Nessletter - No 043 - 1980

Magazine Overview

Title: Ness Information Service Nessletter
Issue: No 43
Date: December 1980

This issue of the Nessletter focuses on reader contributions regarding the nature and sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, alongside updates on related research and other lake monster phenomena.

Your Views: Reader Theories on the Loch Ness Animals

The "Your Views" section presents several reader hypotheses about the Loch Ness Monster. Linda E. Moloney from Pittsburgh suggests that current lake monsters, including the one in Loch Ness, are descendants of prehistoric elasmosaurus. She posits that these creatures sought protection in inland waters to escape predators and, over millennia, adapted to freshwater environments, potentially evolving into a new species distinct from their reptilian ancestors.

Allison Rigg proposes that the animals may not breathe air and live in the thick silt at the bottom of the loch, suggesting they could be amphibian-like or 'worm' creatures, despite sighting reports often describing a plesiosaur shape. Rigg also notes that the lack of sightings out of the water for at least 15 years might indicate a change in lifestyle or that they never came ashore.

Donald Henshilwood dismisses the sea slug theory and leans towards classifying long-neck lake monsters as sea serpents. He questions the plesiosaur theory due to the flexible neck, unless their vertebrae have evolved. He favors a mammal related to seals but expresses doubt. Henshilwood points out that an underwater 'fin' photo showed no digits, contrasting with land sightings that indicate claws, suggesting it might be a tail fin. He also mentions the double rib structure of some plesiosaurs that could allow for submarine-like displacement.

Donald also explores the possibility of creatures in lakes being linked to the sea, allowing access via rivers during high water, especially if they are amphibious enough to traverse shallow or dry sections. He suggests nocturnal movement and an instinctive urge to go inland could explain their appearance and disappearances.

Mr. P. V. Gaughan's Ideas and Suggestions

Mr. P. V. Gaughan offers his perspective, highlighting the lack of a collective effort to find a 'body on the shore.' He believes that secondary evidence like film and sonar is insufficient and proposes a large purse net as a solution. He describes a net approximately 200 yards by 600 yards, made of inch gauge nylon rope with a six-inch mesh, weighted at the bottom and with buoyant floats. The net would have a quick reeling device to be triggered when bait is touched. Gaughan argues that the large size is necessary to avoid frightening the animals.

He acknowledges the difficulties in such an undertaking, including cost, handling the net, and potentially injuring or killing a creature. The Nessletter editor notes that the Loch Ness Investigation previously cited the risk of upsetting breeding patterns as a reason not to attempt capture. The issue of bait is also raised, with the editor suggesting that an effective bait could attract creatures to underwater cameras, making capture unnecessary.

Gaughan also poses specific questions for future Nessletters, including whether the creatures breed in the loch, their annual activity periods, their need for surface light and oxygen for mating, and evidence of parental care or larval stages. He also inquires if the larvae could be identical to eels, referencing a report of a 6-foot 'ugly' creature trapped in a canal lock.

Another idea from Gaughan involves using small 'snapper' dredges, which are portable and inexpensive, though they require a boat. He notes that the Loch Ness and Morar Project expeditions use such equipment. He also expresses intrigue about electron microscopes and suggests examining water samples from the loch exit to identify unusual single-celled organisms that might indicate the presence of large creatures, as proposed by Roy Mackal.

Zeuglodon: Lake Champlain Creature and Expert Opinions

The newsletter reports on a photograph taken in 1977 of a creature in Lake Champlain, which had been kept secret until November 1980. The color photograph is undergoing optical verification at the University of Arizona. Sandra and Anthony Masi claim to have taken the picture and have copyrighted it.

Dr. Roy Mackal, a specialist in rare and extinct animals, is convinced the photograph is genuine. He describes the image as showing a grey, serpent-like head and neck protruding from the water, with the neck appearing about seven feet long. Mackal believes these creatures are not monsters but ordinary, elusive mammals, possibly Zeuglodons – the oldest, most primitive whales. He suggests they were elongated, snake-like whales that flexed up and down while swimming. Mackal discounts plesiosaur theories, favoring Zeuglodons, which he thinks looked like giant anacondas.

He notes that sightings from various freshwater lakes occur between latitudes 50 and 60 degrees north, often in lakes connected to the sea by free-flowing rivers, like Lake Champlain. He suggests Zeuglodons might follow salmon runs upriver from the sea.

George Zug from the Smithsonian Institution acknowledges that many eyewitness reports come from reliable witnesses who may not understand what they have seen, encouraging them to gather solid data. Milton Potash of the University of Vermont's biology department states that while he cannot prove the non-existence of unusual creatures, he acknowledges the possibility.

Montgomery Fisher, co-director of the Lake Champlain Basin Study Commission, expresses concern that the notoriety of the monster could lead to the lake being overrun. He advocates for the protection of any existing creatures and predicts that the Vermont Legislature will enact protective legislation.

Sightings

Loch Ness Sighting: On December 8th, 1980, a brief sighting of a head and neck was reported by Mr. J. Camefon, a baker from Drumnadrochit, while driving towards Inverness. He described it as a long neck and head sticking out of the water, similar to a submarine periscope. The object was black and disappeared quickly. The loch was calm.

Other Sighting (Feline-like Animal): On December 7th, 1980, Mr. Duggan and his wife observed an animal near the River Enrick that they initially thought was a Labrador dog. Upon closer inspection, it had a feline appearance, a 'puggy face,' and carried its tail in an odd fashion. Mr. Duggan followed the animal and later found footprints, one of which was firm enough for a plaster cast.

Irish Sighting: Mr. Gaughan recounts a report from a pupil whose family saw a 'classic' head and neck sighting in an Irish Loch during the summer. The specific loch name was forgotten, but the family did not seem concerned, viewing it as a natural occurrence in Irish lakes.

NIS Contacts

The newsletter provides contact information for individuals interested in Loch Ness phenomena:

• Alan Merrison (Windsor, Berks.) hopes to visit the loch soon and is happy to hear from locals.
• George Vyce (Midland, Ontario, Canada) has fond memories of the LNI and plans a London-Athens holiday in 1981, seeking to connect with people who remember the autumn of 1970.
• John and Denise Negus plan to be at the loch for Easter 1981, based at the Dores campsite.
• Mrs. E. Percival also plans to visit for Easter 1981, usually staying in the Fort Augustus area, and hopes for better fortune than in 1980.

Subscription Information

Subscriptions are priced at UK £2.00, USA and Canada $8.00, with other areas on application. The editor, R. R. Hepple, provides his address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are reader-driven theories about the nature of the Loch Ness Monster, the ongoing search for definitive evidence (like a 'body on the shore'), and the reporting of recent sightings. The editorial stance, as expressed by the editor, emphasizes the importance of reader contributions and the need for continued investigation, while also cautioning against actions that could harm potential creatures or disrupt breeding patterns. There is a clear interest in scientific approaches, from expert opinions on photographs to suggestions for sampling loch water.