243 



In order to gain suflaeient knowledge of the biology of the sperm whale to 

 make estimates of the sustainable yield of eadi sex, it is necessary to collect 

 sample of females and younger males that are shorter than legal minimum 

 length limits. To obtain these samples, Special Scientific Permits were issued 

 annually, beginning in 1964, to the Director of the Marine Mammal Biological 

 Laboratory. Large series of sperm whales have also been collected under Special 

 Scientific Permits by Government whale research organizations in other coun- 

 tries. The report of the 1970 Special Meeting on Sperm Whale Biology and 

 Stock Assessments of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling 

 Commission recommended that more undersized sperm whales be collected under 

 Si>ecial Scientific Permits to elucidate several poorly-understood aspects of their 

 biology (21st Report of the Commi-ssion, page 47) . 



Num1)er Taken 



Since 1966, 189 sperm whales have been collected under Special Scientific 

 Permits issued to the Marine Mammal Biological Laboratory (Table 2). These 

 included animals shorter than the legal minimum length, lactating females, and 

 animals taken before the start or after the finish of the legal 8-month open 

 season. 



Data Collected 



All execept four ^ of the 189 si)erm whales collected under Special Scientific 

 Permits, as well as the majority (452) of those taken under regular commercial 

 operations, were examined by biologists of the Marine Mammal Biological 

 Laboratory. The following data and specimens were routinely gathered : 



(1) Body length. 



(2) Teeth (for age determination). 



(3) Ectoparasites (species, number, and pathological effects). 



(4) Blubber thickness. 



(5) Condition of mammary glands. 



(6) Ovaries (weight; size of Graafian follicles; size and number of corpora 

 albicantia ) . 



(7) Uterus (histological condition). 



(8) Fetus ( sex and body length ) . 



(9) Testes (weight and histological condition). 



(10) Stomach contents (species and quantity). 



(11) Endoparasites (species, numbers, and pathological effects). 



(12) Vertebral epiphyses (degree of fusion determines physical maturity). 

 Results 



At the termination of each individual Special Scientific Permit, a preliminary 

 report listing the sex, length, and locations and dates of capture of each whale 

 was submitted to the Secretary of the International Whaling Commission. 



The following report, which summarizes the results of our studies on sperm 

 whales through 1969, was submitted to the Special Meeting on Sperm Whale 

 Biology and Stock Assessments of the Scientific Committee of the International 

 Wlialing Commission, held in Honolulu, March 13-24, 1970: Rice, D. W., and 

 A. A. Wolman. 1970. Sperm whales in the eastern North Pacific : Progress report 

 on research, 1959-1969. 18 pages- 

 Data from the above report, along with data from other countries engaged in 

 sperm whale research, were incorporated in the final report of the si>ecial meeting : 

 International Whaling Commission. Scientific Committee, 1971. Report of the 

 special meeting on sperm whale biology and stock assessments. Twenty-first 

 Report of the Commission, pages 40-50. 



A final report of our studies on sperm whales is now being prepared, and will 

 be published. 



The data from biological investigations have permitted preliminary estimates 

 to be made of the sustainable yields of some stocks of sperm whales. As a result 

 the International "SVlialing Commission has set catch limits for sperm whales 

 in the North Pacific Ocean, and in the western Indian Ocean and adjacent sec- 

 tor of the Antarctic. As further data become available, these estimates of sus- 

 tainable yield will be refined, and estimates will be made for stocks in other parts 

 of the world. 



1 Four were not examined when they arrived at the whaling station because the biologist 

 who was to take the observations and specimens had to go to the hospital. 



