Table 8.--Summary of Man-hours Expended in the Albatross 
Killing Program. 

Week Man-hours Birds killed Number per man-hour 
15-17 Jan. (day) 360 2,894 8.0 
20-24 Jan. " 568 5,550 9.8 
27-31 Jan. 4 386 2,940 7.6 
3-7 Feb. i! 423 4,228 10.0 
10-14 Feb. a 471 3,527 7.5 
17-21 Feb. at 452 3,649 8.1 
24-28 Feb. (night) 471 3,823 8.1 
3-7 Mar. " 548 3,430 6.3 
Total 3,679 30,041 8.2 
a ————— ___. _.___— 9 
A very large proportion of the birds nesting on the area 
were killed. Several weeks before the kill, all nests were counted, 
and one member of each pair (the one incubating at the time) was marked 
with a red dye spot on the breast. Very few of the dye-marked birds 
were killed during the last 3 weeks of the program, indicating that the 
majority had probably been killed. However, in June there were 100 to 
200 healthy Laysan albatross chicks in area 9 alone, indicating that 
between 100 and 400 adult breeding birds escaped the kill. 
Based on observed decrease in number of birds in the area, 
it is apparent that a large majority of the unemployed birds using the 
area during the killing period also were eliminated. However, it is im- 
possible to say exactly what proportion were eliminated, as there is a 
continual turnover in the unemployed segment of the population through- 
out the season as some birds arrive and others return to the sea. The 
percentage of unemployed birds killed doubtless is less than the 
percentage of breeding birds eliminated. 
One of the most interesting facts brought out by this killing 
program was the large number of unemployed birds in relation to the 
breeding population. Evidence gathered last season (Kenyon, et al. 1958) 
suggested that the unemployed segment of the population was much larger 
than originally estimated; this was fully confirmed by the 1958 killing 
program. 
In table 9 is presented the calculated breakdown of the kill 
into breeding and unemployed segments. This is based on total nest 
counts made in the area before the kill. For purposes of calculation, 
it is assumed that all breeding birds were killed, which is not 
entirely true. A minimum of 96 percent were killed however. Therefore 
the calculated numbers of unemployed birds in the kill are minimal 
figures. 
30 
