THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 201 



Figure 82. — John Nevzoroff holds an adult female sea otter which he cap- 

 tured while it slept on an Amchitka beach. After capture, at least two men 

 are required either to tag an otter or to place it in a carrying cage. 

 (KWK 62-15-20) 



All animals that could be captured were tagged, but when a 

 choice was possible juveniles were captured in preference to 

 adults. When studies were begun, an effort was made to capture 

 mothers having with them very young pups. This practice, how- 

 ever, was soon discontinued. 



Tags were recovered (1) when marked animals were recaptured, 

 (2) from animals found dead on beaches, and (3) during harvest- 

 ing operations. 



Tags were placed on the hind flippers of 224 sea otters (table 

 39), 107 adults and 117 juveniles or pups. Among them were 88 

 males, 135 females, and 1 of unknown sex. 



In 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1963, a total of 28 recoveries 

 were recorded (table 40). The intervals between tagging and 

 recovery ranged from 10 minutes to 35 months. Thirteen tagged 

 animals were recovered dead on beaches, eight were captured and 

 released, five were shot, a colored plastic marking device from 



