The Loch Ness Monster

The existence of a Loch Ness 'monster' was first recorded by the seventh century chronicler of the life of St Columba. The chronicler relates how St Columba drove away a water monster from the loch by praying. The monster does not appear to have gone far however, as there have been various sightings of it since then, presenting Scottish ministers with a unique problem.

A government file from the 1930s demonstrates how ministers have handled the issue of 'Nessie', as the monster is called.

A Nessie Cartoon, 1933

In the early 1930s there were a number of alleged sightings of Nessie and indistinct, grainy photographs were published in a number of newspapers. A parliamentary question was tabled in the House of Commons at Westminster in 1933 asking the Scottish Office to investigate the existence of the monster in the interests of science.

Ministers and civil servants were sceptical about the existence of Nessie but they had to appear to take the matter seriously. They proposed that reliable observers with good cameras should be stationed around the loch and that arrangements should be made for aerial observation. If good photographs of Nessie proved her existence, then a plan could be made to try and trap her, without injuring her – although it was admitted that this would be a difficult task due to the size and depth of Loch Ness. In the end government decided that tales of Nessie provided so much public interest and amusement that they should be allowed to continue regardless of whether Nessie really existed.

This cartoon, from an unidentified publication, shows how the newspapers viewed discussions about the existence of a Loch Ness monster at a time of national economic crisis. The local resident in the cartoon, dressed in tartan trousers and bonnet, is shown holding newspapers with headlines such as ‘Gov[ernmen]t Notice Price of Food’, ‘Means Test’, ‘Economy’, ‘Cuts’, ‘Tax’ and ‘Rent Gov[ernmen]t Notice’. He is depicted as a stereotypical Highlander, reassuring a worried looking Nessie in broad Scots that the House of Commons is keeping a protective watch on it.

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Transcription

LOCAL RESIDENT: ‘Ye puir feckless beastie – get oot o’ sicht while ye’re safe! D’ye no ken the Hoose o’ Commons, Nineteen-thirty-three, has its eye on ye!’ (The question of the Loch Ness Monster was raised in the House yesterday.)

(National Records of Scotland reference: HH1/588 p.76)

Monster Hunting

Monster hunters continued to visit Loch Ness in the hope of seeing Nessie, capturing or killing it. Local residents were alarmed and asked the government to protect her from hunting expeditions. This letter from the Chief Constable of Inverness-shire to the Under Secretary of State at the Scottish Office in London follows the arrival of a hunting expedition in Fort Augustus in 1938 which claimed to have designed ‘a special harpoon gun’ for ‘hunting the monster down’. The letter concludes that the presence of ‘some strange creature in Loch Ness seems now beyond doubt’. The hunting expedition must have been unsuccessful however as Nessie continues to make occasional appearances in Loch Ness.

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Transcription

INVERNESS-SHIRE CONSTABULARY
COUNTY CONSTABULARY HEADQUARTERS
THE CASTLE
INVERNESS, 15th August, 1938

Sir,
The Loch Ness Monster
I should like to refer you to your letter to me dated 21st Nov[ember], 1933 (Ref. No. 36125/1) with which you enclosed a copy letter dated 13th Nov[ember], 1933 received by you from Sir Murdoch Macdonald, MP for Inverness-shire. In my reply to this correspondence, dated 23rd Nov[ember], 1933, I indicated the only step which the Police could usefully take, was to warn the people resident in the neighbourhood and as many as possible of the visiting public, that the preservation of the Monster was desired.

It has now come to my notice, that a Mr Peter Kent and Miss Marion Stirling, both of London, are determined to catch the Monster dead or alive.

Mr Peter Kent visited Fort Augustus on Friday 12th August and was seen there by my Officer stationed at Fort Augustus, to whom he stated that he was having a special harpoon gun made and that he was to return with some twenty experienced men on the 22nd of August for the purpose of hunting the Monster down.

That there is some strange [fish deleted] creature in Loch Ness seems now beyond doubt, but that the Police have any power to protect it is very doubtful. I have, however, caused Mr Peter Kent to be warned of the desirability of having the creature left alone, but whether my warning will have the desired effect or not remains to be seen. If you have any suggestion to make or can offer any guidance in the matter, I shall be grateful.

I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
William Fraser
Chief Constable

(National Records of Scotland reference: HH1/588 p.31)