Image # 1469
North Atlantic Right Whale This whale is sounding for a dive. Whales usually put their tails up into the air as they intiate a deep or sounding dive. North Atlantic Right Whales are a highly endangered species. Efforts are underway to move sea lanes and limit ship traffic in areas frequented by these whales because ship strikes are a major cause of mortality. Historically the right whale was the most prefered or "right" whale to kill. They had lots of oil and whale bone or baleen, were relatively tame, didn't fight too hard and perhaps most important for early whalers in tiny kill boats, they tended to float after they died. A sinking whale could drag your boat down with it if you didn't manage to cut it loose in time.
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