512 



states. Those previously utilized and which are now fully protected as en- 

 dangered species are, of course, also at a low level. However, the federal govern- 

 ment through the Departments of the Interior and Commerce has prohibited 

 after December 1971, both the importing of products from whales and the taking 

 of them by U.S. citizens. This is the ultimate imilateral protection possible by 

 this nation. Additional protection must come from other countries. 



Other cetaceans such as the dolphins, porpoises, killer whales, and beluga.s 

 appear to be at about the optimum population size. They are litle utilized by 

 U.S. citizens. Small numbers are being taken mainly for live display in aquar- 

 iums or research purposes. A few beluga and bowhead whales are taken for local 

 use by the Eskimos in Alaska. 



The approximate world population of whales, but based in some cases on 

 limited data, are as follows : 



Blue, 8,000. 



Fin, 100,000+. 



Sel, 120,000+. 



Humpback, 4,000. 



Right, 2,000. 



Bowhead, 1,000. 



Gray, 11,000. 



Sperm, several hundred thousand. 



Killer, 10,000. 

 The population size of dolphins and porpoises is not known but probably rangea 

 from 10,000 to 1,000,000 for most species. 



FUR SEAL 



The Pribilof Islands fur seal population is about 1.3 million which is near the 

 number which produces the greatest yearly surplus. These seals are taken only 

 on the Pribilof Islands under the direct supervision of the federal government. 

 International treaty forbids the killing of fur seals on the high seas. See attached 

 fact sheet on fur seals. 



ELEPHANT SEAL AND SEA LION 



The northern elephant seal is thought to number about 20,000 while the Cali- 

 fornia sea lion population is about 50,000. Neither of these species is utilized 

 except for the capture of a few sea lions for zoos and aquariums. The Stellar 

 sea lion numbers about 500,000 of which about 5,000 a year are taken by natives 

 in Alaska for food and the hides. Sea lions are resident species under state 

 jurisdiction. 



HAIE SEALS 



Pacific hair seal population which include the ribbon, ringed, bearded, and 

 harbor seal appear to have stable populations with the exception of the ribbon 

 seal which has decreased in number through excessive kills by the seal fleet of 

 the U.S.S.R. in the Chukchi Sea. Population estimates for these seals are : 

 bearded— 300,000, ringed— 250,000, ribbon— 150,000, harbor— 200,000. It is esti- 

 mated that about 25,000-30,000 hair seals are taken annually in Alaska for food 

 and clothing and sale of pelts primarily by Eskimos, Indians, and Aleuts. 



SEA OTl'EK 



In the early days of this century the sea otter population had been reduced 

 by exploitation to scattered remnants (a few hundred) at a niunber of different 

 islanda Under a policy of complete protection which began in 1911, the popula- 

 tion spread and is today in a phase of rapid grow'th. Studie-s by the U.S. Fisih 

 and Wildlife Service in the 1950's and early 1960's showed that at that time they 

 had increased to at lea^ 25 to 30 thou.sand animals and were rapidly spread- 

 ing into new areas. Aerial surv'^eys have been continued by the State of Alaska, 

 and today it is estimated that the population ha.'; grown to about 40 to 50 

 thousand animals. The rate of population growth in uncrowded areas is at least 

 10 percent per year. In crowded populations there is approximately a 4 percent 

 rate of increase and at islands where the populations exceed carrying capacity 

 of the habitat (i.e. more than 10 to 15 otters per square mile of habitat) a 

 population decrease has been observed. Scientists believe that .stress mortality 

 such as starvation, as well as emigration accoimts for the declining popula- 

 tions in such cases. The annual rate of reproduction is about 14 percent. 

 Modem popid'ation surveys are in accordance with these findings. 



