Natural History Museum to provide positive identification of Nessie

According to the Daily Mail, recently released documents from the archives of the British Natural History Museum reveal that in 1987 the Museum struck a deal with the bookmaker William Hill. The Museum agreed that, should the body of the Loch Ness Monster ever be found, the Museum would provide "positive identification." Only if it receives a positive id, will the bookmaker pay out on bets about the creature's existence. (It offers odds of 500/1 on the Loch Ness Monster being found within a year.)

It seems like a pretty good deal for the Museum, since the bookmaker pays them £1,000 per year to maintain the contract.

Cryptozoology Nessie

Posted on Wed Sep 16, 2009


Comments

Is William Hill accepting any competitive bids? I'd be willing to make the same guarantee for a lot less. That is, for an annual retainer (shall we say, 100 pounds?), I'll promise that if anybody finds and delivers a real monster from Loch Ness, I'll identify it.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Wed Sep 16, 2009  at  09:50 AM
But Big Gary, if you identified it, who'd believe it? If you identified it, would you believe the identification you gave? Besides, how much does a thousand pounds go when dealing with an institution like the Natural History Museum? Pays for, what, a couple of minutes of operation? No me, for 100 pounds a year (what's the exchange rate, and are these English or Scottish pounds), I'd be willing to say "That's something alright." I'd even do press conferences. If I hadn't trimmed my beard down I'd look the part better, more like the "crazy old proffessor" type.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Wed Sep 16, 2009  at  10:45 AM
It still sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. 😉
Posted by daveprime  on  Wed Sep 16, 2009  at  08:29 PM
Why settle on identifying just Nessie? Branch out and make an offer to identify all those other well-known creatures that haunt the forests, deserts and mountains. Take a retainer on each and that would add up to a tidy yearly income.
Posted by KDP  on  Thu Sep 17, 2009  at  10:12 AM
KDP, I was going to say something in reply but decided to not do so. Therefore I tender this explanation as to why I am not responding to your comment. Since I am identifying this as a non-reply to your comment, please remit 100 English Pounds, immediately.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Thu Sep 17, 2009  at  10:21 AM
Illinois residents fall for a "buried treasure" prank that was planted 50 years earlier. Longest Time-Delayed Prank in History
Posted by gratis cat  on  Mon Oct 19, 2009  at  10:47 PM
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