It s unusual for a high school to obtain a whale skeleton. The remains of whales cannot be stored without permission and most are located where scientists can easily study them. In the heyday of whale hunting, the remains of whales were less valued - often dumped back into the sea after they were stripped. So far this year, there have been 30 reports of dead whales along the cost from Maine to Virginia. Sixteen were floating offshore and carried out by the tide, but seven washed up in Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire and one in Rhode Island.
Museums often bid for more desirable whale skeletons.
There were several bidders for a giant 55-ton blue whale that washed ashore in Rhode Island in May, 1998. The New Bedford Whaling Museum won the right to store that skeleton, which was dedicated in July. The Associated Press. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.