156 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. Well, of course, we are talking about two different 

 sea otter populations, the southern population is in much shorter 

 supply than is the northern sea ott«r population. 



I think that we know probably a little more about the northern 

 herd. Along about the turn of the century, the date was 1911, they 

 were brought under an aggressive management program, including 

 complete protection. They were down to a mere nub, practically an 

 endangei-ed species, and through prohibitions on takhig and an aggres- 

 sive program of transplanting, they have grown from a relatively 

 few to a herd that now numbers, as I recall, in the neighborhood of 

 50,000. 



Mr. Anderson. In what area now is the 50,000 located ? 



Dr. LiNDusKA. That is the northern herd, mainly off the Aleutians — 

 Amchitka and eastward. 



An aggressive program of transplanting was done, and they in- 

 creased rather remarkably, as a matter of fact, to a point where in 

 some areas they have obviously reached the saturation point, and 

 the rate of annual increment has stabilized at about zero rated 

 increase. 



The State of Alaska has taken a harvest of about 500 animals a 

 year for the last 5 or 6 years. 



Elsewhere, where they are newly introduced in a new habitat, the rate 

 of increase has been running about 10 percent with a maximum poten- 

 tial being about 14 percent. So it is a rapid growth, as you can see. 



Several States have participated in transplant programs. Both 

 Washington and Oregon have introduced animals from Alaska, and 

 British Columbia has also arranged for introductions. In summation, 

 the northern herd is doing quite well. 



I am sorry that I cannot be more specific in response to your ques- 

 tion about the southern sea otter population, the one off the California 

 coast, but what you have mentioned, the effects on the environment 

 and various disturbances, I understand present very much of a prob- 

 lem to that group of animals. 



Mr. Anderson. Then you feel that perhaps there is a need for more 

 attention to be given to the manner in which they are being handled 

 in California, both by the Department and by the local State officials ? 



Dr. LiNDusKA. I am not fully competent to talk to this point, but 

 I believe that population, least within our time frame, has always had 

 a more restricted range; the opportunties for extending its range 

 through transplants is not as great as it was with the northern herd. 



I would like to refer that to Mr. Hansen for any comments he 

 might have. 



Do you know any more about that? 



Mr. Hansen. You have a very limited amount of habitat along 

 the California coast for sea otters; and when we speak of a population 

 of 50,000, 60,000, or 70,000 and upward in the north, I do not think 

 by any stretdi of the imagination we can ever conceive of populations 

 like that along the California coast. The habitat is not there. 



Mr. Anderson. What do you estimate the size of the present popu- 

 lation of the southern sea otter? 



Mr. Hansen. I do not know what it might be. I have heard figures 

 up to 1,000 animals, but I would not know. 



The California Department of Fish and Game has jurisdiction 

 over these animals, and they would have some pretty good population 

 figures, as good as any available, but the iwtential m the northern 



