GREAT AMBERGRIS FIND.
DISCOVERY ON BEACH. PIECE WEIGHING 224L8. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DARGAVILLE, Friday. A record piece of ambergris, estimated to weigh about 2241b., was found.at the spit near Kaipara Heads, yesterday, by Mr. V. Subritsky and his brother, of Te Kopuru. The two were motoring in the vicinity and noticed the ambergris ir\ the tide. The piece was so large that they had difficulty in getting it into the car. The block was brought' into the bank to-day and will be shipped to London. This is probably the largest single piece of ambergris ever found in T ew Zealand. At the present market rates it is worth several thousand pounds. The value of ambergris varies from a few shillings to as much as £5 an ounce, according to its age and quality.. The substance is a secretiou of the whale k and in its raw state, when it is black and smells strongly, is worth little. After immersion in the sea for a considerable time it loses weight and changes in colour to the grey of pumice stone. At this stage it is pervaded by a faint odour of musk.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 10
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192GREAT AMBERGRIS FIND. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 10
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