263 



DRAFT 



balance of the pinniped-salmon predator-prey relationship that has occurred in the open 

 ocean for millions of years. 



'Populations (marine mammals) have steadily increased in Pacific 

 Nonhwest waters and these increased populations are now causing 

 significant predation losses on anadromous salmonids. ' 



This statement is not supported by the scientific information or analyses presented in 

 the repon. This statement appears to be an unsubstantiated conclusion of the authors. 



The scientifically questionable calculations of salmonid consumption by marine 

 mammals are repeated within this section of the report. All the previous comments on 

 the methodology employed, the assumptions inherent to these calculations, and the 

 conclusions drawn from these analyses apply to this discussion also. 



Food Resources-Competition fp. 144-145) 



'Assuming an eight percent efficiency of energy transfer, this could 

 represent 850,000 pounds of salmon. ' 



This assumes 100% of herring not eaten by mammals is converted into salmon 

 biomass. This is unlikely because salmon not limited by herring diet. 



Page 158, Agriculture 



General Comments 



This section is largely a repeat of the information presented on pages 76 through 86, 

 and includes many of the same improper conclusions that were discussed previously. 

 The only new information concerns reference to the Tillamook Bay "Erosion Sediment 

 Study" which is discussed in both the agriculture and forestry sections of the summary. 

 The Department has limited the discussion of this study to specific issues in the 

 "agriculture" section, with a thorough analysis of the OFIC authors interpretation in the 

 "forestry" summary review. 



Tillamook Bay Erosion Study (pages 160-162): 



[Please refer to the "forestry" section for a thorough review of this study] 



The authors discussion of this study (USDA-SCS, 1978) is incomplete. In addition. 

 Table S-7 (page 160) appears inaccurate and does not correspond to information 

 presented in the SCS re;>ort. A compilation and analysis of the information presented 

 in the SCS rqx)rt is presented in Table 3: 



A-57 



