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scubacraig.jpg Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.



peter_chinchorro.jpg Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.



kevvygumby%20copy.jpg Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.

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« Leech Notice | Main | What Porcelain, O This Porcelain? »

Whale Survives 19th Century Hunt

Category: From The Desk of Kevin ZelnioMegavertebrate
Posted on: June 15, 2007 6:38 PM, by Peter Etnoyer

Unbelievably, a 50 ton bowhead whale was discovered with a 19th century bomb lance fragment lodged between its neck and shoulder the bomb lance fragment was patented in 1879, making the whale between 115-130 years old according to researchers. See this amazing story from the American Cetacean Society at MSNBC here. Below is a graphic from that story.

AP_whale_070613.gif

I like this quote from John Bockstoce, an adjunct curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum:

It probably hurt the whale, or annoyed him, but it hit him in a non-lethal place. He couldn't have been that bothered if he lived for another 100 years.
I would also like to mention that in keeping with DSN's mission statement, Bowhead whales can dive to depths greater than 500m.

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Comments

#1

I was very saddened to read this story.

Posted by: Jeb, FCD | June 16, 2007 7:27 AM

#2

James Hrynyshyn wrote good piece on old hunting weapons, including harpoon points of stone and ivory found in bow whales years ago. (I found it via his comment on GrrlScientist's excellent article on the same topic.)

Posted by: llewelly | June 16, 2007 11:20 AM

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