Whale Vomit | Found Treasure

[Janet H]

Now there's a thread title to get your attention

Check out this article about a fun find on the beach

BBC News - Rare whale vomit found on Morecambe beach

[delmarrey]

I remember hearing when I was a kid that the reason for whale hunting was to make perfumes. I didn't believe it. Now it seems there is a relationship.

[Katiusha]

Amazing!! Looks like stone, smells like s..t, floats, and gets you between £14000 and £33000 per kilo. And you can find it beachcombing!

That's one way to fund your cruising... where are all those $500 a month debaters?

On a more serious note, I have to really start looking at all those stones on the beach.

[sailorboy1]

wonder how they list that in the ingredients?

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

wonder how they list that in the ingredients?

"All Natural"

[nigel1]

Can imagine the crap that kids will be bringing home to mum and dad after a day on the beach.

[virginia boy]

Whew! I almost blew it by buying a metal detector, but now I'm thinking a bloodhound to sniff out the larger chunks of whale poo. I'm gonna be rich! Bigger boat here I come!!!

[micah719]

Adventurous cash-strapped cruisers are even now experimenting with sticking their fingers down sleeping whale's throats...

[travisD]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I remember hearing when I was a kid that the reason for whale hunting was to make perfumes. I didn't believe it. Now it seems there is a relationship.

We must have went to school about the same time. I remember my teacher explaining to us one day about how whale vomit was used in perfume making.

[Lancerbye]

Now the big question is. What makes a whale vomit? Too much booze? Do you want to pick up that bar tab? Maybe sea sick? lol

[Cheechako]

At that much money I'm going to be looking a ittle closer to the various rocks I see on the beach!

[minaret]

Ambergris can come out either end of the whale, it's not strictly vomit. More like a cats hairball. Whaling was done for whale oil, which was once a primary lamp fuel source. The odd lump of ambergris found in a whales belly was just a bonus for whalers. There are huge variations in color and consistency, making it difficult to find unless you are familiar with the odor.

[perchance]

Ambergris is often full of squid beaks. I guess it stops them from scraping the bung hole on the way out.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

Now the big question is. What makes a whale vomit? Too much booze? Do you want to pick up that bar tab? Maybe sea sick? lol

Over ripe squid with too much beake.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Can imagine the crap that kids will be bringing home to mum and dad after a day on the beach.

No johnny, thats just another cat turd, please put it back. and get that stuff out of your pockets!