Joel Hendon

Don’t Try Trafficking In Sperm Whale Teeth Or Be Sure To Save Your Profits


Posted: Tuesday, October 11, 2011

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

According to a Department of Justice news release last week, it can be quite costly to purchase teeth from Sperm Whales for resale purposes.

It seems that there is a demand for bones and teeth from whales, I suppose to create expensive trinkets such as bracelets. They are used for “scrimshaw”. And if you don’t know what scrimshaw is, you must be in my category. I had never heard of it. But here is a good description, or explanation, of it by:

Scrimshaw is the name given to handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It takes the form of elaborate engravings in the form of pictures and lettering on the surface of the bone or tooth, with the engraving highlighted using a pigment, or, less often, small sculptures made from the same material. However the latter really fall into the categories of ivory carving, for all carved teeth and tusks, or bone carving. The making of scrimshaw began on whaling ships between 1745 to 1759 on the Pacific Ocean, and survived until the ban on commercial whaling. The practice survives as a hobby and as a trade for commercial artisans. A maker of scrimshaw is known as a scrimshander. Scrimshaw is also a surname. The etymology is uncertain, but there have been several proposals. (Scrimshaw: Wikipedia)

Richard M. Ertel of Spotsylvania, Virginia has pleaded guilty on October 3, 2011 to two counts of felony violations of the Lacey Act for trading in endangered marine mammal parts. This took place in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia.

Sperm whales are classified as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is illegal to import parts of sperm whale teeth into the United States without the requisite permits and certifications, and without declaring the merchandise at the time of importation to U.S. Customs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service according to the press release.

Sperm whale teeth are reportedly prized for use in scrimshaw and can fetch large sums of money from tourists and collectors, etc., who have more money than…uh, I do.

Wikipedia reports that this practice of scrimshaw began on whaling ships between 1745 to 1759. And although whale bones and teeth seem to be most prized, probably because of the rarity and the illegal status, there are many such items used, such as camel bone (see photo below) and walrus tusks. 

(Scrimshaw on Camel Bone-Wikipedia photo)

 As part of his plea, Ertel admitted that from April 2002 to June 2007, he was in the business of buying and selling sperm whale teeth that he purchased from sources in the Ukraine, and then sold to customers in Virginia and elsewhere in the United States. He admitted to conducting much of his business via the Internet.

His sentencing is set for January 9, 2012 where he faces up to 5 years possible prison sentence as well as a $250,000 fine on each of the two charges. Half a million dollars for buying and selling Sperm Whale Teeth.

“…and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23 Moses warns the tribes of Reuben and Gad) 
Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles.http://hebronics.org/index.html

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Jack H. Schick 212 days 11 hours ago.
98 fans.
good warning-thanks- though I wouldn't think of it
» left by Joel Hendon 212 days 11 hours ago.
126 fans.
Thank you Jack for your comment. I wouldn't either.
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