Modern whaling, from shore stations and pelagic fleets, took a 

 heavy toll on all stocks of humpback whales. An estimated 2j,ooo plus 

 humpback whales were killed in the North Pacific between 1905 and 

 1925, including at least 1 1,167 from the Mexican and Hawaiian stocks, 

 taken m the following areas and approximate numbers: western Alaska 

 1,821; central Alaska 1,825; Southeast Alaska J29; British Columbia 

 2,855; Washington and Oregon 1,920; California 3,577; and Baja 

 California 2,042. There is no reliable estimate of the size of stocks or 

 populations at the end of the 1965 whaling season, when humpback 

 whales received complete protection. However, it is clear that popula- 

 tions everywhere were severely depressed. The severity ot the over- 

 whaling in the North Pacific is best seen in the Asian stock, in which 

 whales apparently continue to be scarce on the wintering grounds even 

 after 20 years of protection. It is equally clear, however, that humpbacks 

 in many areas are, at present, recovering under full protection. For 

 example, between 1977 and 1982 over 1,000 humpbacks were indi- 

 vidually identified on the Hawaiian wintering grounds alone and most 

 researchers actively studying this species in the North Pacific believe 

 that there are well over 2,500 animals in the northeastern Pacific and 

 that the population is growing at a healthy rate. 



In that broad area, humpbacks range from the Bering Sea south to 

 Hawaii, to the tip of Baja California, into the Sea of Cortez at least as 

 far as Espintu Santu Island, and along the mainland coast of Mexico at 

 least as far as Islas Tres Marias. Migration routes among these 

 "grounds" are not yet clearly delineated, but photo-identification 

 studies have shown that humpbacks that winter in Hawaii travel to 

 feeding grounds off Southeast Alaska, south central Alaska and British 

 Columbia, and that some individual whales winter in Hawaii and 

 Mexico in different years. The northern limit of winter distribution in 

 the eastern North Pacific is thought to be Northern California, the 

 southern limit of summer distribution northwestern Baja California. 

 Thus, some animals may be present year-round near the Farallon 

 Islands, in the SCB and off northwestern Baja California. Photo- 

 identification studies arc currently undenvay on the Farallon Basin to 

 determine whether the same individuals remain there throughout the 

 year or whether different components of the population use the area at 

 different seasons. Similar studies will be necessary in the SCB, where 

 humpbacks can be found near the mainland coast and islands, albeit in 

 small numbers, in any quarter of the year. 



Shore observers at San Miguel Island report frequent observations 

 of groups of humpbacks, mostly northbound whales, from late June 

 through September. These groups often include females and young of 

 the year. At this time of year, humpbacks often approach very close to 

 the kelp beds, as did a single animal off the south shore of San Nicolas 

 Island in July 1984. Aerial and vessel sur\'eys of the SCB conducted for 

 the Naval Ocean Systems Center, (1968-1978), and for the Bureau of 

 Land Management, (1975-1978) resulted in 55 observations of 

 humpback whales, distributed by season as follows: qtr 1 (7); qtr 2 (7); 

 qtr 5 ( 10); qtr 4 (9). Aerial and shipboard observers working m the SCB 

 since 1978 have noted concentrations of humpbacks off the three 

 largest of the northern islands including at least one occurrence each 

 quarter near Adams Cove, San Miguel Island. Further, observations of 

 feeding, often evidenced by large flocks of feeding birds, in March, 

 May, June, July, August, September, November and December, dem- 

 onstrate that not all humpbacks are simpK' passing through the area. 

 One can only speculate whether the component(s) of the popula- 

 tion using the SCB, particularly waters of the CINMS, will increase 

 proportionate to the growing population overall. Eastern Pacific 

 humpbacks are known to feed on anchovies, krill, pelagic crabs, 

 sardines, cod and even salmon in different parts of their range. In other 

 areas where humpback whales and net fisheries overlap, humpbacks are 

 frequently entrapped or entangled, m wiers, nets, traps and fishing 

 tigging. During Christmas week 1984 personnel from the Santa 

 Barbara Musuem of Natural History found two humpback whales 

 entangled in gill nets off Santa Barbara. Such conflicts are likely to 

 occur with increasing frequency in the SCB as gillnetting and other 

 commercial fishing m that area increases. 



FlGUll£ 7. Humpback whales, severely depleted by whaling through the 

 1960s, are making a dramatic comeback in the eastern North Pacific. They 

 are being seen with increasing frequency around the northern Channel 

 Islands. (Photo by R. L. Pitman. J 



FlGURH 8. Some humpbacfis arc present all year in the SCB. especially west 

 of San Miguel Island. The presence of birds above an animal often indicate 

 feeding activity. (Photo the from north shore of Santa Cruz Island by P. C. 

 Howorth.J 



