catalog. If we are confident the fin is reliably recognizable, the dolphin is given a 

 name that describes the most obvious feature of the fin and a unique 4-character 

 code that abbreviates the name is selected. To be considered a catalog-quality image, 

 a new entry into the catalog must meet the following criteria: the entire fin, from 

 the anterior insertion to the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin and the trailing 

 edge of the fin must be visible, the image must be in focus and perpendicular to the 

 photographer, and, when available, both right and left side images of the fin are 

 selected for the catalog. The best-quality slide is labeled with the name, code, and 

 catalog category that describes the most prominent feature of the fin. A print is 

 made and added to the print catalog and the original slide is filed alphabetically in 

 the slide catalog. 



An animal was occasionally "visually confirmed" in the field when it was 

 recognized because it was familiar to an observer and it was counted as a positive 

 identification for photo-analysis even though it may not have been documented 

 photographically. 



For photo-analysis, a calf or young-of-the-year is considered positively 

 identifiable only if it can be recognized because of distinctive features that make it 

 identifiable independent of its mother. A small animal that appears in all slides 

 next to a larger animal in the "calf position," (i.e., alongside and slightly behind the 

 presumed mother), is assumed to be a calf. If the calf is with an identifiable mother, 

 but the calf is not distinctive, it is not scored as a positive identification. 



In some cases it is possible to identify animals in a sighting that are not 

 sufficiently distinctive to make long-term matches, or appear distinctive but are 

 unidentifiable because the entire fin is not visible, photo coverage is incomplete, or 

 photo quality is substandard. Each of these dolphins is classified as an "other..." 

 with some reference to the most distinguishing feature. Although it is not 

 considered a positive identification, an "other..." dolphin is counted toward 

 revision of the group-size estimates. 



Fins that lack distinctive markings are considered "clean" but may also be 

 used in calculating or adjusting group size estimates. In some cases, "clean" fins 

 may be distinguished from one another within a sighting based on differences in fin 

 shape. This minimum count of "clean" fins is added to the positive identifications 

 and "other" fins to calculate the minimum, maximum, and best group size 

 estimates. Thus, the minimum estimate is a minimum count of distinguishable 

 fins within a sighting. 



A grading system that integrates recogruzabiliry, photographic quality, and 

 coverage is used to identify the quality of a given sighting: 



Grade-1 - All dolphins in the group were photographed or otherwise positively 

 identified. All the animals in the best field estimate are accounted for as a) 

 confirmed positive identifications; or b) as individuals that can be 



