MERRICK ET AL.: DECLINE OF NORTHERN SEA LION 



was conducted during 9-13 June 1985, using a Grum- 

 man Widgeon for the eastern Aleutian Islands and 

 Gulf of Alaska and a Piper Navajo for the central 

 Aleutian Islands. All surveys were conducted be- 

 tween the hours of 1000 and 1800 Alaska Daylight 

 Saving Time (ADT) and from mid-June to mid-July, 

 when the most adult and juvenile sea lions were 

 expected to be onshore (Withrow 1982). Survey 

 methods were those of Braham et al. (1980). 



A shipboard survey also was conducted of rook- 

 eries and major haul-outs from Ugamak Island to 

 Kiska Island between 25 June and 15 July 1985 

 (Loughlin et al.'^). Weather permitting, observers 



landed at each site and counted the number of north- 

 ern sea lions present and the number of animals en- 

 tangled in debris. Pups were counted by first walk- 

 ing through rookeries to drive off the adult and 

 juvenile animals, and then returning to count the 

 pups. This survey was timed to occur after most 

 pups had been born, and before they had begun to 

 enter the water (Withrow 1982). 



Pups were counted at northern sea lion rookeries 

 in the central and western Gulf of Alaska between 

 3 July and 9 July 1984 (Calkins^) and between 29 

 June and 10 July 1986. Access was provided by a 

 skiff launched from a larger vessel or by helicopter. 



^Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. 



'Loughlin, T. R.. P. J. Gearin. R. L. DeLong, and R. L. Merrick. 

 1986. Assessment of net entanglement on northern sea lions in 

 the Aleutian Islands, 25 June-15 July 1985. Processed Rep. 86-02, 

 50 p. Northwest and Alaska Fisli. Cent. Natl. Mar. Mammal 



Lab., NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 

 98115. 



*Calkins, D. G. 1985. Draft final report. Steller sea lion pup 

 counts in and adjacent to Shelikof Strait. Submit, to North Pac. 

 Fish. Manage. Coun., March 8, 1985, 13 p. Alaska Department 

 of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99502. 



Alaska 

 Peninsula 



1, 2 Kiska 



3 Ayugadak 



4 Amchitka 



5 Semisopochnoi 



6 Ulak 



7 Tag 



8 Gramp 



9 Adak 



10 Kasatochi 



11 Agligadak 



12 Seguam 



13 Yunaska 



14 Adugak 



15 Ogchul 



16 Bogoslof 



17 Akutan 



18 Akun 



18- 



o : 



16 



'^ 



A 



Ji> 





17 



Unalaska I. 



Unimak \. 

 19 



14 15 



19 Ugamak 



20 Sea Lion Rock 



21 Clubbing Rocks 



22 Pinnacle Rock 



23 Chernabura 



24 Atkins 



25 Chowiet 



26 Chirikof 



27 Marmot 



28 Sugarloaf 



353 



