Nessletter - No 086 - 1988

Magazine Overview

This issue of NESSLETTER, number 86, published by NESS INFORMATION SERVICE in February 1988, is a 4-page newsletter focusing on the Loch Ness phenomenon, cryptozoology, and related topics. The editor, James Baldwin, reflects on the past year, thanks the members, and addresses the purpose and success of the newsletter. He notes the passing of researcher Tim Dinsdale, whose death evoked a significant response from members.

Editor's Reflections and Membership

James Baldwin opens the issue by thanking the members and reiterating the newsletter's goal of facilitating news exchange and information sharing within the interested community. He highlights the success of the International Society of Cryptozoology's meeting in Scotland and the media's excitement surrounding Operation Deepscan, which ultimately yielded limited positive results. The death of Tim Dinsdale is noted as a significant loss, with many members expressing sadness and crediting his books and lectures for sparking their interest.

Baldwin also announces an increase in subscription fees to U.K. £2.75 and U.S.A. $9.00 due to being out of pocket the previous year. He apologizes for any unanswered queries and asks members to try again.

Controversy: Baldwin vs. Campbell

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to a letter from James Baldwin addressing comments made by Steuart Campbell in a previous issue (NIS 80). The dispute centers on a sighting report originally obtained by Baldwin and published in NIS 76, involving a witness named Mr. Scobie. Campbell had suggested Mr. Scobie saw an otter making a long neck. Baldwin strongly refutes this, pointing out that Campbell was not present during the sighting or James's interview with Mr. Scobie. Baldwin argues that Campbell's conclusions are personal opinions and lack the validity of direct investigation. He criticizes Campbell for failing to comment on the full statement, which included a large water disturbance, and questions Campbell's assertion that otters cause significant disturbance when submerging. Baldwin also challenges Campbell's views on evidence, quoting him as saying evidence is not really evidence until it has passed stringent tests and withstands cross-examination. Baldwin, identifying himself as a lawyer, states this is factually wrong and demands to know what cross-examination Campbell has conducted to reject the evidence.

Steuart Campbell, in a separate letter, responds to comments on NIS 84 and Henry Bauer's Deepscan report. Campbell argues that Henry mistakes the controversy between Nessie-hunters for a debate between scientists, stating that few scientists actively hunt for Nessie, and many who do lack scientific qualifications or do not employ the scientific method. He believes Henry's conclusion that there is no consensus of opinion at Loch Ness cannot mean science has not reached a conclusion. Campbell asserts that in 1978, the consensus among scientists was that Nessie reports were due to imagination, hoaxes, myths, and misidentified animals, with only 23% believing in unknown living animals. He suggests Operation Deepscan justified this majority opinion. Campbell also muses on the necessity of scientists in the Loch Ness mystery, suggesting that people with open, enquiring minds are needed, whether they are scientists or not. He advocates for a scientific approach involving careful evidence handling and repeatable experiments, combined with the attributes of lawyers and police detectives for investigation.

Sightings

Several witness reports are detailed:

• September 21, 1987: Jim Hogg (Sydney, Australia) and Alan O'Hara (Finchley, London) reported seeing a series of round black objects on the surface near Foyers, Loch Ness. The objects were stationary with waves breaking over them. When the witnesses parked their car, the objects submerged, causing turbulence. Photographs were taken.
• August 22, 1987: Tommy Mattsson (Sandviken, Sweden) reported sighting strange V-shaped waves in the middle of Loch Ness, moving towards Fort Augustus at an estimated speed of 10-20 km/H. The waves were small (8-10cm) upon reaching the shore. Mattsson's wife also saw the waves. The cause was not identified, but the disturbance was considered larger than that made by water fowl or otters.
• August 29, 1987: Mrs C Wilcox (Tattenhall, Cheshire) reported hearing a large splashing sound while walking along a pathway at Loch Ness Camping Site. She observed three round areas of bodies with ripples, followed by large waves coming into shore. A sketch showed three ellipses.
• November 24, 1982: A young farmer and hunter from Fort Augustus reported seeing a head-neck, approximately 2.4-2.7m high with a sheep-sized head, at a distance of about 225m near Cobb Cairn. The object vanished when he reached the shore. The loch was calm with little waves. A sketch resembled the second Shiel's photo.
• Early 1980s: A shy woman reported seeing two humps in the vicinity of Cobb's Cairn on a calm loch surface.

Baldwin expresses a dislike for 'multiple hump' reports, suggesting they could be boat wakes, and emphasizes the need for careful questioning of witnesses.

Fish Farms on Loch Ness

The issue addresses the controversy surrounding fish farms on Loch Ness. In April 1987, members of the Inverness divisional planning committee expressed concern about the impact of fish farms on tourism and deferred an application by Bridge of Faille Smolts Ltd. The Highland Regional Council later voted to adopt a policy allowing fish farms under strict controls. This decision led to a coalition of tourist operators, local councillors, and the Inverness and Highland Chamber of Commerce lobbying to ban fish cages.

Councillor Macrae of Dores felt fish farms would detract from Loch Ness's natural beauty, emphasizing its heritage and value as a tourist attraction. Councillor Dan Corbett, however, saw fish farming as a booming industry in the Highlands, though he acknowledged stringent planning conditions might deter applications. Winifred Ewing, Euro-M.P. for the Highlands and Islands, supported the campaign to stop fish farming on Loch Ness, arguing that other suitable lochs and coastal waters exist, and Ness and Lomond should be preserved for tourism.

On September 10, 1987, the Highland Council narrowly voted to allow Bridge of Faille Smolts Ltd to install cages. Subsequently, Mr JRG Menzies's application for salmon cages near his home was turned down. By January 15, 1988, the first fish cages were moored in Loch Ness, intended to produce 20,000 salmon parr annually, with a future target of 800,000 smolts. Concerns about pollution from excess food and faeces, and the impact of soluble pollutants in freshwater, were raised, with one quote suggesting the waste load from one ton of fish is equivalent to the treated sewage effluent from 300 people.

Other Items

• Deepscan Postscript: A tree stump, thought to be the object in the 1975 'Gargoyle' photos, was retrieved from 20 feet of water. It is large and took four people to move. Attempts to reproduce the 1975 pictures were unsuccessful. A contact obtained by Lowrance is described as the largest recorded in freshwater, weighing an estimated 400lb.
• Magazines: The issue mentions Fortean Times (issue 49) covering the Edinburgh ISC conference and a book on 'Lake Monster Traditions'. It also notes a new, well-produced American magazine dealing with Fortean matters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing investigation into the Loch Ness Monster, the critical evaluation of evidence and witness testimony, and the emerging environmental and economic debate surrounding fish farming on the loch. The editorial stance, particularly from James Baldwin, emphasizes a rigorous, evidence-based approach to research, a skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, and a concern for the preservation of Loch Ness's natural environment and its value to tourism. There is a clear tension between those who prioritize scientific consensus and those who advocate for open-minded investigation of unexplained phenomena. The newsletter also serves as a platform for members to share their experiences and opinions, fostering a community of interest.