What they actually found was ambergris, or ‘whale vomit,’ a valuable ingredient in the perfume making industry. Having read about the value these “rocks” can reach, they were aware it was their lucky day.
What in fact is ambergris? “When sperm whales swallow sharp objects – such as the horny beaks of squid, which are their usual food – their intestines secrete a sticky substance that envelops these sharp debris so as not to injure the intestinal mucosa. Over time, these residues agglomerate in the form of lumps of various sizes, which are removed either with feces or regurgitated. Under the influence of the sun and the seawater, this mixture turns into a hard matter, with a specific aromatic smell.”
Gary, who is an engineer, described his and his wife’s find as ‘a bit of a shock’ and added, “It smells too bad though. It’s a very distinctive smell, like a cross between squid and farmyard manure.
