Nessletter - No 017 - 1976

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Nessletter, published by Ness Information Service in August 1976, is the seventeenth in the series. It focuses on various investigations and sightings related to aquatic mysteries, primarily centered around Loch Ness, but also touching upon Lake Champlain and Loch Morar. The publication provides updates on scientific expeditions, eyewitness accounts, and commentary on related media.

Hepple Holidays '76

The issue opens with a personal account of a holiday on Loch Ness from July 24th to August 7th. The author notes the unusual steadiness of the wind, which created larger waves than usual. During this period, the author was able to observe the scientific equipment being used in the search for 'Nessie' and met with members of the Ness Information Service (N.I.S.).

Academy of Applied Science

Bob Rines and his team from the Academy of Applied Science were actively conducting their search for Nessie at Loch Ness. Initially working from the stern of an 18ft cruiser named 'Hunter', they progressed to building a 15-foot square raft. This raft was moored in 120 feet of water, with their equipment suspended 35 feet below for servicing. The 'old gear' from previous years, including a strobe flash unit and a 16mm camera, was at one end of the raft. At the other end was a new rig featuring a television camera (adapted by Ike Blonder to extend its range), two Benthos Co. 35mm cameras for stereoscopic imaging, and a special SX70 Polaroid camera with a 200 watt-second flash. A Raytheon 731 sonar was also deployed. The operation involved monitoring the sonar chart, which had a greater range than the TV camera, to detect potential intruders. If an indication was received, the TV screen was closely watched, and if anything appeared, the rest of the equipment was activated. Despite these efforts, by early August, the system had only produced traces of large objects that moved away before entering camera range, leading to a poor year for sightings. The author suggests the lack of water following a dry winter and summer may have affected salmon migration, causing other creatures to feed in deeper waters.

When the Academy team departed, the equipment was automated, controlled by a Raytheon 725 sonar and a computer. Local volunteers were tasked with maintaining the equipment, changing film, and conducting checks. Bob Rines was expected to return in October for the late salmon run to operate the new gear.

All-Night Experiments

In July, a 12-ton vessel named 'Malaran', skippered by Tim Dinsdale, was used for all-night Nessie hunting experiments. These experiments utilized a strobe light, a 35mm camera unit, and fish-finding sonars with the objective of locating fish concentrations and potentially monsters. Several interesting sonar contacts were reportedly made.

The National Geographic Magazine

A team from the National Geographic Magazine arrived in early July to conduct underwater experiments with the aim of obtaining photographs of the creatures in Loch Ness. The author spoke with staff photographer and diver Emory Kristof, who detailed the equipment and program. Their purpose was to feature Loch Ness in an article on the Great Glen. Their operational mode differed from Rines' team; they used buoyant equipment anchored in 150 feet of water, about 100 yards east of the Academy raft in Urquhart Bay. This equipment was positioned 30 feet from the surface to utilize faint daytime surface light. They employed a wide-angle fish-eye lens on a Nikon still camera with a 250-exposure motor-driven magazine, housed in a custom-built domed perspex case along with sonar gear. The setup also included strobe lights, a sonar transducer, and an arm for bait attachment. An underwater loudspeaker was available for a baiting program involving various stimuli, including lights, dead fish, live fish, and sound. The sound system ranged from 52 to 500 cycles, down to low frequencies of 40 to 80 cycles, using a U.S. Navy J9 speaker. Each baiting strategy was used for three days, and the camera was activated by any sonar detection, including fish. The team was hopeful about the low-frequency noise, citing its success in attracting sharks by the University of Miami. Divers from the Inverness Sub-Aqua Club assisted in servicing the camera box. The cost of the setup was estimated at around $30,000. Initially, a fault in a circuit operating too close to its limit caused the camera to shoot off all film when the voltage dropped below 12. This was rectified by adding more batteries and running at 15 volts. This was described as a 'one-off' attempt.

Loch Morar

Adrian Shine reported on progress at Loch Morar, where their equipment was reportedly surpassing expectations. In good weather, they achieved clear resolutions at ranges of around 100 feet. Although operational since mid-June, they had no spectacular results by early August, but had recorded good fish data, indicating they were technically on the right track.

Lake Champlain

A brief note from the Bierman-Zarzynski expedition mentioned two weeks of shore watching in late June and early July. They found the lake's vast size made their search practically useless but planned further weekend watches in September and October.

Sightings

Several eyewitness accounts of potential sightings are detailed:

• Mid-July: Ian Dunn and Bill Kennedy, while fishing in their boat near Abriachan, Loch Ness, saw a large hump in mid-loch, estimated at 3 feet high and 12 feet long. It submerged, and later they observed four humps, three smaller ones and one large one again, before they disappeared.
• August 1st: Nic Ashby and his sister Lalage, visiting Loch Ness, observed what they thought were two more 'boats' near Urquhart Castle. The larger one was black, longer than their yacht, and closer to shore. The other was smaller and trailing behind. They disappeared after about 15 seconds.
• Around August 22nd: Anthony Luke (aged 9), traveling by car near Urquhart Castle, reported seeing a creature's head and neck. It was described as blackish-grey, about three feet in height, with no visible features like eyes. The author is following up for more information.

Odds and Ends

• Caledonian Canal: Reopened on July 5th after extensive repair work on the lock gates at Muirtown.
• Switzerland: A dragon-like monster was reportedly seen 'snorting' its way across Lake Uri, surfacing 300 yards from shore, with a picture published in a newspaper.
• Balloon Flight: A hot air balloon flight over Loch Ness, sponsored by the British Bacon Curers Federation, trailed bacon as bait but yielded no positive results.
• Frank Searle's Book: The issue reviews Frank Searle's book 'Nessie', detailing his seven-year search. The book had generated criticism, particularly regarding claimed photos of the Monster. One photo, dated February 26th, 1976, was noted to have a striking likeness to a Brontosaurus postcard. The publishers, Hodder and Stoughton Coronet Books, decided not to reprint the book due to complaints, stating it could harm serious scientific research.

The author provides contact information for submitting news and views and subscription details for the Nessletter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing scientific investigations into the Loch Ness Monster, the reporting of various eyewitness sightings, and the critical examination of published material related to the subject. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious reporting, presenting both the scientific efforts and anecdotal evidence, while also offering critical commentary, as seen in the review of Frank Searle's book. There is an emphasis on documenting the process of investigation and the challenges involved, alongside a desire to separate credible research from sensationalism.