Removing the whalebone, Ragged Island, 1927

Contributed by Maine Historical Society/MaineToday Media

Removing the whalebone, Ragged Island, 1927

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Description

Captain William Sylvester removing the baleen, or whalebone, of a 50-foot whale. The baleen was typically the first part removed from a whale carcass.

This finback whale was discovered by local lobster fisherman after a large storm washed it ashore on Ragged Island in Harpswell. It had been dead some time.

Sylvester, a local whaler, considered the whale was about 75 years old and supervised the process of cutting up the carcass.

Captain William Sylvester was a whaler for 40 years in New Bedford, Massachusetts. At the time of this photograph, he lived on Orr's Island with the other men who helped cut up the whale.

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About This Item

  • Title: Removing the whalebone, Ragged Island, 1927
  • Creator: Portland Evening Express
  • Creation Date: 1927-02-23
  • Subject Date: 1927-02-23
  • Location: Ragged Island, Harpswell, Cumberland County, ME
  • Media: Glass Negative
  • Dimensions: 8.3 cm x 10.8 cm
  • Local Code: Coll. 1949, 2005.061.14630
  • Collection: Portland Press Herald glass negative collection
  • Object Type: Image

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Maine Historical Society/MaineToday Media
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