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What Is This? A Right Whale
IN THIS ISSUE
Skull Black-Eyed Susans
July 21, 2016 | Filed under: Island Science, Nantucket History & People and tagged with:
Still Exceeding
history, Maria Mitchell Association, Right Whales
Expectations
~ by Katherine Brooks, Maria Mitchell Association ~ Whirligigs Antiques

Snippets

Four More Chances to

Among the historic gray-shingled houses of Vestal Street and hidden in
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the gardens of the Maria Mitchell Associations Hinchman House Natural
Science Museum, sits a whale skull found thirty years ago at Cisco Beach. Camp Scholarship in
The bone belongs to a right whale: an endangered species with an Atlantic Memory of Son
population of around 500. Whales, bones and all, are symbolic of
Yesterdays Island
Nantuckets whaling history and current conservation efforts.
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Between 1750 and 1850, the global oil business was booming and Annual Harvest Fair at
Nantucket was the leader in whaling. Most whaling ships from Nantucket
the Old Mill
hunted the sperm whale, which at around 32,000 pounds could strike a
A True Nantucket
whaling ship, sending it and its passengers to the bottom of the ocean.
The events aboard the whaleship Essex led Herman Melville to write Moby Tragedy

Dick a story based on the eighty-foot whale that sank one of Nantuckets Nantuckets Guided
finest ships. The bones and pieces of history left behind are reminders of
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the islands past and highlight the incredible history and commerce of
Nantucket Island. Learning about the past can help us understand the Nantucket
present and prepare for the future.
The Judge

Whiskey Business
The Maria Mitchell Association has a permit that allows them to collect
both hard (bones) and soft (carcasses) for learning purposes, without this Yesterdays
permit it is illegal to sell or possess marine mammal bones. The Island/Todays
Hinchman House Natural Science Museum has a collection of more than
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fifty whalebones found along the beaches of Nantucket. The Maria
Page
Mitchell Association uses them to introduce and educate visitors about
our underwater neighbors. The whalebone in the garden and the various Limerick Challenge
skulls, jawbones, and vertebrae in the museum collection are
representative of the common marine mammal species seen off
ARTICLES BY
Nantucket shores. Some of the most common species are gray seals, DEPARTMENT
harbor seals, right whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, Exploring Nantucket
minke whales, Atlantic white-side dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and
Featured Articles
common dolphins.
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In 1972, Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Featured Restaurants
which protects all marine mammals. The MMPA was passed because
Insider Tips
many marine species, like the right whales, were (and still are) in danger
of extinction or depletion because of human activities. To help keep the Island Cooking

populations at bay, the act prohibits the take of marine mammals in U.S. Island Science
waters and by U.S. citizens (with a few exceptions). The MMPA was a
Nantucket Arts
proactive step in the conservation of marine mammals on a national level,
Nantucket
but there are current efforts at a local level happening today.
Entertaining

Today, the global transition from whaling to whale watching is nearly Nantucket Essays
complete, and Nantucket, once a hub of American whaling, stands at the
Nantucket Events
center of a thriving ecotourism devoted to seeing and experiencing
whales in all of their majesty and wonder, stated Wayne Pacelle, Nantucket History &

President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States. People

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There is an opportunity for us to celebrate our relationship with history as
well as our future. The initial application for Nantucket as a Whale
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Heritage Site was accepted and will include Nantucket Island, Tuckernuck
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Island, and Muskeget Island of Massachusetts and will extend three
nautical miles offshore. Accepted as a Whale Heritage Site (WHS), the WHS ARTICLES BY DATE

status will provide further protection on top of Congress MMPA. FROM 2012
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Nantuckets non-profits continue to celebrate the coexistence between
2012
humans and cetaceans and encourage social and economic sustainability,
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research and education, and awareness.

ARTICLES 2007-
Measures are being taken to protect these species. Marine mammals are
2011
important to both our past and future. Dr. Tracey Romano, Vice President
2007-2011 Featured
of Biological Research & Chief Scientist at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut,
will be speaking at the Maria Mitchell Associations Summer Science Articles

Speaker Series about beluga whales, the Arctic, and climate change. Like 2007-2011 Island
the islands focus, Dr. Romano values the relationship between humans, Science
whales, and the environment. Dr. Romanos work is a true testament of
2007-2011 Nantucket
how interconnected and interdependent our ecosystems are. Listen to her
speak about her research on Wednesday, September 14 at 33 Washington Essays

Street, or visit the Hinchman House to learn more about whales and local 2007-2011 Nantucket
marine mammals.
Island Cooking

2010 Nantucket Island

The MMA was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Maria Mitchell
and to promote her belief in learning-by-doing. An astronomer and Memories

natural scientist, as well as an educator, Maria Mitchell shot to worldwide Archived Nantucket
fame when she discovered a comet in 1847. For her discovery, she was
Articles 2007 2011
awarded a gold medal from the King of Denmark the first American and
first woman to receive the honor. She served as the Professor of
Astronomy and Mathematics at Vassar College from 1865 until 1888.
Today, the MMA operates two observatories, a natural science museum,
an aquarium, and the birthplace of Maria Mitchell. The MMA conducts
scientific research, leads classes and workshops for people of all ages
year-round, and welcomes thousands of visitors to its museums and
observatories. For details, visit www.mariamitchell.org.

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