The gale., 1888-01-20
FORTUNES IN AMBERGRIs.
A Prize for Which WhaIers are
Constantly on the Lookout.

A Prize for Which Wha1ers are
Constantly on the Lookout.
Ambergris is peculiar secretion
found in deceased sperm whale, and
is worth its weight in gold. 1t is not
buoyant article, and is only obtained by
killing the whale, or the whales dying
and drifting ashore, when the lump OF
ambergis washes upon the beach after
the carcass is decomposed.
The ambergris whales are usually
found near the land, and when the stun
is picked up on shore the carcass OF a
dead whale is usually somewhere in the
vicinity. When an apparently healthy
whale is killed and on examination ap-
pears to have very little oil, search for
ambergris is Immediately made. In ap-
pearance it is dark-gray substance,
and very vile smelling. 1t is princi-
pally used in making perfume to ''set
the odor." and as refner. Province
town whalers have always been FORUM
ate in finding this valuable article, either
in large or in small quantities, and have
certainly had their share with whale
men from other ports.
It is related that on one clear, calm
afternoon, number of years ago, the
schooner Gage Phillips of Provincetown
was drifting along on the whaling
grounds, when the man on the lookout in
the crows nest hailed the deck, as is
customary when anything is discovered
on the water, andreported to the officers
on deck that a small, peculiar-looking
substance was floating off the port quar-
ter, and said it looked something like
beeswax, which is often round floating
in those waters. The captain was I'M
mediately called, and looking at it care
fully through his glass, ordered boat
lowered to get it. 1t was taken on deck,
and after q careful examination by the
crew pronounced to be some peculiar
kind of West Indian gum, something
they had never seen before. After being
kicked about the deck for some days it
was thrown carelessly into the stern
boat and soon forgotten.
It was not long, however, before the
Phillips fell in with another Province
town whalcr, and the crews exchanged
visits. While the two captains were
seated in the Phillips's stern boat spin
ming yarns and talking Of home, the Wis
iting captain suddenly espied the lump
of so-called "gum," and with much sur
prise asked:
"What are YOU letting that lay around
in that styla for ~
The answer was: "Why, it is no good,
pnlv wax that I am taking home for some
of the boys.
sNo good r said the other captain;
swl,v Fl e amberaris. and is worth its /
ve;rbt g 0old- and you had better take T
ara Of "a
Il is needless to say that it was taken
are of, and when the vessel arrived
omc the sale of that little lump of
eaiin'' added So, ,0O0to the general stock
the voyage.
Another captain of q merchant YES
|, while lying at anchor Oft one OF the
all islands IN the West. lndlcs, dls- ,
yered g lump as large as ms TWO nsts "
the possession OF q negro, VINO, noS b
wing It's value, so,a u 20 the zap,
Tor one Hannel slirt ana m ola y
+ ot pan saioons ~ was soAss n sl'c $
zses !os S9s''. ~ q :. -; oste
.s 1sst f,,;, WE when
sss5sst sssss,rsd s. ~ rlso whale had been
'11ess .f,d tnwed tn tl,e vessel when one
tie sailors discovered some peculiar
,olsine particles floating on the water
longside the boat. He took them up
nth a dip-net, and after examining
hem said they looked like ambergrls.
t was deemed wise to make search.
0n sticking sharp spear into the part
where ambergris is usually touM q
hard substance WAS struck. lmmed1-
ately all was exsatement. The whale