Randall R. Reeves

Edward D. Mitchell

One objective of the present paper was to provide a more complete account of the catch history and to use all available data in making a new estimate of initial population size. A second objective relates to ongoing field work in the Eastmain region by other researchers. Census surveys, observations of behavior, and biological sampling might be accomplished and interpreted more efficiently if the following historical facts were known: (a) which river mouths were traditionally visited by white whales; (b) approximate dates of arrival at and departure from the river mouths by the whales; (c) routes followed and pattern of movement between rivers; (d) relative age- and sex-compositions of populations or parts of populations using the different river mouths; (e) year-to-year or within-year changes in "condition" of whales (e.g. gauged by their reported oil yield or by the qualitative comments of those who caught and flensed them); and (f) observations of social structure and behavior of whales, as observed and noted by early visitors to the Eastmain coast.

History of White Whale (Delphinapterus Leucas) Exploitation in Eastern Hudson Bay and James Bay

Review of existing information on small whale fisheries of the world, with catch statistics and biological data. Includes extensive bibliography.

Edward D. Mitchell

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