VANCOUVER — Never mind the Internet. A Vancouver mother and schoolteacher is sounding the alarm after stumbling upon another medium that she thinks may corrupt young and impressionable minds: 19th-century “whale bone porn.” 
 
 Ann Pimentel raised the concern — and coined the unlikely phrase — after visiting the Vancouver Maritime Museum (VMM), a modest institution on the city’s west side. That’s where a small collection of etchings and engravings on whale teeth and bone is on display, part of a larger show that also features example of maritime tattoo art. 
 
 Nine of the etched pieces on display show images of a sexual nature, some of them quite explicit. “A Whaler’s Hope of the First Night Ashore” is etched across a tooth that’s eight inches long, extracted two centuries ago from an unfortunate sperm whale. Underneath the title is etched a saucy scene. A man and a woman, flesh exposed. Mouths open, limbs entwined. You get the idea. 
 
 Lust was a common theme in 19th-century scrimshaw, which is what this obscure art form — etchings on hard surfaces culled from sea creatures — is called. Scrimshaw was typically made by lonely whalers, trapped for months aboard ships that scoured the South Pacific for their prey, usually sperm whales, magnificent, 50-foot long creatures prized for their oil. 
 
 The whalers had idle hands and feverish minds. Scrimshawing was their means of expression, their release valve. Using ship-made hand tools and tobacco juice for ink, they set upon whale leftovers. Some of their work is finely detailed. Some is undeniably erotic. 
 
 The VMM has collected scrimshaw for years — most of the work was donated — but the pieces were rarely if ever displayed. Museum curator Patricia Owen said the opportunity arose when staff decided to present a show about maritime tattoos; it seemed natural to compare and contrast the two art forms. Tattoo and Scrimshaw: The Art of the Sailor opened last week and runs to mid-October. 
 
 To date, Ms. Pimentel is the only person to complain. She has mounted a minor jihad, writing missives on various tourist-oriented websites and approaching local media outlets. “I am disturbed and troubled after a morning at the Vancouver Maritime Museum,” she wrote on Tripadvisor.com. 
 
 “The Museum have [sic] a new exhibit called Scrimshaw which features numerous images of inappropriate nature (oral sex, sex, nudity, male anatomy etc.) on tusks. … As a mother and a teacher I was extremely disturbed and believe these pieces of ‘art’ should be removed.” 
 
 Ms. Pimentel told the Vancouver Sun that her two small children — aged two and three — were needlessly exposed to the disturbing “whale bone porn.” No advance warnings were made to sensitive patrons outside the display room, she complained. 
 
 But the nine pieces with sexual content are displayed in a case raised high off the floor, well beyond scope of a toddler’s inquisitive eyes, and lighting is prudishly dim. Next to the display is a sign: “Hide Your Eyes! These pieces of scrimshaw are not intended for children.” 
 
 Ms. Owen says the VMM anticipated that some concerns might be raised, hence the care taken with presentation. The museum has “more graphic” examples of scrimshaw, she says, but these remain hidden downstairs in the museum’s basement. They include depictions of creative candlestick use and what Ms. Owen cautiously describes as “the act.” They will likely never see the light of day. 
 
 That may not satisfy Ms. Pimentel. The sexy scrimshaw that’s now on view “needs to be in an isolated room, it needs to be clearly marked, where a child or anyone under 18 can’t see them,” she told the Vancouver Sun. 
 
 Ironically, Ms. Pimentel’s one-woman crusade has created more interest in the VMM show than the museum could have mustered on its own. There’s a further irony, a real controversy that involves the collection, after all. A small underground trade exists in whale bone porn, some of it very disturbing indeed. Ms. Owen says her museum can’t guarantee that all of its scrimshaw is from genuine 19th-century whale; some pieces may have been crafted more recently, by unscrupulous artisans and fakers, and then made to appear “aged.” 
 
