170 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



Figure 80. — The Sanak-Caton Islands and Sandman Reefs areas were last 

 surveyed on 8 April 1962. All other surveys of the eastern Fox Islands 

 shown on this map were made on 8 May 1965. The total number of otters 

 observed on these two surveys in the areas shown is 4,121. 



separated, but apparently permanent, sea otter colonies and one 

 large population, but most of the available habitat is unoccupied. 

 The small Samalga-Cape Sagak colony and the other on the north- 

 east coast of Tigalda are apparently growing slowly. The large 

 Bering Sea population off the north coast of Unimak Island and 

 the western Alaska Peninsula, already of considerable size, is 

 possibly augmented by an influx of otters from the Sanak- 

 Sandman Reefs areas in the North Pacific Ocean. R. D. Jones 

 (letter, 10 April 1964) reports that he- 

 observed an adult otter right smack in the narrows of the north end of 

 False Pass [Isanotski Strait]. I've never seen one there before. He was at 

 the time being swiftly carried into Bering Sea by the tide. 



The available sea otter habitat in the Fox Islands is at present 

 sparsely populated. Because of the large extent of this area, 

 repopulation will probably require many years. 



The western Fox Islands. — Human settlements include Nikolski 

 Village, a sheep ranch, and a DEWline site near the south end of 

 Umnak Island, and a sheep ranch and Reeve Aleutian Airways' 

 installation near Cape Tanak on the north end of 65-mile long 

 Umnak. On Unalaska Island the village of Unalaska is the largest 

 of the extant native Aleutian settlements. There is also a DEWline 

 site at Driftwood Bay on Unalaska Island. Counts of otters from 



k 



