Technology... and first installment of N.I.
So I have FINALLY got the capabilities to upload images! YIPPEE!!!
Now comes the fun of not being able to upload any of my images as I need to compress all the files. Luckily Peter knows how to do it! We should be able to get 5 mins to do it over the next few days.
Also over the next few days I want to share some of Northern Ireland with everyone. I'll start now with a picture of a Basking shark. They are found in our local waters. Here are some common facts and a photo of the magnificent creature:
1. The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish in the sea, second only to the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
2. It's closest relative is the renowned great white shark.
3. The Basking Shark is a harmless and gentle creature which feeds only on plankton. It has 6 rows of teeth on the upper jaw and 9 on the lower each approximately 5mm long.
4. Basking sharks have been reported from all the oceans of the world.
5. Sharks of 12m are not uncommon and reports of 18m specimens have been received, however basking sharks of 4-6m are probably most common in British waters.
6. The sharks, some of which may weigh 2-3 tons, frequently make spectacular leaps clear of the water.
7. Basking Sharks are ovoviparous giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs like some other sharks.
8. It is commonly reported that a 12m specimen weighs 3 tons, It's dorsal fin approaches 2m, approximately the same length as each of it's pectorals.
9. A Basking Shark swims at 2-3 knots with its mouth (1m across) wide open filtering plankton through gill rakers on it’s 5 enormous pairs of gill arches. A water volume equivalent to a 50m swimming pool is filtered every hour.
10. Basking Sharks like many other sharks are hunted for their livers (approx. one third of their body weight) which contain the oil squalene. This was used for engine lubrication and in the manufacture of cosmetics such as skin creams. Japan has historically been one of the most important squalene producers. While export data is not available for Japan after 1980 South Korea is quoted as importing an average of 52 tonnes annually from Japan during 1987 to 1994. It is estimated that 1 tonne of squalene would require the livers of 2500-3000 sharks.
11. The most recent reports suggest that they are now killed solely for their fins which are sold to the Far East to be used in shark fin soup.
12. In several areas they have already been hunted to extinction.
It's one amazing animal!
Later
Scott
Now comes the fun of not being able to upload any of my images as I need to compress all the files. Luckily Peter knows how to do it! We should be able to get 5 mins to do it over the next few days.
Also over the next few days I want to share some of Northern Ireland with everyone. I'll start now with a picture of a Basking shark. They are found in our local waters. Here are some common facts and a photo of the magnificent creature:
1. The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish in the sea, second only to the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
2. It's closest relative is the renowned great white shark.
3. The Basking Shark is a harmless and gentle creature which feeds only on plankton. It has 6 rows of teeth on the upper jaw and 9 on the lower each approximately 5mm long.
4. Basking sharks have been reported from all the oceans of the world.
5. Sharks of 12m are not uncommon and reports of 18m specimens have been received, however basking sharks of 4-6m are probably most common in British waters.
6. The sharks, some of which may weigh 2-3 tons, frequently make spectacular leaps clear of the water.
7. Basking Sharks are ovoviparous giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs like some other sharks.
8. It is commonly reported that a 12m specimen weighs 3 tons, It's dorsal fin approaches 2m, approximately the same length as each of it's pectorals.
9. A Basking Shark swims at 2-3 knots with its mouth (1m across) wide open filtering plankton through gill rakers on it’s 5 enormous pairs of gill arches. A water volume equivalent to a 50m swimming pool is filtered every hour.
10. Basking Sharks like many other sharks are hunted for their livers (approx. one third of their body weight) which contain the oil squalene. This was used for engine lubrication and in the manufacture of cosmetics such as skin creams. Japan has historically been one of the most important squalene producers. While export data is not available for Japan after 1980 South Korea is quoted as importing an average of 52 tonnes annually from Japan during 1987 to 1994. It is estimated that 1 tonne of squalene would require the livers of 2500-3000 sharks.
11. The most recent reports suggest that they are now killed solely for their fins which are sold to the Far East to be used in shark fin soup.
12. In several areas they have already been hunted to extinction.
It's one amazing animal!
Later
Scott
posted by Scott at
3:55 am
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