Nessletter - No 114 - 1992

Magazine Overview

This issue of the NESS INFORMATION SERVICE NESSLETTER, number 114, dated December 1992 (with a reference to August '93), focuses on a significant sighting in Loch Ness and the ongoing scientific investigation.

Sighting Report

The main feature details a sighting by Edna MacInnes on Friday, June 25th, 1993. While driving with her boyfriend and son near Loch Ness, she observed a strange, light brown shape with a massive white trail on the loch. Initially mistaken for a boat, she later described it as a 'giraffe-like head and neck' rising from the water, approximately 20 feet from the shore. Her boyfriend, David, took photographs, which, when developed, showed a long wake but no creature. Despite her initial fear, the experience convinced Edna that something substantial, possibly 25ft long, lives in the loch. The Official Loch Ness Exhibition expressed interest in her photographs and invited her to meet.

The report notes that the sighting occurred on a calm evening and that the cruise boat Jacobite Queen often passed by around that time, potentially creating a misleading wake. However, the 'giraffe-like head and neck' remained unexplained. The author of the report, after conducting further inquiries, suggests the photographs likely depict a boat wake, and the 'head and neck' might have been a misinterpretation of a person in a dory wearing an orange life-jacket, or a case of expectation influencing perception.

Despite the publicity, the author expresses doubt about the sighting being definitively accepted due to unanswered questions.

Project Urquhart

This section details the second phase of 'Project Urquhart', a scientific study of the biological life in Loch Ness, sponsored by the Discovery Channel and supported by the Freshwater Biological Association and the Natural History Museum. The project utilized the research vessel Calanus, equipped with advanced sonar (EK500 and EA300P) and underwater video cameras, to survey the loch's depths, sediments, and fish populations. The research aimed to establish fish populations, distribution, biological productivity, and food chains, with the hope of understanding the loch's ecosystem and its potential to support 'higher predators'. This initiative marked a departure from previous efforts that distanced themselves from monster-hunting.

The Discovery Channel transmitted updates throughout July and was producing a documentary. The project's goals included testing the veracity of old photographs and eye-witness accounts, contributing to scientific research accessible to the public.

Future Scope and Sponsorship

Project Urquhart planned to expand its scope in the following year to study the loch's functions across different seasons. The Discovery Channel was seeking sponsorship partners for 'Discovery Loch Ness '94'.

Holidays '93

This personal account describes a holiday at Loch Ness in July 1993. The author's own vehicle failed its MOT, necessitating the hire of a caravan. The author mentions Adrian Shine from the Loch Ness Project and discusses experiments involving 'drouges' – floats suspended at various depths to track currents, with their positions determined by Geostationary Satellite Navigation.

Encounters and Observations

The author recounts meeting Steve Feltham, who had visited Norway and observed an eel-like creature with looped humps, different from the usual Loch Ness descriptions. Steve Feltham's video camera had been recently overhauled. The author also met Nick Witchell and Ivor Newby, who was using his vintage Amphicar. Early fish counts for the Discovery work were reported as disappointing.

The author spent time with Sue and Alastair Boyd, who were involved with the Discovery documentary. Observations included the presence of jet-skis and a speedboat on the loch, which were noted as disruptive.

Scientific Research and Findings

Further details emerge about the Discovery team's work, including trawling and monitoring plankton and chemicals. The author notes that the project had been undertaken by various academic bodies over the years, with findings presented at a British Ecological Society meeting. The research aimed to study the loch's acid and nutrient contents, plankton, and fish life. The author mentions that the loch was being put on the scientific map through these efforts.

Adrian Shine provided preliminary findings on the Loch Ness fish count, estimating a sustainable population and suggesting the potential for a significant biomass of large predators (around 1.8 tons) based on accepted prey-to-predator ratios.

Personal Observations

The author concludes with personal observations from their stay, noting calm water and good watching conditions, though mergansers were scarce. They did observe a group of seven black-throated divers.

Contact Information and Subscription

The newsletter provides contact details for R.R. Hepple and subscription rates for the UK and North America.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing mystery of Loch Ness, the detailed reporting of alleged sightings, and the parallel scientific investigations aiming to understand the loch's ecosystem. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious reporting, presenting witness accounts alongside scientific data and analysis, and acknowledging the uncertainties and unanswered questions surrounding the phenomenon. There is a clear effort to distinguish between anecdotal evidence and rigorous scientific research, while still acknowledging the public's fascination with the 'monster'.