Mythical Lake Monster Can Now Be Hunted Legally

[matcom]

<snip>

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Great Lake Monster, the mythical inhabitant of Storsjon lake, will soon be fair game for hunters and curio seekers as its protected status is about to be lifted, local authorities said Wednesday.

Named after the stretch of water it inhabits ("Storsjon" means Great Lake), the monster is Sweden's answer to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster, Norway's "Selma" and Argentina's "Nahuelito."

The legend dates back at least to the 1600s and tells of a huge black serpent with a cat-like head. But a snake-like beast is also depicted on a Viking rune-stone from hundreds of years earlier on an island in the middle of the lake.

Now the law protecting the beast, in place since 1986, is to be lifted after a request from a local man for permission to collect its eggs forced local authorities to acknowledge they lack scientific evidence that it is a valid species.

"We do not question the Great Lake Monster's existence -- of course we believe it exists," Peter Lif, head of legal affairs for the region of Jamtland told Reuters. "But we find ourselves forced to lift its protection."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=2&u=/nm/20040909/od_nm/odd_sweden_monster_dc

[Magrittes Pipe]

1. Now when Scotland finally comes around...

We'll all be eatin' Nessie! :9

[matcom]

3. if you boil Nessie's ribs before puttin' em on the grill

i'll hunt YOU down x(

[Magrittes Pipe]

5. Aye, an'ah tell ye sumpin' else!

That lochbound lass'll make a mighty big haggis!

[GOPisEvil]

2. To Hell with stripers, let's go fish for THIS THING!!

If we catch it, we'll be FAMOUS!!! :bounce:

[underpants]

4. An ever proactive and hopeful W offers the Swedes his solution

[dr.strangelove]

6. Mmmm - Nothing like grilled dinosaur