or black.

• October 16th, 1974, just after 11:00 AM: Sgt. John Keay, an army career advisor in Inverness, reported a brief sighting about 2 miles south of Invermoriston. While driving at 20 mph and looking across the Loch through trees, he saw the object in a clearing. He stopped the car, got out, and ran back down a slope, where he heard a big splash and saw ripples as the object slowly disappeared. He waited for about ten minutes but saw nothing further. The Loch surface was calm, the weather sunny with no wind, and no boats were in sight. The object was stationary, 20 to 30 feet from the road's edge, described as a black shining dome shape, 4 to 6 feet long, and about 1 foot out of the water. It was visible for about half a minute. Sgt. Keay described his reaction as 'stunned.' The newsletter notes these as two very different but interesting episodes.

Wanted: Information for Thesis

Fergus Mack, located at 10 Reform Street, Tayport, Fife, is compiling information for a thesis on the monsters of Ness and Morar. While he has obtained books, he is seeking photographs, reports, and surveys. Anyone who can assist is asked to contact him at the provided address; he will refund postage.

Closing Remarks

The newsletter concludes with seasonal greetings, wishing members all the best for the New Year and encouraging them to send in news and views.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the ongoing investigation and reporting of Loch Ness Monster sightings, alongside the administrative and media aspects surrounding these phenomena. The publication seems to maintain a stance of reporting sightings and related events, even as mainstream media and official bodies (like the Smithsonian) adopt a skeptical tone. The closure of the L.N.I. is presented as a significant event, with the N.I.S. aiming to preserve the investigative spirit. There's an emphasis on detailed eyewitness accounts and a clear distinction between factual reporting and speculation, though the inherent mystery of the subject is acknowledged. The editorial stance appears to be one of continued interest and documentation of unexplained phenomena related to Loch Ness.