Marine Mysteries

Photo by: Jared Towers. ID: Juvenile sandlance.

Mass found on the beach on Southwest Vancouver Island, BC, CANADA - initially suspected to be "ambergris".

M0014744 - mystery mass thought to be ambergris; 3 inches (7.6 cm)

Photo by: Jared Towers. ID: Juvenile sandlance.

Two goose-eggs sized masses found on the beach on Southwest Vancouver Island, BC, CANADA. When dropped. When dropped the mass on the right fragmented as seen in the image. See blog item on this find http://themarinedetective.com/2010/04/18/whale-vomit/

M0014746- mystery mass thought to be ambergris; 3 inches (7.6 cm)

ID: Giant Wrymouth in the shallows near Sandspit, Hadia Gwaii. Photo by Shain and Marlee Olsen. IMG_6564

Result of dropping one of the masses - fragments and crumbs; some parts darker and harder.

ID: Giant Wrymouth in the shallows near Sandspit, Hadia Gwaii. Photo by Shain and Marlee Olsen. IMG_3875

M0014734 - Result of the "hot needle" diagnostic test.

Mass found on the beach on Southwest Vancouver Island, BC, CANADA - initially suspected to be "ambergris".

Result of melting down the "crumbs" of one of the masses found on the beach on Southwest Vancouver Island, BC, CANADA - initially suspected to be "ambergris". Now suspected to be - grease!!