<p>David Tilton and Lynn Silva were out making their typical derby rounds Friday afternoon when they came across a whale in 20 to 25 feet of water just off the Brickyard on the Chilmark north shore.
David Tilton and Lynn Silva were out making their typical derby rounds Friday afternoon when they came across a whale in 20 to 25 feet of water just off the Brickyard on the Chilmark north shore.
They called on the radio to advise those in Menemsha Harbor of the whale’s presence in the area, as it could present a navigational hazard. There was also the possibility that it was entangled.
Dennis Jason, Menemsha harbor master, along with his son Denny, Brian Curry, Marshall and Bradley Carroll all went out to see if they could see any signs of distress or entanglement.
The group identified the creature as a finback whale approximately 30 to 40 feet long.
The Coast Guard was notified along with the marine mammal response team.
The whale casually made its way toward Gay Head, cruising past the bell buoy and along Dogfish Bar.
The water spout was visible from spout water from the back door of Menemsha Texaco. The whale did not appear to be in distress.
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After staying with the whale
Lynne Silva MenemshaAfter staying with the whale for some time, and texting pictures to the NOAA Entanglement Team in Provincetown, it was determined that the whale was actually a humpback. On close inspection of zoomed in images we were able to get with a cellphone, it appeared that the whale had a rope wrapped around it but how long it had been there was not clear. Unfortunately, although the Team deemed the incident a entanglement incident, since it was by then 2pm, they were unable to get a boat here from Provincetown before dark. We followed the whale until the Coast Guard arrived to escort it out of Vineyard Sound. The Entanglement Team is hoping the whale will be spotted again so they can respond.
Thar she blows...
Not Bad New BedfordThar she blows...
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