[Sca-cooks] RE: Sca-cooks digest, Vol 1 #983 - 16 msgs

[Decker, Terry D.]

> Someone else said:
> > Sorry but the real thing is illegal.  It is part of the whale and
> > whaling it a very politically incorrect and the UN is
> trying to get it
> > banned all togeter.
>
> It's not part of the animal. So why are they trying to ban whale
> 'hairballs'? Because it can more easily be obtained by killing the
> whale than hunting for what it spits up?

The sale of ambergris is illegal, simple possession is not.  The goal is to
reduce the value of the sperm whale by making the commercial market in
ambergris unprofitable.

>
> They still allow possession of fossil ivory or ivory obtained when
> the animal is killed by legal means (ie: "native" hunters even if
> done with firearms).

The trade in walrus ivory in North America is strictly controlled and
monitored and possession of unworked walrus ivory can be a crime.

Fossilized ivory is in a different category because it can identified as
being fossilized.  However, if you show up with a fair amount, the Feds may
want to know where you found it.  Something about unlawfully removing
artifacts from federal land.

>
> Why can't/don't they allow processing of that found naturally? Seems
> a bit wasteful to me to do otherwise.
>
> --
> THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra

If anyone can tell the difference between lawfully gleaned products and
unlawfully harvested products, may I suggest that they have a real future
with the Customs Service, because that is the simple issue behind most of
these regulations.

Bear