Nessletter - No 108 - 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: NESSLETTER
Issue: 108
Date: December 1991 (May '92)
Publisher: NESS INFORMATION SERVICE
ISSN: 0264-7001

This issue of NESSLETTER, dated December 1991, features a variety of articles related to unexplained phenomena, with a strong focus on Loch Ness. The publication is from the NESS INFORMATION SERVICE and is distributed internationally.

Steve Feltham's Loch Ness Update

Steve Feltham reports from Dores, Loch Ness, where he has been stranded since January due to his van needing work. His brother in Dorset helped locate necessary parts. Feltham expresses hope to re-establish contact with other parts of the loch soon and mentions he hasn't seen Adrian since Christmas. He describes Dores as a nice place for the winter, with friendly locals and abundant driftwood for his stove. He also recounts a frightening experience on January 12th when he fell out of a canoe near the shore and had to swim back fully dressed, losing his still camera.

Feltham has been compiling a video diary for the BBC series 'Video Diary,' involving interviews with relevant people and using established evidence. The filming is expected to wrap up in April, followed by six weeks of editing in London, which he is not looking forward to. The 'Video Diaries' series is scheduled for broadcast on BBC2 in mid-summer.

The Margaret Maclennan Sighting

Steve Feltham discusses the Margaret Maclennan sighting and her reaction to press coverage. Margaret, upset by public ridicule, stated she would remain quiet even if something emerged on her beach. Feltham is trying to get her to write a clearer report, noting that the original description of a single hump of large size might be miscategorized. He empathizes with local people who choose to keep quiet about unexplained sightings to avoid ridicule. Feltham is presented as a dedicated researcher who has gathered six or seven sightings in the past year, but others are reluctant to share their reports publicly.

Sightings and Local Perceptions

Feltham's mention of unreported sightings is seen as heartening, as sightings seemed to be decreasing. The editor suggests that sightings might be in ratio with cruiser traffic, with more boats leading to fewer sightings. The Loch Ness Investigation (LHI) with its Achnahannet H.Q. and camera spaced along the lochside provided a focal point for people to report sightings. Feltham's active presence is seen as potentially filling a similar gap. The editor notes that some local people dislike the idea of 'them' making a fortune from sightings and may not report what they see.

John Holmes at the Lochside

John Holmes sent a short note and photographs from his holiday at Loch Ness in October 1991. On the 3rd, near one of the piers at Fovers, he and his wife Sue observed an object on the surface. They took video footage, initially thinking it was driftwood. There was no movement or visible color. Upon reviewing the video at home, the object seemed to disappear, which Holmes attributed to zooming out from the object. The stills from the video are fuzzy, and the editor agrees that the object is likely driftwood, with magnification reduction making it hard to register on tape. However, the editor notes that such an observation could be put forward as a Nessie sighting by some.

Michael Holt's Experience

Michael Holt of Richmond, Virginia, sent photographs of a 'hump' in a local park lake. Holt acknowledges that he does not believe in a Nessie-type creature in the lake but feels the photos illustrate how easily one can be tricked. He states that what he photographed was a floating bough, but admits that given only the photo, a certain type of person might see a Nessie.

Andreas Trottmann's Plans

Andreas Trottmann, a Swiss member, outlined his plans for his next trip to Loch Ness from July 18th to 25th, staying at the Ross Chalet, Strone, and from July 25th to 31st at the Ross Cottage, Strone. He can be contacted on his boat, 'The Witch of the Mist,' or in the evenings at the Lewiston Arms. He plans to conduct sonar work and hydrophone monitoring in the Fovers, Horseshoe, and Urquhart Bay areas. He is keen to meet other NIS and ISC members and hopes to research unknown big cats.

Other Notes and Research Requests

Trottmann also plans to set up a photographic trap. Erik Beckjord's Chaffin video is available via order form NIS102. Andreas commented that 'Nessie seems more and more to be a Prisoner in her own loch.'

Peter Byrne on Lake Tahoe Monster and Bigfoot

Peter Byrne shares a cutting from the Lake Tahoe Bonanza about a 'Lake Monster' incident where a 75-foot creature with green scales reportedly attacked a motor boat, swallowing a dog. The story, attributed to Donald Fein, involved a lizard-like creature and was published on April 1st, noted as a 'nice little giggle for April Fools Day.' Byrne also mentions his prime interest is Bigfoot, having previously edited 'The Bigfoot News.' He has a long-standing interest in Loch Ness and hopes to return sometime.

