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Dead Whale Surfaces On San Francisco's Ocean Beach

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A dead whale has surfaced in the  Bay Area for the second time in a week, prompting an environmental group to recommend lower speed limits for ships entering the bay.

A 50-foot-long whale carcass was reported washed ashore on San Francisco's Ocean Beach early Monday.

Scientists from the Marine Mammal Center headed out there to determine what species of whale it was and a possible cause of death.

Another, smaller whale was carried into the Port of Oakland on the bow of a cargo ship on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's "ship strike" section is investigating where the whale was and if it were alive or dead when it was hit.

The nonprofit group Pacific Environment said collisions are the leading cause of death for whales worldwide and could be reduced if ships traveled at speeds of 10 knots in busy channels.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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