170 



Dr. LiNDusKA. That harvest was to preclude a die-off that related 

 to overpopulation on the breedin^r ground. 



Mr. DiNGKLL. Well, I am going to recognize Mr. Potter again 



I want him to get some figures with regard to population, and I 

 also want him to get some figures with regard to the age groups of 

 population, like the polar bear which are being harvested. And I 

 notice there is a striking decline in the age limit of the polar bears 

 being harvested. 



Mr. PoTi'ER. To pursue this question of the age levels of the polar 

 bears, have you seen any statistics coming from Alaska on this? 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. I know they reveal a declining size and an age ratio 

 running more to young animals. 



Mr. Potter. Indeed they do. The average age of males killed m 

 1966, the first year for which we have figures, was 8.1. 



In 1969, the last year for which we have figures, it was 6.3. That 

 is a bear with one and a half breeding seasons. 



The average age of females declined from 1966 when it was 6.4 

 years old to 5.4 in 1969. That is one breeding season. 



With permission of the Chair I would ask that this information 

 be included in the record at this point. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Without objection, so ordered, and the Chair would 

 request that Dr. Linduska and the Interior Department submit to us 

 at their earliest convenience comments as to the accuracy of the figures 

 and any suggestions or comments that you care to make with regard 

 to these particular matters. 



The Chair will direct the counsel to be in communication with our 

 good friends in Interior so that they can have a full opportunity 

 to make a satisfactory and adequate commentary on the matters 

 alluded to. 



(The information referred to follows:) 



The Polar Beak 



Based upon degrees of longitude, less than 8 percent of the United Stales' 

 territory fronts on the Polar Basin (Fig. 1), which is the home of the polar 

 bear. The information presented in Mg. 1 also shows that this species is not 

 known to den in Alaska (United States' territory). Polar bears nevertheless 

 do occur regularly off Alaskan coasts. Those occurring off the Arctic coast seem 

 to originate from dens located in the Western Canadian Arctic (Bank's Island) ; 

 and those off the northwestern coast, abutting on the Chukchi Sea, from Soviet 

 Siberia, notably Wrangel Island. 



Statistics are available concerning the Alaskan polar bear harvest from 1961 

 to 1969. They show for harvest and sex ratio: 



TABLE l.-POLAR BEAR HARVEST AND SEX RATIOS, 1961-69 

 Nonresidents Resident white All sport hunters Resident native All hunters 



Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 



Year Number male number male Number male Number male Number male 



1961 70 93 59 57 129 77 23 52 152 73 



1962 78 85 103 60 181 70 16 50 201 69 



1963 106 88 57 68 163 81 22 68 189 79 



1964 142 89 86 60 228 78 23 69 253 77 



1965 159 89 116 64 275 79 21 50 296 76 



1966 195 89 152 66 347 79 52 46 399 74 



1967 124 97 42 69 166 90 25 50 191 80 



1968 184 84 56 66 240 80 111 61 351 74 



1969 227 76 44 63 290 69 27 56 298 72 



Note: Table from Brooks and Lentfer, 1969. Polar Bear Research in Alaska, Paper No. 15, lUCN publ., new series. 



