Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Whale vomit brings wealth (barf alert)
Sunday Times (South Africa) ^ | Tuesday January 24, 2006 08:35 - (SA)

Posted on 01/24/2006 8:17:55 AM PST by dead

SYDNEY - A family on the south Australian coast found a piece of whale vomit on the beach that is tipped to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, national radio reported.

The chunk of ambergris, which is sought after by perfume manufacturers, weighed 14.75 kilograms and is worth about 20 US dollars per gram, ABC radio said — making a total of 295,000 dollars.

Fisherman Leon Wright and his wife Loralee found the ambergris, which sperm whales are believed to vomit to rid their intestines of hard objects such as squid beaks, on a remote beach near Streaky Bay.

Loralee was reluctant to accept her husband's suggestion that they throw the mysterious, solid, fatty object into the back of her four-wheel-drive vehicle, so they left it there, said local marine expert Ken Jury.

Two weeks later, travelling in Leon's vehicle, they discovered that it was still there and took it home, Jury, who is advising the family, said.

Ambergris, which floats after being vomited by the whales, is a rare find and has to a large extent been replaced in the fragrance industry by synthetics.

Sapa-AFP


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ambergris; barf; doublebarf; frenchperfume; smellsliketeenspirit; vomit
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
To: dead

Damn. I thought the Futurama episode about whale vomit being valuable for purfume was a joke. Who knew it was actually real!


21 posted on 01/24/2006 8:36:00 AM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beaversmom

"What was that stuff they scrapped out of their brains? I can't remember the name and what they used that for."

I think you are referring to spermaceti. That was used ass a special lubricant, and as an oil in the days before petroleum based oils were available.


22 posted on 01/24/2006 8:36:23 AM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: RightWingAtheist

oh my


23 posted on 01/24/2006 8:36:58 AM PST by cvq3842
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: dead

Squids have beaks??? Who knew???


24 posted on 01/24/2006 8:37:09 AM PST by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys-Reagan and Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mase
You wouldn't believe some of the things they used to make perfume. I used to tell people what I saw but no one would believe that something so awful could create something so fragrant.

What are some of the other "things". I would believe...

25 posted on 01/24/2006 8:37:29 AM PST by GOPJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: GladesGuru
That was used ass a special lubricant, and as an oil in the days before petroleum based oils were available.

Butt lube?


Nice typo.

26 posted on 01/24/2006 8:38:21 AM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Phantom Lord

That made me laugh too.


27 posted on 01/24/2006 8:42:54 AM PST by beaversmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: GladesGuru; Riley

In the same Master and Commander series, Dr. Maturin fell overboard and his timepiece got wet as well. One of the midshipmen retrieved some (they had a specific name for it) oil and displaced the sea water. This was the same oil.


28 posted on 01/24/2006 8:45:03 AM PST by printhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

Hurling expensive chunks ping

"I'm all wet, sweeeet!" -- Cartman on Free Willzyx


29 posted on 01/24/2006 8:45:19 AM PST by sully777 (Blame Canada!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk
Squids have beaks??? Who knew???

Yup. Looks like a (big) parrot's beak. We had a fascinating discussion here some months ago having to do with Humboldt squids.

30 posted on 01/24/2006 8:46:08 AM PST by Riley ("What color is the boathouse at Hereford?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: dead

Whale vomit? Dang, someone must have cashed in big time after Ted Kennedy spoke at the Alito hearings.


31 posted on 01/24/2006 8:46:54 AM PST by dinoparty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DogBarkTree

The "Gill Man"


32 posted on 01/24/2006 8:47:07 AM PST by DarthVader
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: printhead

In the books, Maturin was constantly falling overboard. He can do brain surgery with carpentry tools, but can't climb aboard a ship from a tender in the calmest weather without getting wet.


33 posted on 01/24/2006 8:48:13 AM PST by Riley ("What color is the boathouse at Hereford?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: beaversmom
LOL..but there is alot of truth in your question. Still smiling over it..:)

sw

34 posted on 01/24/2006 8:48:16 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: GladesGuru
Spermaceti was used as a parting agent when casting metals.
35 posted on 01/24/2006 8:48:21 AM PST by Born to Conserve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Whale vomit? Dang, someone must have cashed in big time after Ted Kennedy spoke at the Alito hearings.

No, that was just worthless whale bile.

36 posted on 01/24/2006 8:49:48 AM PST by KarlInOhio (Hey Fat Ted: Alito is the judge, Mojito is what you're drinking. Try to remember the difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: dead

All they do is show the whales a picture of Hillary in a string bikini and just like clockwork KABOOM 100 gallons of vomit.


37 posted on 01/24/2006 8:51:17 AM PST by JustAnotherOkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Riley; yldstrk

http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46

Enquiring minds want to know more about squid beaks


38 posted on 01/24/2006 8:52:33 AM PST by tumblindice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

How about civet musk? Secretions from the anal glands of civet cats?

Mrs VS


39 posted on 01/24/2006 8:53:01 AM PST by VeritatisSplendor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JustAnotherOkie

I think we should follow Kennedy around. I'm sure he shoots chow every now and then during his binges. Unless I guess, it's vomit from a specific kind of whale.


40 posted on 01/24/2006 8:53:17 AM PST by MadeInAmerica
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson