[NHCOLL-L:5253] Re: Baleen preservation

[Couteaufin at aol.com]

Hi Joe,
 
You really do need to soak the baleen in formalin, else it will absolutely  
stink!  I would suggest some polythene roll heat-sealed at one end and then 
 immerse them in formalin for a good long soak, up to 4 weeks.  You may 
even  have to change the formalin if it disolours too much, it depends how much 
lipid  is in the plates.  Then hose them down to get rid of the surplus 
formalin.  During the drying, be careful they don't start to bow out of shape - 
you may  have to construct a wooden frame with pegs so that they don't bend.
 
If you dry them and put taxidermy de-odoriser on them (which smell I am not 
 too fond of anyway!) they will still start to smell bad after a while!
 
With all good  wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural  Sciences,
20 Newbury Street,
Whitchurch RG28 7DN.
_www.natural-history-conservation.com_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/)  
_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info_ (http://www.pocket-fruit-knives.info/)  

_http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve_ 
(http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve)   


In a message dated 09/02/2011 22:04:01 GMT Standard Time,  
JBOPP at MAIL.NYSED.GOV writes:

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

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