Byrne has come across interesting sighting reports for Bigfoot, which he intends to investigate. He recounts a recent chat with a solicitor who saw something in 1976: while walking in the woods, the solicitor and his companion heard something crashing through the brush above them. Byrne considers the solicitor a sound chap and has added this sighting to his 'Geo Time Pattern study.'

Book Review: 'The Last Great Elephant'

Byrne also mentions a book review from the February 1992 Smithsonian about 'The Last Great Elephant' by Tula Hattie, published by Faber and Faber. The book is Peter Byrne's story about his career as a professional white hunter in Nepal and an incident in 1967 that led him to change his life's work. He became involved in protecting animals and their environment, convincing the Nepalese Government to set aside 100,000 acres as a game reserve. He devised a plan to film the area's largest inhabitant, a male Asian elephant, and the book details this hunt. The review does not comment on the literary content or Loch Ness specifically.

'Big Baby' Nessie Report

The Weekly World News, dated April 14th, 1992, published a follow-up story to their 'trapping of Nessie' report. It claims that after the story broke, Dr. Michael Genet, who was in charge, faced pressure to kill the animal for research. Thousands of letters and phone calls of protest resulted in the beast being set free on March 21st. Within hours of release, the 70-foot Nessie, reportedly pregnant, gave birth to a seven-foot, 2000lb baby. The story is accompanied by a picture of the mother and child, described as 'cute.' The article also includes a competition to name the baby. The editor notes that, like the April Fool's jokes, this story is unlikely to help serious researchers.

Henry Bauer on Computer Imagery and Turtles

Henry Bauer responds to a previous NESSLETTER piece and his comment on 'impressive fake photos.' He reminds the editor of a book, 'In Our Own Image' (1990), by Fred Ritchen, which discusses how computer technology can create seemingly genuine photographs. Bauer notes that illustrations in the book include a panorama of New York with shifted buildings. He emphasizes that cameras can lie and that photographs may be no more reliable than eyewitness accounts, especially if the report comes from trustworthy people.

Bauer also references a cutting from Science Frontiers #72 about leatherback turtles. He finds them intriguing, noting they are the largest sea turtles, weighing up to 1600lbs, and can swim at 9 miles an hour. They lack a rigid shell, have a thick leathery carapace, and can dive to 3000 feet. Their diet of jellyfish (97% water) is puzzling for such large animals. Turtles can stay submerged for up to 48 hours, and their bones resemble those of marine mammals, suggesting evolutionary implications that are not fully understood. Bauer speculates that a similar ability to remain submerged and maintain temperature above the cold water could explain why Loch Ness animals are not always seen at the surface and could support a more active hunting lifestyle, potentially extending candidates to reptiles.

Research Request: Sheila D. Barrera

Sheila D. Barrera, an artist from the U.S.A., is working on a series of artworks featuring locations reputedly associated with strange unidentified water animals. She has completed over fifty works and is seeking data, postcards, or photos (even snapshots) of areas where creatures have been witnessed. She can be contacted at P.O. Box 1674, Rahway, NJ 0765, U.S.A. She is also interested in eyewitness accounts.

Enigmas Magazine

'Enigmas,' a magazine published five times a year by Strange Phenomena Investigations (SPI), is highlighted as potentially of interest to members. It features articles on UFOs, poltergeists, hauntings, spiritualism, and life after death. Subscription details are available from Malcolm Robinson, 41 The Braes, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, FK10 2TT.

Closing Remarks

Steve Feltham's van has passed its MOT, and he is mobile again. The editor thanks readers for their continued support, emphasizing that news and views are important and always welcome. The editor's address is provided for correspondence and subscriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include Loch Ness sightings and research, the challenges faced by witnesses, and the role of media in reporting such phenomena. There is also a notable interest in other cryptids like Bigfoot and UFOs, reflecting a broad scope within the paranormal field. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, acknowledging the potential for misidentification and hoaxes (like the April Fool's reports) while still valuing eyewitness accounts and ongoing research. The importance of privacy for witnesses and the potential for ridicule are also highlighted as significant factors in the study of these phenomena. The publication seems to encourage a community of researchers to share information and collaborate.