186 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



presence near the mouth of Bixby Creek, Monterey County, be- 

 came generally known (California Senate, 1965). 



The permanent population of sea otters on the California coast 

 is between Point Conception (34°27' N. lat.) and Monterey Bay 

 (36°33' N. lat). Here, during an aerial survey on 27 August 1957, 

 Boolootian (1961) observed 638 otters. Because of predation by 

 the sea otter on abalones (Haliotis sp.) the opinion was expressed 

 that sea otters were shot or killed with spears by fishermen 

 (H. Shelby, in California Senate, 1963). To ascertain the number 

 of otters presently on the California coast, aerial surveys were con- 

 ducted by the California Department of Fish and Game. The sur- 

 veys included the areas surveyed by Boolootian (1961). During the 

 first, 26 to 29 January 1964, 236 otters were observed (Commercial 

 Fisheries Review, 1964a). During the second, 13 February 1964, 

 the counts by two observers were 339 and 351 (Commercial Fish- 

 eries Review, 1964b) . The most recent survey was on 8 June 1966 

 when 618 otters were counted (J. G. Carlisle, Jr., letter, July 1966). 

 [For recent information see page 200 and footnote 5, table 36.] 



These surveys indicate that the California sea otter population 

 has not increased in recent years. Other observations, however, 

 suggest that the population in the area surveyed did not increase 

 because otters wandered to other areas. 



R. G. Prasil searched National Park Service files on the Channel 

 Islands and found the following reports (J. C. von Bloeker and 

 R. M. Bond, letter 28 May 1940) : 



Kenneth E. Stager saw a sea otter asleep in the rocks on the northwest side 

 of Santa Barbara on March 17th [1940]. He approached to within 30 feet 

 of it before it awakened and took to the water. He is familiar with these 

 animals off the Monterey County coast (as I am also) and I see no reason to 

 doubt his record. 



Another report was obtained by L. Sumner and R. M. Bond 

 (letter) during a survey at Anacapa Island in 1950. They inter- 

 viewed a long-time island resident named Raymond (Frenchy) 

 Ladreau and wrote: 



Ladreau told us that in 1943 two sea otters came to the kelp beds of the West 

 Island and to the landing area nearby where he has his shack. He said they 

 were quite tame and unafraid and remained there for 2 or 3 days before dis- 

 appearing. This is the second recent record of sea otters in the Channel 

 Islands area and indicates that if undisturbed they may be expected to in- 

 crease in that general region. Perhaps some day, if protected from poachers, 

 they will remain permanently around Anacapa and neighboring islands. 



Allanson (1955) reported seeing two otters at San Miguel 

 Island in the Channel Islands (34° N.) in 1954. 



