Nessletter - No 038 - 1980

Magazine Overview

Title: Nessletter
Issue: No. 38
Date: February 1980
Publisher: Ness Information Service

This issue of Nessletter begins with an apology from the editor regarding recent delays in publication due to staff problems and an announcement of increased subscription costs. The editor expresses gratitude to members and encourages them to share information about their visits to 'monster' locations.

Satellite Monitoring Proposal for Loch Ness

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to a "novel scheme" proposed by Mr. Parker of Partech Electronics Ltd. for monitoring Loch Ness using satellites. The proposal involves deploying three or more buoys equipped with transmitters and various sensors to measure parameters such as light, sound, wave actions, and the movement and size of objects in the water. These sensors, suspended from buoys, would have battery power for a year. The collected information would be transmitted via the Tiros-N satellite, part of the French Argos Satellite communication system, to ground stations in France or America. Data processing would occur in Toulouse or Houston, and the information could be accessed remotely via a Telex phone number. The estimated cost for the buoys is £2,000, with running costs ranging from £3 per day to £3 per hour, depending on data volume and satellite time. The editor, while supportive of research, expresses skepticism about whether this method will significantly aid in solving the 'monster' problem, favoring surface cine-photography and direct evidence like a body or live creature.

Ogopogo Sighting in Lake Okanagan

The issue includes an article detailing a potential sighting of the Ogopogo creature in Lake Okanagan, Canada, based on a report by Ritchie Benedict. Arlene Gaal, a local resident who has researched the legend for years, believes a tourist's home movies from August 1979 might contain unusual wildlife footage, possibly showing not one, but two creatures. The sighting occurred between August 12th and 15th and was witnessed by several carloads of people. One witness, Chris Clayton, captured a distant, fuzzy photo of turbulence on the water with an inexpensive box camera. Gaal is seeking the owner of a video camera seen at the scene. The creatures were described as large, with dinosaur-like heads, long necks, and streamlined bodies, thrashing playfully in the water for about ten minutes. Sightings of two creatures at once are rare. Gaal is also organizing a local search for a man on a small pleasure boat seen in Clayton's photo, who may have had a close encounter. The article notes that sightings of large creatures in Lake Okanagan date back to 1875, and while they occur regularly, definitive evidence remains elusive, with possibilities ranging from illusions to elaborate hoaxes.

The Kok-Kol Monster in Kazakhstan

Another section discusses the 'Kok-Kol' creature in southern Kazakhstan, referencing an article from The Times and a report in the Soviet newspaper Kocomol'skaya Pravda. Anatoly Pechersky, a Soviet geographer, described the animal as a huge, snake-like creature estimated to be 50 feet long with a 6-foot head. A student expedition in 1977 and a subsequent expedition in 1979, supported by the Zoological Institute of the Kazakh Academy of Sciences, investigated these reports. The creatures in Kok-Kol are reported to have carnivorous tendencies, with sheep and even humans disappearing near the shore. A Kazakh scientific journalist, Sergi Ibrahimov, recounted an experience in 1974 where birds suddenly left the water, and a large, snake-like body, estimated at 45 feet, caused waves and appeared to be raising itself from the lake. V. Volchkov, a scientific officer from the South Kazakh Geological Institute, proposed a scientific explanation: the lake floor is a deep crater with an Ice Age moraine, containing numerous siphons and channels. These underground systems can draw water from the lake, creating whirlpools or surface motions resembling a snake-like body. Violent intake can also draw in air, causing strange sounds and potentially explaining disappearances. The editor acknowledges this explanation but suggests that other factors like logs or vegetation mats should also be considered, and that no single explanation should be applied to all sightings.

Research Schedules and Publications

The issue concludes with updates on researchers' plans. Jeff Watson intends to conduct 'hunting' schedules at Loch Ness, Loch Morar, and Loch Shiel throughout 1980, with specific dates and locations mentioned. Allison Rigg and Nick Sykes are scheduled to visit Loch Ness from April 12th to 26th, and possibly again in August. Alan Merrison hopes to visit in early July. Paul Covell has moved to Pitlochry and is working at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, inviting members to visit. Rip Hepple and family plan to be at Loch Ness for holidays from July 28th to August 10th. The section also lists available publications: "UFO Directory" ($1.00) from UFO NETWORK, and children's book "Justice and MacNessie" by Ruth R. Curtis and Robert H. Rines, and "Alien Animals" by Janet and Colin Bord (£7.95).

The editor reiterates the need for members' news and views and apologizes again for delays and the subscription increase, providing the contact address and phone number.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are lake monster investigations (Loch Ness, Ogopogo, Kok-Kol, Labinkir), the methods and challenges of cryptozoological research, and the importance of member contributions. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious optimism and a commitment to documenting evidence, while maintaining a degree of scientific skepticism, particularly regarding technological solutions like satellite monitoring versus direct observation and photographic evidence. The editor emphasizes the value of personal accounts and encourages members to share their experiences and research findings.