PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



WHALING, 1970 



In 1970, the U.S. Department of the Interior placed eight species of whales on the endan- 

 gered species list — reflecting a mounting national concern over the prediction of biologists that 

 certain species are approaching extinction. The endangered whales were thebowhead, blue, hump- 

 back, right, gray, fin or finback, sei, and sperm. The last three were the only species sought re- 

 cently by U.S. commercial whalers . 



The NMFS Fishery-Oceanography Center in La JoUa, Calif. , continued as a center for ce- 

 tacean research. The whale research was directed toward understanding the life history, popula- 

 tion dynamics, and ecology of the gray, sperm, and other whales inhabiting the eastern North Pa- 

 cific Ocean. The whale program will continue to focus on the gray and sperm whales. The gray 

 whale, once hunted almost to extinction, is now protected by international agreement. During its 

 annual migration to its calving grounds at Scammon' s Lagoon and other lagoons in Baja California, 

 the gray whale passes the coast near Yankee Point, Calif. , where NMFS makes a population count 

 each year. Biologists estimate that the gray whale population is now about 11,000. 



During the whaling season the Del Monte Fishing Company operated a whaling station at 

 Point San Pablo, Calif. It was the only whaling station operating in the United States in 1970. 

 As in previous years, the Del Monte Company used the catcher boats Allen Cody . Dennis Gavle . 

 and Donna Mae . A special scientific permit authorized the capture of 30 of the 64 sperm whales 

 taken. These 30 whales were taken under the supervision of a biologist. 



All whale carcasses (excluding the meat) were taken to the Pacific Rendering Company, San 

 Francisco, Calif. , for processing into meal and oil. The entire catch was processed into 662,000 

 pounds of meal, 680 ,000 pounds of oil, and 483,000 pounds of meat (for use as canned or frozen 

 animal food). These products were valued at$138,000 to the producer — a decline of $190,000 com- 

 pared with 1969. 



WHALE LANDINGS, 1970 



NOTE:— SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC PERMIT NO. 1970-1 AUTHORIZED THE CAPTURE OF 1 SPERM WHALE IN JANUARY, 

 6 IN MAY, 1 IN SEPTEMBER, 2 IN OCTOBER, B IN NOVEMBER, AND 3 IN DECEMBER. 



9 IN MARCH, 



WHALE PRODUCTS, 1970 



-TO CONVERT POUNDS OF OIL TO GALLONS, DIVIDE BY 7.75. 



