Nessletter - No 041 - 1980

Magazine Overview

Title: Ness Information Service Nessletter
Issue: No. 41
Date: August 1980
Publisher: Ness Information Service
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of the Nessletter covers a holiday experience at Loch Ness in late July 1980, alongside reports on environmental pollution and various international lake monster and UFO/UAP-related news.

Loch Ness Holiday and Observations

The author recounts a holiday at the old Abriachan pier on Loch Ness, noting unusually high water levels, two feet above normal, attributed to a severe rainstorm. Despite the improved weather, the author observed a lack of significant sightings, contrary to some claims of multiple events. A logbook was kept, detailing time, wind strength, surface conditions, and visibility, intended to aid in evaluating reported sightings by cross-referencing with environmental conditions.

During the stay, a family of twelve to fourteen Mergansers, a type of waterfowl, was observed on four separate days, moving in opposite directions along the shoreline. The author also assisted a local resident, Mr. Sutherland, with his eel-fishing nets. These nets, described as a 'curtain' of netting with cone-shaped traps, are laid on the loch bottom. Mr. Sutherland reported catching an average of two dozen eels per day, with occasional brown trout. He mentioned finding one trap filled with rubbish, suggesting strong underwater currents, and losing another net, which he speculated might have been moved by the 'monster'. Mr. Sutherland seriously considered the possibility that the creatures might fish along the bottom, potentially snagging nets.

Mr. Sutherland also shared an experience with an architect where they witnessed a large disturbance and upwelling of water in the centre of the loch, which lasted for about half an hour but remained unexplained. He stated he had never seen anything like it before, despite his extensive experience on the loch.

Loch Ness Monster Exhibitions and Research

The author visited the New Loch Ness Monster Exhibition at Drumnadrochit, finding it well-laid out with presented evidence. While it offered little new for seasoned researchers, it provided a chance to see equipment from the Academy of Applied Sciences, including a scale model of the loch. The author was critical of a quarter-scale model of a creature, deeming it a tourist appeal, and a fibreglass flipper replica, noting its substantial size (six feet by two feet) and thickness, which made him reconsider the advisability of using small boats on the loch.

Other exhibitions in the Loch Ness area were mentioned: the Great Glen exhibition, which included old LNI material and supplemented information from the Loch Ness and Loch Morar Project, and a new exhibition at the Loch Ness Camp Site at Invermoriston, aimed at tourists with a 'monster'-type animal model.

The Loch Ness and Loch Morar Project people were observed conducting bottom sampling and other work. Their research raft, which had served as a base for the Academy of Applied Sciences' work in Urquhart Bay, had developed a list and become unsafe. This season, they were using small camera and sonar units suspended from a boat over the raft's anchorage.

The author was unable to meet Bob Rines and his family, who had to leave earlier than usual, expressing regret as they looked forward to exchanging family news and receiving updates on the Academy's work.

Environmental Pollution Concerns

The issue highlights significant pollution problems affecting the Moray Firth and Loch Ness, as reported in the local Inverness press. The Highland River Purification Board's reports indicate generally good water quality in rivers, but tidal inshore waters, particularly the Moray and Inverness Firths, are in poor condition. Untreated sewage from Inverness is discharged into the Moray Firth via outfalls at Carnac Point and the Longman, leading to public complaints and visible sewage solids at low tide.

Improvements have been made regarding storm drains in Inverness, which previously allowed sewage overflows into the River Ness. A new sewage treatment works is under construction at Drumnadrochit to treat drainage from that area and Lewiston. However, the existing communal septic tank at Drumnadrochit is unsatisfactory, causing pollution in the River Enrick due to surcharging during dry weather from overloading.

Other villages have their own septic tank systems that are currently satisfactory. The River Ness is tested monthly by the Eden Court Theatre, with consistently satisfactory results. The Board also records rainfall and operates river flow gauging stations.

A plan is being launched to curb pollution in Loch Ness, with a focus on human excrement from hired cruise-boats. Reception points are proposed at Inverness and Fort Augustus to handle waste. Anglers have reported increasing levels of human waste, litter, and oil in the loch, with excrement found in salmon pools. The plan is being organized by the Highland River Purification Board, the British Waterways Board, and the Highland Regions Water and Sewerage Department.

The author expresses regret that the sewage problem was allowed to develop, noting fears from the 'monster hunting fraternity' that increased usage of the loch and canal by small craft could lead to pollution. Beyond sewage, litter, including plastic bottles, glass bottles, and tin cans, is prevalent along the shore. Cruise-boats are also noted for exhausting engines into the water for silencing, contributing to oil pollution.

International Reports and Other News

Several international reports are included:

• Lake Champlain: Joe Zarzynski has sent newspaper cuttings about a television appearance on NBC's 'Real People' programme, which featured an interview with Joe and eye-witnesses of unidentified creatures in Lake Champlain. The show was described as 'tongue-in-cheek' by producers, prompting Joe to ensure serious presentation by having Jimm Kennard of the Rochester Engineering Laboratory accompany the film crew.
• Lake Pohenegamook (Quebec, Canada): A report from the Sherbrooke Record details a sighting where Harold Harris observed a swishing noise and unusual movement, followed by a creature undulating like a boa constrictor. A head, described as horse-like but differently shaped, emerged from the water. Mrs. Harris also witnessed the disturbance. They estimated the creature to be 9 to 12 metres long with jagged spines.
• Lake Baskatong (Quebec, Canada): Mentioned in relation to Lake Pohenegamook.
• Lake Memphremagog: An account from 1972 describes several elderly witnesses sighting a dinosaur-like animal at close range. Mrs. Helena Hicks provided a description of a creature resembling a horse's face with red eyes, a long neck, and a body with large scales, estimated to be about 75 feet long. The water around it appeared iridescent, and the creature reportedly moved towards their boat, causing it to become tippy.

Other observations from the holiday include pleasure boat traffic being heavy, the absence of the 'Jacobite' disco cruise, a windsurfer in Dores bay, and a water-skier near Dores.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing fascination with and investigation of lake monsters, particularly the Loch Ness Monster, alongside a growing concern for environmental conservation and the impact of human activity on natural water bodies. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent reporting, presenting both anecdotal evidence and factual concerns, while maintaining a critical yet open-minded approach to the subject matter. The newsletter encourages reader contributions and provides contact information for submissions and subscriptions.