NESSLETTER

Magazine Overview

Title: NESSLETTER
Issue: NO 77
Date: August 1986
Publisher: NESS INFORMATION SERVICE
ISSN: 0264-7001

This issue of the Nessletter focuses on holiday experiences and incidents at Loch Ness during the summer of 1986, alongside updates on ongoing research and critical reviews of literature concerning the Loch Ness Monster.

Holidays 1986: Incidents and Observations

The lead article, "HOLIDAYS 1986," details several events that occurred around Loch Ness in late July and early August. The author recounts their own holiday experience, noting the rough conditions on the loch. A significant event was a tragic boating accident on Saturday, July 19th, where a boat carrying Mr. James Lamond (95), his nephew James Lamond, and their friend Brian Allely, overturned near Inverfarigaig. Despite efforts by the younger men to assist Mr. Lamond senior, he died. The article suggests the boat's motor may have failed, leaving them adrift in large waves.

Another incident involved four Inverness men from Hydrasun Ltd. who were on a sponsored canoe trip for the Highland Hospice Appeal along the Caledonian Canal. While on Loch Ness, their two Canadian-style canoes were swamped by rough conditions near Foyers, forcing them to abandon one canoe but reach shore safely with the other. They still managed to raise £500 for the appeal.

A third incident described is a cruiser experiencing severe trouble south of Lochend, being tossed violently by waves. A Drumnadrochit man alerted police, and the cruiser eventually reached the Clansman Marina. The Menzies brothers assisted the distressed family aboard.

The author also shares a personal observation from Saturday, August 27th, where Heather reported seeing a dark, dolphin-like head with a snout surface briefly in the water near Lochend. While acknowledging it could be a large fish, the distinctness of the sighting leaves the observer wondering.

Loch Ness Research and Developments

The newsletter provides updates on various research activities related to Loch Ness.

Tony Harmsworth and the 'Nessie Hunt' Game: Tony Harmsworth, curator at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, has developed a board game called "Nessie Hunt." This game, which took seven years to develop, incorporates research findings, sighting reports, and photographic evidence. It is available for purchase at various locations.

Loch Ness Project: The Loch Ness Project has had a quiet season, but plans for a large sonar effort in October are mentioned.

Bob Rines Expedition: The Academy of Applied Sciences has not conducted work this season. Bob Rines' wife, Carol, who has been a significant help on previous expeditions, has been ill.

Doug Macfarlane's Sonar Research: Doug Macfarlane has been actively surveying Loch Ness with a small boat and echo-sounder. He has logged over three hundred miles and has fitted a simple echo-sounder into a 10-foot dinghy. Macfarlane has permission to launch in Inchnacardoch Bay, allowing him to cover more of the loch. His charts show bottom contours, water column, and surface scatter, with some larger targets noted that are not easily identifiable as fish, though he does not claim they are conclusive evidence of anything unusual. He has also experimented with rowing while using the sounder, which clearly shows oar strokes.

Critical Reviews of Steuart Campbell's Book

Two correspondents, Miles Cato and Doc Shiels, offer critical assessments of Steuart Campbell's book on the Loch Ness Monster.

Miles Cato's Perspective: Miles Cato feels Campbell's book, while contributing to the controversy, is incomplete. He agrees that criticisms of evidence like the Rines' photos are valid but finds Campbell's tone derisory and his statements too sweeping. Cato disputes Campbell's categorization of sightings and criticizes his analysis of photographic evidence, particularly regarding the Dinsdale film. He quotes Campbell's summary, which he believes illustrates the book's illogical tone, stating that the existence of all lake monsters stands or falls with 'N' (Nessie).

Doc Shiels' Critique: Doc Shiels describes Campbell's book as dishonest and a manipulation of selected evidence. He criticizes Campbell's insistence on metric measurements and his analysis of Doc Shiels' own Loch Ness photographs, which he claims wrongly suggests a painted-over image. Shiels refutes Campbell's precise location claims for where his pictures were taken, calling them bogus and groundless. He concludes that Campbell's book is a hoax and that his own photographic evidence, based on a double grain pattern in copy slides, cannot be dismissed as transparent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the inherent dangers of Loch Ness, the importance of taking precautions when on the water, and the ongoing debate and research surrounding the Loch Ness Monster. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious observation and critical analysis of evidence, while acknowledging the allure and mystery of the loch. The newsletter encourages reader contributions and views.

Contact Information:
R.R. Hepple
Huntshieldford
St. Johns Chapel
Bishop Auckland
Co. Durham. DL13 1RQ.

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