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In Canada, They Still Use Every Part Of The Whale

A necropsy was performed on a dead whale found attached to the bow of a cruise ship

A necropsy was performed on a dead whale found attached to the bow of a cruise ship

The carcass of the fin whale found attached to the bow of a cruise ship in Vancouver recently has been dragged out into the open ocean and lowered to the seabed where it will become an “island of life.” Researchers say that the dead whale, which weighs as much as 70 tons, can help to sustain sea life for years.

During the necropsy, it was also discovered that the whale was likely sick; its stomach was empty and its blubber layer was too thin.

Blame Canada! Dead Whale Found On Cruiseship Bow

Fisheries officials examine dead whale attached to cruise ship bow in Vancouver, BC (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Fisheries officials examine dead whale attached to cruise ship bow in Vancouver, BC (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Sapphire Princess cruise ship docked in Vancouver on Saturday with a dead 70 fin whale stuck to its bow. It’s not clear if the ship killed the whale or just dragged its already dead carcass back to port.

Fin whales (also called finback whales) are the second largest living creatures on the planet, smaller only than blue whales, and they are listed as an endangered species in Canada.

Ship strikes remain a very serious threat to many species of whales, including the North Atlantic right whales, of which only about 350 are believed to remain.

There Is Some Seriously Good Whale Watching Off Cape Cod Right Now

Two humpback whales feeding north of Cape Cod

Two humpback whales feeding north of Cape Cod

Nice baleen shot

Nice baleen shot

(click on the images to see them larger)

Last week, we went on a whale watching tour out of Provincetown, Mass. We saw around 2 dozen humpback whales feeding. It was whale soup out there. Sometimes you’d look up and see 3 – 5 whales feeding, blowing and/or diving.

Above are a couple pics my wife took. She pretty much snapped a few pictures and then said, “Forget it. I’m here to watch whales, not take pictures.” I’ve got a lot more video I need to edit together, but I’ll try to post some soon.

Also, a WAWD reader reports seeing 3 mother/calf humpback combos, 3 minkes, and a dozen or so finbacks on a trip out of Hyannis earlier this week.

And on your way out to Provincetown, be sure to stop and eat at Moby Dick’s in Wellfleet!

At Moby Dick's, the food tastes good when you eat it.

At Moby Dick's, the food tastes good when you eat it.

The Word “Gigantic” Does A Disservice To The Size Of This Dead Whale’s Tongue

Swollen tongue on dead finback whale

Swollen tongue on dead finback whale


Once again, available art compels me to break my own rule about not posting on dead beached whale. I mean, seriously, look at the size of the tongue on this finback whale that washed up dead in Provincetown earlier in the week. Local officials say the swelling is due to decomposition gasses.

And apparently this has happened at least once before, see below photo from Alaska in 2007.

Humback whale on Alaskan shore in 2007

Humback whale on Alaskan shore in 2007

Whale-related Play In Calgary, Alberta Opens To Unimaginative Reviews (Hint: It’s A “Whale Of A Tale”)

I searched and searched for pictures…and I finally found pictures.

Justin Michael Carriere as Hector and Shawna Burnett as Kira in The Invention of Music, a new comedy by Clem Martini on the TransCanada Stage at Lunchbox Theatre, March 30 – April 25, 2009. Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo.

Justin Michael Carriere as Hector and Shawna Burnett as Kira in "The Invention of Music", a new comedy by Clem Martini on the TransCanada Stage at Lunchbox Theatre, March 30 – April 25, 2009. Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo.


So…it appears that the Lunchbox Theater in Calgary, Alberta, CA specializes exclusively in one act plays. This, according to their web sheet:

A one-act play is a short play that takes place in one act consisting of one or more scenes. The “one-act” is often referred to as the “short story” of plays because the story is told in a concise and creatively efficient manner. One-act plays, as with full length plays, come in all genres: comedies, dramas and musicals. At Lunchbox Theatre we program mainly comedies and musicals as we provide a noon-time oasis for our busy audience members.

First of all, let’s deconstruct Lunchbox Theater’s definition of one act play:

A one-act play is a short play that takes place in one act…

Seriously, God bless community theater. Especially when it’s community lunch hour theater. And especially when their current play is about whales! “The Invention Of Music” runs thru 4/25.
First of all, the play is written by a dude named Clem Martini. It’s impossible to determine which name is better, his first or his last. And despite being a novelist, playwright, and university prof, Clem Martini does not appear to have his own wikipedia entry.

Clem Martini, struggling to support the weight of the genius thats trapped in his head.

Clem Martini, struggling to support the weight of the genius that's trapped in his head.


“The Invention of Music” is supposedly a comedy about whales in rehab. There’s Frank, the finback, with a radio-receiver harpoon in his head.
Son, youve got a harpoon in your head. (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)

Son, you've got a harpoon in your head. (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)


There’s Bill The Blue Whale, self-conscious about his weight.
Hes fat, but hes also big boned (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)

He's fat, but he's also big boned (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)


There’s Hector, the happy humpback.
Ive mostly only known Mexican guys named Hector (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)

I've mostly only known Mexican guys named Hector (Photograph by Benjamin Laird Arts and Photo)


And there’s Kira, a female Orca, played by Shawna Burnett…whose range is demonstrated in these stills.






Kira is in love with Hector.

Louis B. Hobson, from SunMedia.ca, gives the 2.5 out of five stars. He calls the costume design “bargain basement,” but refrains from using the phrase “whale of a tale” (in the review, but not in the PREview).

Bob Clark, of the Calgary Herald, gives it a 4 out of five, and calls it “imaginative, funny, and wise.” He makes reference to there being some whales “of a tale.”

So the reviews round out to a 3.25 out of 5. I’m going to check the last minute deals at Travelocity.com now.