THE BOOK ABOUT THE SEA GARDENS 



tually lives in the colder waters of the north. It 

 comes south, like many of us, to recuperate or die 

 and to take the warm waters which the Gulf 

 Stream provides. If it fails to get rid of its am- 

 bergris, it dies and soon finds its way to the rocks. 

 Ambergris is eaten greedily by fish. Though it 

 seldom falls below five dollars an ounce, the 

 market is more easily glutted than in any other 

 commodity, owing to the small amount actually 

 required. The largest lump ever found here was 

 discovered at Spanish Wells; it weighed several 

 pounds, and through skilful selling probably 

 reached four figures easily. Near by was found 

 the carcass of the whale that also contained more 

 of it. The local rumour that it realized forty 

 thousand dollars is probably as true as most 

 rumours. But ambergris is certainly rare and 

 costly, though there is not a continual or univer- 

 sal demand for it. 



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