 National Post 
 
 • Email: bhutchinson@nationalpost.com | Twitter: hutchwriter ||||| 19 
 
 Vanier Park 
 
 1905 Ogden Avenue 
 
 Vancouver , BC V6J 1A3 
 
 
 
 (604) 257-8300 
 
 Great Maritime Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia. The location is St. Roch, where the famous ship St. Roch is part of the exhibition. The ship was the first ship in history who traveled around Canada and the USA over the north passage and trough the Panama Canal! You will learn a lot about the history of British Columbia and it first European visitors from Spain and later from Britain and France, but also about the First Nation people. This Museum is also fantastic for families with children. Their are birthday celebrations called "Pirate Parties". Wish you wonderful hours there! 
 
 This was one of my favorite activities from Vancouver. I'm normally not a huge museum fan but this one is very unique and focuses mostly on the maritime history of Vancouver and Canada as a whole. There is a lot of stuff about the Northwest Passage and I learned a lot that I never would've learned if I hadn't come to this museum. The ship inside is very cool to climb around and explore. It's crazy to me that an Inuit family lived on deck to help the sailors while on an expedition. There was also a changing art gallery part of the building as well as a walk through area with more artifacts and bits of history. The museum as a whole is pretty old- it's nothing fancy and new. It has an old building smell, if you know what I mean. It's not too bad, though. The bathrooms were clean and the people working the front desk were helpful in calling us a taxi to get back downtown. We took a taxi there and he went to the wrong location at first- guess it's not as common a destination as I thought. He didn't charge us for the mistake though and it ended up being a pretty cheap ride. If you're interested in maritime history or just want a unique take on Vancouver's history, this is a great place to go. Kids would have fun too, as there are a few interactive exhibits. 
 
 Great museum to visit during vacation. My kids loved it. 
 
 Its ok. I noticed this museum doesn't have much new things. It seems to be the same thing over and over again. I used to come here a lot because I was part of the Vancouver Tourism group, now not so much. I guess they take pride in the giant ship inside the museum. Parking is not free here but further away, it could be if there are no signs that says with permit. Staff are friendly here. I don't find it too special here because its very similar to any Maritime museum you see else where. But I guess you have to have interest in it to find it interesting. 
 
 Loved it, you can climb on the boat, check out crew's cabin. There are organized activities for kids too, saw a guy signing "In summer" from Frozen in a costume :D 
 
 Super museum for kids and I learned a lot. Knowledgeable staff and great historical exhibits. My kids did not want to leave even though they were dead tired. 
 
 Terrific little, but fairly dated, maritime museum. My daughter enjoyed the play area and she also enjoyed exploring the St. Roch. I found the model ships interesting to look at and learned a lot about local history. The look and feel of the place is very 1960s, which adds to ambiance of the place. Off the beaten path museums like this can be great and this one doesn't disappoint. 
 
 A great way to learn about the Maritime history of Vancouver. Parking is available in a pay lot out front, or for free across the street. Hmm.. Admission is $11 for an adult, but on Thursdays between 1700-2000, it's admission by donation. Shh.. The museum is a bit quirky - I wasn't sure if some exhibits were missing when I first walked in. There are some cool whale tooth carvings - let's just say that some sailors have very dirty minds. I don't blame them. When you're out at sea for that long.. One fun little exhibit is this small remote-controlled submersible that can be controlled with buttons on the side of the display. I seriously got all giggly messing with this thing. Of course, the centrepiece exhibit is the St. Roch - the 1st ship to circumnavigate North America (via the Northwest Passage and Panama Canal). They do tours once in a while, so be sure to hang out by the admissions booth at the correct time. The boat itself is nothing spectacular unless you appreciate the history - and how ridiculously small the living quarters are! I don't know how the crew did it. This is one of those places you should check out at some point if you want to call yourself a Vancouverite. 
 
 Ever seen the ship that circumnavigated North America and made numerous trips into the arctic as an arm of the RCMP? The St. Roch sailing vessel lives here! The tours in, around, and under the indoor dry-docked boat and accompanying exhibits are fun and interesting--well worth the visit. **parking tip: if available, there's free parking on Maple Street bordering Hadden Park), only a block or two away. 
 
 Came here on a very quiet Thursday night and have to say I love this museum. I can't believe I've never been here before. The St Roch was pretty cool and my kids loved exploring every inch of the museum. There is something interesting for all ages and I easily spent a couple of hours here. 
 
