[NHCOLL-L:5252] Baleen preservation

[Joseph Bopp]

Hello 

This past fall we received both sides of baleen from a fin whale.   Each side is about 8 feet long by 2 feet wide.   My question, what is the best method to preserve and store them?   Several years ago we got a small section of baleen from a humpback whale that we were told to soak in formalin, which we did, and it now sits in a cabinet.    We don't have a container big enough to soak the fin whale baleen, nor do we have a cabinet big enough to store it.   We have two whale skulls that are stored out in the open in our collections, and I could do that with the fin whale baleen, but I've seen cloths moths attracted to baleen and I don't want that to happen to these.    Currently both sections are in a freezer, but they can't stay there much longer.   Any suggestions on how to preserve and store them?

Thank you for your help.

Joe Bopp

Joseph Bopp
Collections Manager
Birds and Mammals
New York State Museum
3140 Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
518-486-2005
fax 518-486-2034
jbopp at mail.nysed.gov