A piece of sperm whale skin with giant squid sucker marks (unrelated, but cool...)
The New Bedford Whaling Museum really is the gift that keeps on giving. Check out this post on their blog.
On page 197 of a document called “Report of the Commissioner for the year ending June 30, 1902 : Aquatic products in arts and industries : fish oils, fats, and waxes. Fertilizer from aquatic products,” museum archivists discovered that whalers actually used the word “twitter” to refer to a part of the whale.
“The term ‘twitter,’ which has been previously referred to as applied to the thread-like or membranous substance ranging through the contents of the case, is also applied to the lining of that reservior. This is from 2 to 3 inches thick, glutinous, and extremely tough. In decapitating the sperm whale, especially in severing near the bunch of the neck, a very sharp spade is required to cut through this tough and elastic formation. Although it is very difficult to manipulate, an economical whaleman never throws this substance away. Since it can not be boiled out with the case, for the reason above given, it is saved and run through the pots with the fat-lean after the case and junk have been cooked.”
The blog goes on to credit a gentleman named Mike Dyer for discovering this tidbit, and to you, sir, consider my hat…off. Because you read at least 197 pages of something called “Report of the Commissioner for the year ending June 30, 1902 : Aquatic products in arts and industries : fish oils, fats, and waxes. Fertilizer from aquatic products.”
I actually sort of fucking hate twitter.
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