19th-Century Weapon Found in Whale

[rack'm]

<img src="http://media.bonnint.net/apimage/NYOL98106122137.jpg?filter=wtop/story_big">


BOSTON (AP) - A 50-ton bowhead whale caught off the Alaskan coast last month had a weapon fragment embedded in its neck that showed it survived a similar hunt _ more than a century ago. Embedded deep under its blubber was a 3 1/2-inch arrow-shaped projectile that has given researchers insight into the whale's age, estimated between 115 and 130 years old.

 

[AK-74me]

Amazing on several accounts.

 

[Speedy70]

Amazing on several accounts.

 

[Mousebaby]

That is really neat, but sad that the whale is dead.

 

[desertrat]

<img src="http://media.bonnint.net/apimage/NYOL98106122137.jpg?filter=wtop/story_big">


BOSTON (AP) - A 50-ton bowhead whale caught off the Alaskan coast last month had a weapon fragment embedded in its neck that showed it survived a similar hunt _ more than a century ago. Embedded deep under its blubber was a 3 1/2-inch arrow-shaped projectile that has given researchers insight into the whale's age, estimated between 115 and 130 years old.

I was watching that on the news last night and wondered, in the scientific community, how in the world does that constitute proof that the whale was that old? I guess no one could have possibly picked up an old harpoon point and decided to use it since their new ones were running low?

 

[aps45819]

The 49-foot male whale died when it was shot with a similar projectile last month, and the older device was found buried beneath its blubber as hunters carved it with a chain saw for harvesting.

That's got to be a messy job

 

[bohman]

That's got to be a messy job

Certainly helps me to appreciate my job.