% 
* 
- 2 - 
1965 the Survey maintained an ecological research station on Green Island, 
Kure Atoll (28° 2’ N Lat, 178° 1* W Long). During this period informa¬ 
tion was collected concerning population dynamics, movements, and behavior 
of the monk seal. 
V 
• METHODS 
Monk seals were tagged in the web of the left hind flipper with a 
yellow nylon, rivet-style, cattle ear tag supplied by the National 
Agricultural Supply Company. The tags had black numerals imprinted on 
• • 
the male portion and return information on the female portion. Seals 
were physically subdued by two or three men using rope nooses or a large 
tarpaulin while the tag was fastened with special pliers. Efforts were 
made to tag all the animals which used Kure Atoll in late 1963 and early 
1964. On other islands seals were tagged whenever time permitted. Most 
of this tagging was done in 1963. 
Age, sex, date, and exact locality were recorded for each newly 
tagged animal. Any additional information, such.as injuries, foods, 
presence of young, association with other individuals, or behavior, was 
also recorded. The dates and localities of subsequent sightings, plus 
any relevant data, were added to the record kept on each seal. 
Seals were counted on the beach at each island each time the island 
was visited, normally on the first day of the visit before anyone had 
passed along the beach, so that the counts obtained would be natural for 
that time of day, season, and weather conditions. Time limitations did 
not permit sexing of individuals, but pups in black pelage, subadults 
of mature pelage but weighing between 45 and 90 kg, and adults were 
differentiated. 
