PEREZ and BIGG: DIET OF NORTHERN FUR SEALS 



in neritic areas (Fig. 6B, C). Rockfishes, salmonids, 

 and northern anchovy were also consumed by seals 

 during this time, both inshore and offshore. North- 

 ern anchovy was primarily important in the south- 

 ern area of the region (Fig. 6C). The main food in 

 oceanic waters consisted of two families of squids, 

 Onychoteuthidae and Gonatidae (Fig. 6C). Market 

 squid was the primary squid species preyed upon in 

 neritic areas. 



British Columbia 



As in Washington, Pacific herring was the prim- 



ary food of the northern fur seals from February 

 to June in most inshore areas, particularly when 

 energy content was taken into account (Fig. 7 A, B, 

 C). It was mainly consumed by northern fur seals 

 off the west coast of Vancouver Island and in Hecate 

 Strait. In coastal inlets, market squid was impor- 

 tant, but not significantly for the region as a whole. 

 The diet of northern fur seals in oceanic waters dur- 

 ing May and June was almost exclusively onycho- 

 teuthid squids and salmonids (Fig. 7B, C). Other 

 prey species were relatively insignificant (Fig. 7A). 

 However, because the coastline of British Colum- 

 bia is complex, and sample sizes were small, addi- 

 tional local differences in diet may exist in inshore 

 areas (Fig. 7C). 



MAR 



HER SAL 



Prey species 



B 



100 



£ 50 - 



N 



WESTVAN BCINLETS HECATE BCOFF 

 140 41 79 78 



Figure 7.— Composition (percent) of diet of northern fur seals by prey species off British Columbia during 1958-74 (A) for pooled January- 

 June samples (N = 354), using modified volume (dark bars) and energy-adjusted modified volume; (B) by month using modified volume; 

 and (C) by subregion with pooled January-June samples using modified volume. A dark line separates squid and fish categories in the 

 latter two figures. Key: COD = Pacific cod; EUL = eulachon; GAD = gadid fishes; GON = gonatid squids; HER = Pacific herring; 

 MAR = market squid; MF = miscellaneous fish species; ONY = onychoteuthid squids; OP = other prey; POL = walleye pollock; ROC 

 = rockfishes; SAL = salmonids; SBL = sablefish; US = unidentified squid; WHI = Pacific whiting. 



963 



