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Quarterly reports of principal investigators for July-September

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IV. Problems Encountered<br />

-4-<br />

peritonitis and possible bacteremia arising from<br />

ascending infection <strong>of</strong> the urachus.<br />

One walrus had died from a severe pneumonia<br />

probably derived by inhalation <strong>of</strong> exudate from a<br />

large dental abcess.<br />

One sea otter showed enlargement <strong>of</strong> spleen and<br />

liver with possible lesions in the latter.<br />

The use <strong>of</strong> chartered aircraft with hired pilot presented some<br />

problems in that most <strong>of</strong> the autopsies required or would have<br />

been greatly facilitated by having a 2-man team approach. The<br />

aircraft required <strong>for</strong> beach landings can accommodate only the<br />

pilot and one passenger, and, frequently, the hired pilot was<br />

unwilling to participate in the autopsy thereby hampering, prolonging<br />

and increasing the cost <strong>of</strong> the work. We propose to<br />

remedy this in the future by charter or aircraft that can be<br />

piloted by project personnel (i.e. by Associate Investigator, R.<br />

Dieterich). This will accelerate as well as improve the quality<br />

<strong>of</strong> the work, and it will reduce the cost per hour thereby increasing<br />

the time available and the coverage in the surveys. (Charter<br />

rates are increasing rapidly and already are expected to exceed<br />

the budgeted rate by about 25% in 1976).<br />

At St. Lawrence Island where aircraft support is not feasible,<br />

surveys were undertaken via chartered small boat and on foot.<br />

The surveys via small boat were rather unsatisfactory <strong>for</strong> detection<br />

<strong>of</strong> any but the largest and most recent strandings due to<br />

limited visibility. Surveys on foot were by far the most effective<br />

but were inefficient because <strong>of</strong> the low speed (8-12 mi/da). The<br />

best alternative <strong>for</strong> future surveys in that area combining greater<br />

speed with nearly the visual effectiveness <strong>of</strong> a pedestrian survey<br />

seems to be the use <strong>of</strong> an All-terrain Vehicle (ATV), The<br />

possibilities <strong>of</strong> purchase or rental <strong>of</strong> such a vehicle are currently<br />

being investigated.<br />

V. Estimate <strong>of</strong> Funds Expended<br />

(6 months)<br />

Total Budget Expended* Remaining<br />

Salaries & wages 39,586.00 3,184.71 36,401.29<br />

Staff Benefits 6,700.00 541.40 6,158.60

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