Nessletter - No 028 - 1978

Magazine Overview

Title: Nessletter
Issue: No.28
Date: June 1978
Publisher: Noss Information Service
Focus: Reports and discussions on Loch Ness Monster sightings and related phenomena.

Sightings '78

The issue begins with a section titled "Sightings '78," detailing recent encounters at Loch Ness. Mr. Bell is mentioned as inquiring about a head and neck sighting in Fort Augustus Bay in January 1978, with the possibility that Mr. Mcglew took photographs, though details are pending.

Susan Russell, on a holiday cruiser on the Caledonian Canal in early May, reported seeing a creature near the shore. Approaching the shore at about 7:30 p.m., she and others saw a 'dingy' between them and the shore. In the twilight, it was unclear, but it then seemed to disappear and be replaced by three smaller objects. They watched for a few minutes before it sank from sight.

On Friday, June 23rd, Bill Wright, while fishing near Castle Urquhart, had a remarkable experience shortly after 3 a.m. He saw a creature surface about 30 yards away. He described an arch-shaped body, black in color, not unlike an upturned rowing boat. Within seconds, its head and neck emerged. The neck was estimated to be twelve feet long, and the head about the size of a football. He saw no tail. Startled by Wright scrambling up the bank, the creature submerged. Wright, an experienced angler on Loch Ness, stated this experience left him with no doubt that the creatures exist.

Finally, a sighting at Loch End by three local ladies is mentioned, who described seeing two humps and a neck moving, clearly identifying it as a live animal. Further news on this is promised.

Tony Shiels' Photographs

This section addresses Tony Shiels' head and neck photographs taken from Castle Urquhart the previous year. The description of the creature by Bill Wright is noted as bearing a striking similarity to Shiels' "No.1" photograph, which had been published.

Queries regarding the authenticity of Tony Shiels' photographs are discussed. At the request of Tim Dinsdale, Shiels made an affidavit about his experience. Furthermore, Dr. Vernon Harrison, a distinguished photographic scientist and former President of the Royal Photographic Society, examined the original "No.1" Shiels Ektachrome colour slide under a binocular microscope up to x100 magnification.

Dr. Harrison's report stated: "The examination was made using a binocular microscope at all magnifications up to x 100. There was no evidence of double exposure, superimposition of images or handwork with bleach or dye." The report further analyzed the object depicted, noting it was not a tree branch or a trick of light. The lighting came from behind and to the right, and the water's foreshortening indicated a long-focus lens was used from a considerable distance. Under magnification, a small 'reptilian' head with a wide, partly open mouth was visible, with light reflecting from a wet lower lip. Two eyes and a stubby 'nose' were indicated. The head was attached to a long neck that increased in girth towards the water, appearing paler on its lower side. The submerged part was distorted by naturalistic surface wavelets.

While acknowledging the possibility of a hoax (e.g., a diver with a model) or an imaginative painting, the report concluded that alternative explanations were not very plausible and could only be excluded by further independent evidence. The author expresses personal confidence in the validity of Tony Shiels' photographs.

'Pursuit' Magazine, U.S.A.

The Winter 1978 edition of 'Pursuit,' the Journal of the Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained, featured an article on Loch Ness. The writer interviewed Frank Searle, but also spoke with Ronnie Bremner, owner of the Drumnadrochit Hotel, a message center for hunters. Frank Searle, who now operates from the Foyers marine area with a 'Frank Searle Exhibition,' has reportedly changed his outlook over the years. Initially living as a recluse with the intention of 'seeing' a creature, he has since acquired cameras and engaged with tourists. His 'monster' pictures, produced over the years, faced scrutiny in the Scottish press in 1976, with suggestions that some were faked.

Odds and Ends

This section contains various brief news items:

• A reference to a previous "horsie on the water" story from NIS No.26, including an interview with Alec Menzies from a BBC Radio 4 broadcast in July 1977. Menzies recalled an event from around 1916 when his father, the village blacksmith, was shoeing a mare for Andrew Urquhart. Urquhart, speaking in Gaelic, described seeing a 'water horse' with a head like his mare, 'shornits' (Jessie).
• An account from the Loch Ness Assn of Explorers' 'Commentary No.1' about work done in Loch Rannoch by the British Sub-Aqua Club. They successfully raised a 54-ton, 90-foot Victorian Steam Yacht from a depth of 100 feet. Further work is planned, and there is a possibility they might investigate raising the 'zulu' in Urquhart Bay.
• Jean Berton from France has sent his subscription and news of his newly published book, "Les Monstres du Loch Ness et d'ailleures." He is also starting a series of talks to educate the French public.
• The Fortean Times has changed its address to c/o Dark They Were & Golden Eyed, 9-12 St. Annes Court, London W1, England.
• Inverness police took custody of a large Alsatian dog on May 3rd, which had been sitting on a rock near Lochend for three days, staring into the water and barking. Police were concerned its owner might have entered the loch.

The newsletter concludes by requesting news and views from readers, providing the editor's address and contact details, along with subscription rates.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the ongoing investigation and reporting of sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, presented as a serious pursuit of evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness, presenting eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence for members to evaluate, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for rigorous examination, as demonstrated by the detailed analysis of Tony Shiels' photographs. There is a clear effort to document and preserve information related to the phenomenon, including historical accounts and contemporary reports.