Seven white whales were observed during the 17-26 August 

 1976 survey (Fig. 23). Five were observed in Norton Sound, 

 none were seen in the Chukchi Sea, and two were seen in the 

 north central Beaufort Sea. 



September and October 



During the 20-26 September 1976 survey an aggregration of 

 bowhead whales was observed nearshore from Smith Bay to 

 Point Barrow (Fig. 24). The highest count was 47 on 21 Sep- 

 tember. Several animals were observed to be stationary at the 

 surface with their mouths open; they appeared to be feeding. 

 The area between Smith Bay and Point Barrow may be a stag- 

 ing area for migrating whales and/or an important feeding lo- 

 cation during years of high invertebrate production. It is likely 

 these animals, and perhaps more, summered in this region in 

 1976. A few Eskimo whalers from Barrow have told us that 

 this is not an uncommon occurrence. Tracklines were flown 

 offshore during this period in 1976 but no bowheads were 

 observed. 



Results were inconclusive as to whether or not bowheads 

 congregate every year nearshore east of Point Barrow. Dur- 

 ing a 12-22 September 1974 aerial survey by Fiscus and Mar- 

 quette 18 many bowheads were observed near Cape Simpson; 

 the highest count, 57, was made on 18 September 1974. Dur- 

 ing the 26 August- 13 October 1977 survey, however, only 

 seven bowheads were observed in the area (Fig. 25). Of sig- 

 nificance, though, was that most of the 1977 sightings were 

 made offshore, probably of whales on their return migration 

 from the Beaufort Sea into the Chukchi Sea. 



Although the data are sparse, they indicate that bowheads 

 move west and south in September. We have, as does C. Ray, 

 sightings that place bowheads at three locations during Sep- 

 tember: 1) East along the northern coast of Alaska to within 



Figure 22. — Aerial survey tracklines flown in the northern Bering, eastern Chuk- 

 chi, and western Beaufort Seas on 17, 18. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 Au- 

 gust 1976 during bird surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

 The dot represents 4 bowhead whales seen just east of Pt. Barrow in open water. 



Figure 23. — Aerial survey tracklines flown in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and 

 western Beaufort Seas during bird surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wild- 

 life Service on 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 August 1976. Dots repre- 

 sent presence of while whales: a total of 7 whales were counted with a mean 

 group size of 1.2 (SD 0.4). 



"Fiscus, C. H., and W. M. Marquette. 1975. National Marine Fisheries Ser- 

 vice field studies relating to the bowhead whale harvest in Alaska, 1974. Pro- 

 cessed rep., 23 p. Natl. Mar. Mammal Lab.. Northwest and Alaska Fish. Cent., 

 Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Bldg. 32, Seattle, 

 WA 98115. 



I I 1 I I I I 1 I I I I I I i 1 I 1 I I I rH-T-t- 



I | I | I | I | I | I 1 I | I | I | I 1 I | I 



73 



71 



69 



]63 



157 



151 



Figure 24. — Aerial survey tracklines flown in the eastern Chukchi and western 

 Beaufort Seas on 20, 21, 22, 24, and 26 September 1976. Dots represent presence 

 of bowhead whales: a total of 102 whales were counted with a mean group size of 

 2.7 (SD 3.5). 



