'^ 



"DATE SECTION NO. ACTUALLY COUNTED TOTAL NO. ESTD;lA.TED 



14 Aug. 179° 27' E. to 177 400 



179° 17-|-» E. 



15 Aug. 179° 17|' E. to 217 500 



179° 10' E. 



16 Aug. 179° 10' E. to 410 700 



179° 00' E, 804 1600 



"Eog and choppy soas hinder od the uso of tho surf boat in inspect- 

 ing the Boring Sea side of the island. Advantage ¥/as taken of the only day 

 of favorahle Y/oathcr to raake a cruiso to tho ?/cstward of Constantino 

 Harbor^ On this occasion, about ten sea otter were discovered in a kelp 

 patch hear the western end of Kirilof Bay and about throe -q.uarters of a 

 mile offshore. These animals were too far off shore to have t>een dis- 

 tinguished from on shore and were the only ones actually seen on tho 

 northern side of tho island, 



"At the conference held aboard tho CHELM upon hor arrival, it 

 was docidod that a reasonably accurate estimato of the number of tho soa 

 otter in the vicinity of Amchitka Island could be made fraa the data al- 

 ready obtained and that, duo to the lateness of the season and likelihood 

 of unfavorable \7cather, it would be inadviscblo to continue to survey on 

 the ¥/ostern half of tho island, 



"Tlio shore line of the Pacific side of Amchitka Island is forty- 

 five milos long and along twenty-four miles of this side 804 soa otter 

 T;erc actua.lly counted, wMlc a conservative ostimr.te placed the number 

 for that section at 1600, Assuming that section covered presents a fair 

 average, it is estimated that the nurabcr of sea otter on tho south side 

 of Amchitka Island is 3000, The ton sea otter found in Kirilof Bay indi- 

 cate that at least 100 additional are located on the northern shore of the 

 island. It is therefore estimr.ted that there are a minimum of 3100 sea 

 ottor in the waters surround Amchitka Island, ,/ 



"All of the soa otter observed v/ero in the water except in one 

 instance when a group of five was seen on some rocks lying offshore. No 

 indications whatever of the animals having been on shore were discovered. 

 They remained for the most part in groups or herds in and about the kelp 

 patches and appeared to stay in fixed areas, A few, however, swam along 

 the shore and camo noar enough in to present excellent opportunities to 

 watch them;. In feeding they dive and reappear a few seconds latof with 

 what appears to be soawo-d. This they consume while sv/iraming slowly on 

 their backs and holding the foods in their front flippers. These flippers 

 are short with paw-like parts and are used with considerable dexterity. 

 In ayplayful mood they present marvelous exhibitious of i aquatic grace- 

 fulness, lolling about, usually on their backs, in the breakers, appear- 

 ing to miss tne jagged rocks by inches, A number of times they were seen 

 mating while in the water, 



"A small group of trappers' dwellings, consisting of one boat house 

 (containing two dories), four barabaras, and one out-house, was found on 

 the Pacific side at about 179° 13' East, Another bar-.bara was found on 



- 70 - 



