648 
Fishery Bulletin 96(3), 1998 
Figure 1 
(A) Dorsal view of the scars on peduncle and flukes of the entangled dolphin (FB03) 
approximately one year after removal of the fishing line. (B) Ventral view of the scars 
on peduncle and flukes of the same entangled dolphin (FB03) approximately one year 
after removal of the fishing line. 
flukes. We tried unsuccess- 
fully a number of times to 
grasp the remaining line 
with the boat hook as the dol- 
phin rode the bow wave. 
Throughout these attempts, 
the dolphin held her position 
directly below the bow, clearly 
watching the boat hook as it 
moved within several cm of 
her flukes, and she made no 
effort to move away. 
The next observation of the 
dolphin was on 18 June 1996, 
on Sister Key Flats (27°27'N, 
82°39'W ), near where we had 
left her on 6 June. She was 
swimming normally and no 
line was evident, although in- 
dications of scarring were 
seen where the line had been. 
Through 1 July 1997, she 
was observed 33 more times 
and her behavior was consid- 
ered normal each time. She 
was alone each time that she 
was seen while entangled; 
she was seen alone in only 
24% of her unentangled sight- 
ings. Prior to entanglement, 
she was found in groups of 4.9 
dolphins on average (SD=4.32, 
n= 73). Following removal of 
the line, she was in groups of 
4.4 dolphins on average (SD= 
4.56, n= 30). 
On 13 June 1997, this dol- 
phin was examined by veteri- 
narians as part of a dolphin 
health assessment program. 
The wounds from the line 
were well healed, but deep 
scars remained (Fig. 1). Her 
health was comparable to 
that at the time of her previ- 
ous examination on 17 June 
1994. Her weight (132 kg) 
was 19 kg greater than three years before. Veteri- 
nary staff considered her blood chemistry and he- 
matology values to be within acceptable limits, and 
results of ultrasonic examination of organ condition 
were unremarkable. Thus, it appears that no long- 
term effects beyond scarring resulted from this rela- 
tively brief entanglement event. The depth of scars, 
however, suggests that her flukes could potentially 
have been severed if the line had not been removed. 
The line was determined to be 80-pound (approx.) test 
“squidding line,” a floating-core braided Dacron line 
often used locally for tarpon fishing from late spring to 
early summer. Tarpon fishing occurs in the immediate 
Gulf coastal waters, especially in the area where this 
dolphin was first seen with the line around her flukes. 
A large number of snarls and cuts in the 484 m of line 
