188 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



are part of the Aleutian Chain. They are separated from Attu, 

 westernmost of the Near Islands, by about 185 miles of open sea. 

 Permanent human settlements are Preobrazhenskoe (population 

 about 300) on Copper Island (Ostrov Medny) and Nikolskoe 

 (population about 500) on Bering Island (Ostrov Bering). 



Exploitation of the sea otter began at the Commander Islands 

 in 1741 when Vitus Bering's second expedition discovered them. 

 Barabash-Nikiforov (1947) stated that in 1902 the sea otter 

 population there was "at least 2,000 head" but because of ex- 

 cessive killing *'the herd numbered 700 head in 1904." The number 

 at Medny "in the winter 1911-1912 . . . was 63 head." After 1924 

 he says that "Importation of animals was begun and still con- 

 tinues" and the number rose to "over 200 head in 1930." He also 

 says that "An increase in the number of sea otters around Bering 

 Island was observed after the autumn of 1931." 



Information now available contradicts some of the data given 

 by Barabash-Nikiforov (1947). The current information is pre- 

 sented. 



Marakov (1963) says of the Commander Islands that the sea 

 otter became rare early in the 19th century and then "disappeared 

 entirely, first on Bering Island and then also on Medny Island." 

 They reappeared on Medny toward the end of the century but 

 have never reappeared on Bering Island. "Hunting continued on 

 Medny Island until 1924. When it was completely banned, no 

 more than 350 individuals were left." The herd showed little or no 

 increase during the following 30 years. Marakov believes that 

 various human activities, including the spilling of petroleum prod- 

 ucts in the sea, prevented population growth. Marakov (1965) 

 states that "the herd of otters on Medny Island numbers more 

 than 1000 adult individuals." 



I obtained additional information during a visit to the Com- 

 mander Islands from 9 to 23 July 1961. 



We saw six sea otters (five adults, one pup) during our visit. 

 We found these near the southeast end of Medny Island along about 

 3,5 miles of coast. Reefs projecting from the shore, outlying rocks, 

 and extensive kelp beds provide excellent habitat in this area. The 

 green sea urchin is abundant at the locations we visited on Medny 

 and Bering Islands. Two sea otter droppings found among the 

 rocks at Medny consisted entirely of sea urchin tests. 



Certain of our hosts, the late Dr. S. V. Dorofeev, G. A. Nesterov^ 

 (biologist), and E. P. Skripnikov (supervisor of sealing activities; 

 at Medny and a resident of the Commander Islands for about 25 

 years — 15 years on Bering Island and 10 years on Medny Island) 



