Tribe Removes Whale From Beach

Wed., April 19, 2000

From Staff

Members of the Lummi Tribe have removed a dead whale that washed ashore in Bellingham Bay last week.

Lummi carver Jewell James will create sculpture from the bones of the dead gray whale.

A scientist from the National Marine Fisheries Services took tissue samples from the body Monday afternoon, said Michelle Higgins, spokeswoman for the Port of Bellingham.

The whale, estimated to be about 35 feet long, was discovered Thursday at the foot of Cornwall Avenue, near the Georgia-Pacific West Inc. plant.

Brian Gorman, spokesman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said the whale could have been weakened and malnourished during its 6,000-mile migration from Mexico to Alaska.

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