He was just walking his dog on the beach when he saw a strange object. The lump for some reason drew him in, and he decided to take it home.
Turns out it was a good decision--the weird lump is actually ambergris, or whale vomit, and is used in the perfume industry.
Auctioneer Chris Surfleet estimates the foul-smelling lump, which is eight inches long and weighs about 2.2 pounds, will sell for between $7,500 and $10,750.
In the past, a six-pound lump of ambergris sold for $153,000 to a buyer from the perfume industry.
“Ambergris is formed in a sperm whale’s digestive system and is passed either as vomit or as part of the faeces. Scientists believe it is used to coat irritating objects in the whale’s intestines. The vendor was walking his dog on a beach in Anglesey when he came across it. He thought it might have some value and got in touch with us.”
The finder, who has remained unnamed, won’t say which beach in Anglesey he found the lump on.
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