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On August 15, 2007, an article titled “Is there a Kamaniskeg Loch Ness” by Kate Weldon, Staff Reporter was published in the Barry’s Bay This Week newspaper.
The image was taken by the Fleming family who were vacationing at the Chippawa Cottage Resort on Kamaniskeg Lake and have for the past 27 years. During a canoe trip on the lake the Fleming’s were snapping pictures of the scenery. Sometime later, when they were reviewing the picture they zoomed in on the picture and noticed that there was a rock or a bump and what appeared to be a ripple or a splash in the water surrounding the foreign object. The Fleming’s indicated in the news article that “Those of us who have been coming to Chippawa know there is no rock sticking out like that just of the right side of the beach!” (See original images #1 and 2)
The article and images were provided by Martha Perkins, the Editor for the Barry’s Bay and Haliburton newspapers. I had the image enhanced by professional photographer, Matt Butler of Xtrme Imaging in Barrie, ON, Canada. Mr Butler wrote the following to me.
Dana,
“ That's quite the photo!
At first glance, I must admit it appears to be a large rock in the distance, but if there's no rock in that location, than I can't imagine a rock being there (and a rock that size certainly wouldn't be something that could surface and stay there on its own).
The lighter shading to the bottom left of the object appears to be waves, and when I believed them to be such I thought the object looked similar to a whales tail slipping beneath the surface of the water.
After cropping closer to the object , lightening up the photo as best I could and pulling out the detail that is there, I came up with the image I've attached: (See image # 3)
And now I'm left questioning whether the light section to the bottom left of the object is in fact waves or a part of the object.
If you refer to 2 different black and white versions of the image below, the shape changes slightly again: (See images # 4 and 5)
I had an interesting idea of what it COULD be.
I was thinking that perhaps it's not something going into the water, but rather something is coming out of the water.
The dark object to the right reminds me of the structure of a wing. The object looks too small to be a smaller bird like a loon, but maybe big enough to be a pelican or herring?
In all honestly, I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't look like a log.”
After studying the image the author/investigator feels that the top area of image could possibly be a ridged dorsal fin and there appears to possibly be an eyeball, nostril and mouth in the front lower right portion of the image. (See image # 6)
After comparing the enhanced image to the body of known fish species in Ontario, the closest resemblance in my opinion would either be a Carp, Ling fish or a Shonisaurus popularis which belonged to the family of Ichthyosaurs (fish lizards) that were a group of air-breathing Mesozoic marine reptiles that resembled modern day (late Cenozoic) dolphins. (See image # 7) Although, the normal size of these fish is considerably smaller than the object in the image taken by the Fleming’s on Lake Kamaniskeg. Although, without further evidence the What the __ is it! is strictly left up to the viewers personal interpretation.
In order to find out if there were any other sightings, I contacted the Township of Madawaska. I was referred to the local library and further referred to a local historian and former teacher, Robert Corrigan. Mr Corrigan had not heard of any sightings but provided me with several contacts.
The first contact was Donald and Janet Dunn, who are the owners of the Chippawa Cottage Resort on located on Kamaniskeg Lake. In conversation with Donald Dunn he informed me that he had not heard of anything prior to the news article that ran in the Barry’s Bay This Week newspaper. Mr Dunn indicated that there is no rock structure between his beach and the point near where the object was photographed.
Next, I contacted Mr David Kelly, who is the curator of the Combermere Mission House Museum and very knowledgeable regarding the sinking of the May Flower ship in Kamaniskeg Lake in 1912. David is also a certified diver and is very knowledgeable of the geographical relief below the waves of Kamaniskeg Lake from his diving expeditions especially, around the wreck of the May Flower ship.
Mr Kelly indicated that there are three deep holes in the lake. One hole is near Barry’s Bay, one is near Sand Bay and another is located near the wreck of the May Flower. Mr Kelly also indicated that there are some large Ling fish that have an eel type body and a Cat Fish like head that live in the colder waters of the lake. Normally, they are caught in the winter months being considered a delicacy by some local residents. Also, he indicated that he has spotted a snapping turtle 3 feet in diameter in the lake during a dive. He knew of no other sightings but he would keep watch for any historical documents.
I visited and observed Kamaniskeg Lake in Barry’s Bay on October 8th, 2007. The sky conditions during my visit were overcast with a ceiling of 600 feet, a temperature of 9 degree C, the winds were out of the South East at 9 Km/h and the visibility was 16 KM’s. I observed and photographed Kamaniskeg Lake from the hill where St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church is situated in order to document my observation of the lake. During my visit I did not notice any unusual activity in the observed portion of the lake. (See image # 8)
In conclusion, it is difficult to determine if the bump in the picture is anything more than a foreign object such as a rock or a log. Although, after careful observation of what is considered an authentic image by a professional photographer, I feel that there is possibly an aquatic creature such as an extraordinary sized Carp, Ling fish or Shonisaurus popularis may live in the lake.
It is only through further sightings and an extensive an onsite investigation could more conclusive evidence to the existence of a creature in Kamaniskeg Lake known by the local residents as Keggie be confirmed.
