Summary

Description

Walrus Odobenus resmarus harvest data was collected for the Nome and King Island area from May 10 to July 10, 1984 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FWS with cooperation from the Eskimo Walrus Commission EWC. The documented minimum retrieved harvest for Nome and King Island, respectively, was 46 and 111 walruses, far below harvest levels experienced during the preceding four years. The harvest from King Island was comprised of a majority of female walruses for the first time. Changes in the sex ratio of the harvest from Nome were inconclusive due to the low number of animals taken. Fortyfive pairs of teeth, for ageing purposes, and three sets of specimens for contaminant analysis were acquired. Take of other marine mammals for Nome and King Island incidental to walrus hunting included a minimum of 91 bearded seal Erignathus barbatus, 25 ringed seal Phoca hispida, spotted seal Phoca largha, 2 unidentified seals and 1 polar bear Ursus maritimus. Prolonged consolidated ice conditions in the Norton Sound bel1eved to have limited hunting success.