FORTUNE IN AMBERGRIS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1925, Page 1

FORTUNE IN AMBERGRIS

L 22.000 i'OFNJ) ON THE BEACH. A correspondent who intends making a leisure trip around New Zealand “ in see something of this wonderful jL-oiintiv of yours." has the instincts of a gambler, and desires to obtain some information on the subject of ambergris. Ambergris is a product of the sperm whale, tin I is usually washed up on ti.e beach trom the sea. Its value varies according to the quality ami colour, the host being Pacific grey, which is worth from 3 l.s to 17s pot ounce, according to grade, this hoi tin tin- figure quoted last Decemlter when a ‘.mall (ind was made. It is a hazardous business, however, probably more speculative than gold prospecting yet it Inis its iaseitmlion and its .following owing to the high prices realised for good quality. During the war. however, Germany produced synthetic ambergris which sold for about 7s per ounce, which somewhat affected the market, but the Dot ember figures quoted show that the real article still has a high value. In recognised parts of the coast where ambergris is usually found then' are men who earn their livelihood til this precarious work, for big "strikes” are few and far between, and it is said that those regularly engaged in tla- work do not welcome new-comers in the game. There are many finds made which lire believed to he ambergris, and it is not- easy always to fie sure until a chemical test has been applied. Small quantities are usually disposed ot through a known dealer in the locality. hut large finds are as a rule put through the hanks, which having satisfied themselves through ox]>erls thatthe find is genuine, will advance money on it and pay the balance when if has been disposed of in London or Paris, where there are two markets far the commodity and rule the price. On one occasion a man turned up with two kerosene tins full of what he believed to !>© ambergris, but wm -

the chemical tests wore applied 1 proved to he tallow, which had been floating in the ocean for a long time, and the stuff which he believed would he worth a very large sum was not worth the price of waste fat.

A VALUABLE FIND. Last year a good find of about 7P ounces worth, about £l5O. was made in Taranaki Bight, but the largest find ever made in New Zealand was in 1910. and comprised 11.000 ounces, found by the captain of one of the Norwegian whalers off the Solanders Foveaux Strait. The value of that particular find was over £22.000 Gils pur ounce). awl the duty paid on it was £l5O. The best quality is that which came out- of the whale three or four years before, is washed up Iteyond high-water mark, and is buried in the dry sand for two or throe years.

The best spot in the South is between Doughboy Bay and Mhson’e Bay. on tiie Vest Coast of the South Island, and this is one of the places where one man parades the beach every morning in his search. Another place is the Long Beach between Aliparn and Capo Maria Van Diemen. All this beach is main highway up to the north end. and is used by settlers, so is fairly well patrolled. Matty pieces are also found in Taranaki Bight and other parts of the west const- of the North Island. While not the case in New Zealand, in other parts of the world two or three dogs are employed to search. They are taught the smell, and are then kept fairly hungry, being rewarded with a piece of meat- when they make a find.