Part II. PELAGIC FUR SEAL INVESTIGATIONS 



The objectives of pelagic research in 1967 

 were to collect information on the food habits 

 of fur seal pups as they began to leave the 

 Pribilof Islands in November and December, 

 and to study the distribution and food of fur 

 seals of all ages off Washington in January and 

 February. One biologist (as part of the ex- 

 change of scientific per sonnel between Conven- 



tion members) was sent to Japan to observe the 

 methods used in pelagic fur seal research and 

 in caring for sealskins. Biologists also worked 

 aboard two research vessels off the coasts of 

 Washington, Oregon, and northern California 

 in late August and September to observe the 

 distribution of fur seals. 



EQUIPMENT, METHODS, AND PERSONNEL 



Two vessels were used in January and Feb- 

 ruary 1967 for pelagic investigations off the 

 Washington coast. The M/V Pribilof 5 was 

 used principally for surveying offshore waters, 

 and a smaller vessel, the M/V Tonquin, was 

 chartered for collecting seals. Transects were 

 run at 28-km. (15-mile) intervals to determine 

 the distribution of seals between lat. 46°00'N. 

 and 49°00'N. Distances of 635, 769, 596, 685, 

 and 519 km. (343, 415, 322, 370, and 280 nautical 

 miles, respectively) from shore were reached 

 on five of the transects. Whenever transects 

 were run, the crew on the bridge assisted the 

 biologist watch for fur seals. Data recorded 

 on seals included total number sighted, time 

 each was sighted, number of animals in group, 

 estimated distance from the vessel when 

 abeam, and behavior of the animals (e.g., 

 sleeping, resting, swimming, feeding). We cal- 

 culated the location of each seal observed from 

 the position of the vessel, which we plotted on 

 a chart at hourly intervals. 



5 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Pribilof Islands 

 supply vessel; registered length 64 m. (210 feet), 1,200 

 gross tons, 14,000 horsepower, cruising speed 22.2 km. 

 per hour (12 knots). 



6 Privately owned vessel; registered length 30 m. 

 (99 feet), 200 net tons, 350 horsepower, cruising speed 

 16.7 km. per hour (9 knots). 



The bridge of the Pribilof at eye level is 

 8.1 m. (26.5 feet) above the waterline, or about 

 double that of the Tonquin . The greater height 

 permitted observers to see about four times 

 the area that could be seen from the Tonquin . 

 The angle of vison from the Pribilof improved 

 observation in disturbed seas, and her large 

 size permitted the investigators to remain far 

 offshore during storms. The Tonquin was used 

 for survey and collection of seals over the 

 Continental Shelf. 



Fiscus, Baines, and Wilke (1964) andFiscus 

 and Kajimura (1967) have described the equip- 

 ment and methods used to collect seals. Seals 

 were shot with 12-gauge shotguns loaded with 

 00 buckshot. They were weighed, measured, 

 and examined for tags, checkmarks, scars, 

 general physical condition, barnacles, and 

 algae. Stomachs, reproductive tracts, and all 

 canine teeth were taken to the BCF MMBL 

 (Marine Mammal Biological Laboratory) in 

 Seattle where they were used in studies of 

 food, reproduction, and age. 



Most yearling seals were weighed, mea- 

 sured, frozen, and later examined in our 

 laboratory for general body condition and 

 parasites. 



Appendix B gives the itinerary for the 1967 

 pelagic investigations. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Research at sea comprised several phases. 

 The primary program was a study of distribu- 

 tion, food, age, and reproductive condition of 

 fur seals collected off Washington from 6 

 January through 12 February. Secondary pro- 

 grams included distribution of fur seals in the 

 Bering Sea and in waters near the eastern 

 Aleutian Islands in November and December 

 of 1965 and 1966; observation of Japanese fur 

 seal research at sea and at the field station in 

 Ozuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, during April 

 and May 1967; distribution of fur seals off 



Washington, Oregon, and northern California 

 in August and September 1967; and a study of 

 marine organisms ingested by nursing fur 

 seal pups. 



DISTRIBUTION OFF WASHINGTON IN 

 JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1967 



Before 1967 the Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries had done little research on fur 

 seals off Washington in January and February. 

 K. W. Kenyon and V. B. Scheffer (field notes 



28 



