SEARCH FOR AMBERGRIS

Evening Star, Issue 22595, 12 March 1937, Page 7

SEARCH FOR AMBERGRIS

RECORDS OF RICH FINDS BIG HAUL OFF STEWART ISLAND 4 —— . , Although ambergris has been in use almost from time immemorial, it is remarkable how few people know it, its origin, or uses. Beyond the fact that it has something to do with a whale and is very valuable, the average man is ignorant, and an authority ,on ambergris is Mr F. H. Traill, of Stewart Island, who explained to a ‘ Star reporter" that it. is- obtained from the sperm whale only, and there is no doubt that it is the excrement of the fish in spite of the view of many writers that it is part of the vomit. Perhaps, Mr Traill stated, as Stewart Island is so close to " the Solander Island feeding ground, they are in a better position to fudge seeing that it is deposited in its freshest state. Authoritative writers on ambergris state that only one whale in a thousand secretes it. This must be incorrect, judging by the quantity and various grades cast up on Stewart Island, Presuming it to he all from one w hale—and only a small proportion naturally is secured on the beaches — then it is an extremely busy whale. “We secure only what reaches the sandy beaches,” said Mr Traill, “and the majority must be cast on the rocky shores predominating and consequently lost.” He stated that some people wondered why it was lost, when coming ashore on rocky' shores, as it was a soft substance and did not likely to pulverise. The explanation was that it was extremely sensitive to heat and cold. The softest piece, when fresh from the sea in its cold state, was brittle, and soon would be broken into small fragments. Dwelling on the early records of ambergris, Mr Traill said that it had been written that in 1856 a whaler from Nantucket brought in a mass of ambergris, weighing 6001 b. which was sold for £60.000. For a long period the record in size was a piece weighing 1921 b, which the Dutch East India Company obtained, though a piece weighing 1621 b mysteriously appeared in London about 50 years ago, and was sold for £IO,OOO. About 1904, four fishermen from Hobart found a mass of ambergris weighing nearly I,ooolb, which they secured from a dead whale. This they sold for £27,000, but evidently they did not sell to the best, advantage, judging from weight alone. Coming nearer home, records' seem to have been capped when a ■ Norwegian whaling vessel which visited Stewart Island about 25 years ago towed a whale from the Solander banks and secured a great mass of ambergris. This was taken home and purchased by a Parisian syndicate for £BO,OOO. By judicious and gradual liberation on to the markets it is stated that the syndicate finally netted no less than £230,000, a truly amazing amount of money for an un-attractive-looking substance. On New Zealand shores, however, the ambergris usually found weighs no more than about 20oz at most; so that evidently it has passed naturally from the whale. The large masses come from dead whales, presumably killed by the very excess. For the use of ambergris one has to remember its greatest quality—the function of making scent retain its perfume. It is also used in champagne and incense. Mr Traill .referred to the activities of the late Air Adam Adamson, who was known as the “ ambergris king.” For 12 years he stayed at Mason's Bay (on the western side of Stewart Island), searching foi ambergris, doing extremely well. He served during the war, and carried on at his old occupation when he returned to the island. Others, however, had followed in his wake and settled at Mason’s Bay, so Air Adamson shifted to Dubois Bay and camped in a cave there. His death took place in recent years.

The late Mr Adamson’s camp is now made use of by Mr Traill when tourist parties are being conducted. It is four hours’ walk from Mason’s Bay by a very pretty track through the bush. Mason’s Bay is reached by taking a launch to the head of Paterson Inlet, travelling six miles up the river, followed by a walk of about two and ahalf haul's.

Quite a few men are engaged at ambergris hunting on the main beaches all the time, but most of the fishing boats go ashore on the less-frequented beaches, the fishermen making quite a considerable income even from the lower prices now ruling. Ambergris fetches about £2 an ounce, but quite recently it seems to have started on the upgrade. There are prospects of finding ambergris on all coastal beaches, Air Traill declared, and even at St. Clair there are two cases on record where 'Stewart Island people, who have a natural nose for it, found pieces while visiting Dunedin, these weighing a few ounces in each case. When an ambergris hunter is riot sure that his find is ambergris he puts his nail into it, for it is something after the style of hard wax. While at the war Adam Adamson taught a number of his soldier comrades how to search for ambergris, with the result that quite a few of the beaches in other parts of the Dominion are combed by these men. Regular search for ambergris is also carried out on the Oreti Beach, Invercargill.