While aboard the Charles W. Morgan, Heather Goldstone caught a whiff of olden times: the odor of whale that is STILL detectable in an original oak barrel. The barrel is part of the whale ship's try works, where blubber was rendered into oil. Here's a clip of her conversation with Dave Wiley, Research Coordinator for Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary, about the scent. These photos from the Library of Congress show the gruesome process of rendering the whale oil: imagine the smell! The Morgan sails again this time not to hunt whales for lamp oil, but with a mission to benefit them.
What's That Smell? Whale Odor Lingers for a Century
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Brian Morris
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