 We had a great time here!! If you have any interest in sailing or boating this is a great place to come. It was very inexpensive and great for all ages and genders. There is lots of history, photos and simulations. It was really accessible. 
 
 This is actually a fun museum. I'm a tough room on maritime museums; I grew up on a yacht and have toured the London and Paris equivalents. The main attraction of the museum is the old RCMP boat, the St Roch - it's been preserved in its entirety and part of the museum was actually built around it. You can walk all around it, admire the roll-inducing curves of the hull, and then actually tour the inside, complete with exhibits. There's a good video overview to watch onboard as well. The rest of the museum veers between interesting and things designed to amuse bored 3-year olds - the trick is to hit this museum during school hours for a quiet and enjoyable tour. There is some limited parking out front, a valuable commodity in Kits, and a nice beach walk on the other side once you're done inside. It's also a relatively affordable visit, which is always pleasant. 
 
 Clean up the kids area. Can't the yellow drawers be filled with something other than old junk? Otherwise, interesting exhibits. 
 
 I love coming here! There are so many interesting things to see and read about. I recently came for a private event (80th birthday) for a prominent marine industry professional here and was pleasantly surprised to find that they had donated the space and the volunteers to give us guided tours. This place seems to have a real sense of Vancouver community and I was glad to hear them announce they will not be moving the location and will stay in Vancouver. 
 
 The only reason this museum gets 2 stars is because of the St. Roch. The rest of the museum is pedestrian and not very interesting. Overpriced at $11. Parking is very convenient but will cost you $40 if you don't notice the small pay stand like we did. The signage in the lot states "Don't forget your ticket", but does not say anything straight forward like "Pay to Park". I don't know if it is Canada's version of Jeopardy, but as we read the sign we just didn't get the right answer. As I drive through intersections in Vancouver I am looking for the stoplights to state "Don't forget to stop" 
 
 This museum features the final moorage of the RCMP schooner, St. Roch, which is best known for its dangerous west to east voyage through the treacherous Northwest Passage. Exhibits include an extensive collection of model ships and displays that chronicle British Columbia's seafaring tradition. Pirates Cove and the Discovery Center are great for kids, as they're allowed to dress up as pirates or build an underwater robot. 
 
 At first I was very hesitant and reluctant to come here but after finally giving in to my boyfriend really, REALLY wanting to come here, I said yes. The museum was delightful and surprisingly was not boring and totally cool. Everything opposite of what I'd imagined! The tour begins with a short video (that also incorporate Inuits!) and a self walking tour of the St. Roch. After viewing the short video, I really appreciated the boat so much more, just because of the history and perils she endured. The museum is also very culturally open and sensitive to the local indigenous population and the Inuit culture and First Nations/American Indians as well. The Ainu (Inu) who hail from Japan was also mentioned in one of the history boards you can read - this was amazing because even in Japan the Ainu are rarely discussed (still). The walking area around the ship also had drawers of artifacts from St. Roch, other maritime explorers and the Inuit. This was totally cool and I pretty much pulled out each drawer to read and look at the descriptions of various tools and clothing. The $10.00 I spent was worth every cent! There are bathroom facilities and an entire area for kids as well. All in all, a very cool museum (and the park adjacent to it is also very pretty and free to enjoy)! 
 
 I am still disturbed and troubled after a visit to The Vancouver Maritime Museum. They have a new exhibit called Scrimshaw which features numerous images of an inappropriate sexual nature on tusks. There was only one small warning sign beside one of the display boxes. But, there was no warnings in the entrance ways leading to the display nor when I purchased tickets for my family (which I regret now). I believe that the public needs to be aware of this. I believe that a museum that claims to be 'child friendly' should NOT have display items of such a disturbing nature! As a mother and a teacher, I am concerned for unknowing families and school groups especially with children that are impressionable and vulnerable. I will not be returning nor recommending this Museum. ||||| The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating after someone removed several teeth from a dead killer whale as it lay on a Vancouver Island boat launch waiting to be examined by biologists. 
 
 The endangered orca, known as J-32, was reported floating in the water near Courtenay on Thursday. The area is located on the eastern side of Vancouver Island more than 200 kilometres northwest of Victoria. 
 
 Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans moved the carcass to a boat launch Friday evening, where it was set to undergo a post-mortem examination on Saturday. 
 
 By morning, several teeth were damaged or removed, said Paul Cottrell, the Pacific marine mammals co-ordinator for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 
 
 "Her jaw and teeth were in great shape and solid," Cottrell said in an interview Sunday. 
 
 'Cut off right to the gum' 
 
 "It looks like they broke off a couple, and there were a number that were sawed off, and those were cut off right to the gum." 
 
 Cottrell said fisheries officers are following up on a number of leads. 
 
 He said the department doesn't know what motivated the theft, such as whether it might be linked to the sale or trade of endangered species. 
 
 The federal Species At Risk act makes it illegal to possess part of an endangered or threatened animal. 
 
 The law carries a range of sentences depending on whether the perpetrator is a corporation, non-profit group or a private citizen. For individuals, the maximum penalty is a fine of $250,000, up to five years in prison or both, though maximum sentences are rarely imposed. 
 
 The necropsy on a Vancouver Island beach took most of the day and drew a crowd. (Allen Felker/VITV.ca) 
 
 "It's just a senseless, illegal act," said Cottrell. "We take this kind of thing seriously. We don't want endangered species parts being traded or sold." 
 
 Biologists who have been examining the whale have yet to determine a cause of death. 
 
 The necropsy revealed the whale was pregnant with a full-term fetus. 
 
 Marcie Callewaert of the Victoria Marine Science Association, a fledging group that she hopes to turn into a non-profit soon, said she went to the area to see the whale on Saturday. 
 
 Callewaert said it's significant any time an orca dies, and she said the missing teeth just makes it worse. 
 
 "I set eyes on her on the beach about the same time a lady told me that her teeth had been cut the night before, so that was two blows at once," said Callewaert, a Grade 6 teacher who spends her summers as a whale-watching photographer. 
 
 Tissue samples from the orca and the fetus will be examined at a number of labs across North America, said Cottrell of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Results are expected in four to six weeks. 
 
 The skeletons will be donated to the Royal B.C. Museum. 
 
 Significant blow to killer whale population 
 
 The death of the orca is considered a significant blow to the killer whale population and efforts to rebuild it. 
 
 J-32 was a southern resident orca. Until the animal's death, there were believed to be 78 southern residents in the wild. Of those, 17 to 18 were believed to be reproductive females. 
 
 The whale that was found dead on Thursday , J-32, had been carrying a full-term fetus, the necropsy team reported. (Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research) 
 
 "When you have 78 animals and you lose an animal that is just going into breeding age — a female that has the potential to contribute for decades — that's a huge loss to this population," said Cottrell. 
 
 "Just the fact that she was so close to giving birth, it's unfortunate, because that calf, if it had lived, would be significant to the population." 
 
 Cottrell credited the Marine Mammal Response Program, a network of volunteers along the coast who report injured or dead animals, for alerting the department to the orca so quickly, allowing biologists to retrieve a "pristine" specimen for examination. 
 
 "If we didn't have the program, we wouldn't have been able to secure and get this animal and be able to necropsy such a fresh animal," he said.
– A school teacher has launched a personal campaign against what she calls "whale bone porn"—etchings of naughty acts on whale teeth and bone on display at a Vancouver museum, the National Post reports. The Vancouver Maritime Museum has "a new exhibit called Scrimshaw which features numerous images of inappropriate nature (oral sex, sex, nudity, male anatomy etc.) on tusks," writes Ann Pimentel on Tripadvisor. "As a mother and a teacher I was extremely disturbed and believe these pieces of ‘art’ should be removed." But her campaign—which she took to the Vancouver Sun and Yelp—has only aroused greater interest in the scrimshaw, a 19-century art form practiced by lonely whalers in the South Pacific. They vented their frustrations by using hand tools to engrave tobacco juice on whale leftovers. The museum's curator says she won't remove the display, but admits there are raunchier scrimshaw works in the basement that she'll never bring up—because they depict a candlestick being used in what she politely calls "the act."