Translation 2783

..... 2 ^^'I
pass through Davis âtra,it, and it is possible that a few may So to
eastern Iceland.
'A change takes place in the diet of the sei whales during
their migration. 'zheir chief dietary item is t11en reci ^;.alc:r.us. ''Tiiey
also eat Lh,ysa.noes.>e inerinis and some oi t:er crustaceans. 4'arious
fish species have been found in -6heir s-comachs, but lauch less often.
Up to the .;.)i•esent their reproduction has not been adequately
5.nvesti^•;ated.
It is known i;he,t m.ttine, ts.ket., -,)lace in winter, from
I'lovember t o ,•.ar.c}'1, witn a pos:^ib7.e peak in January and i'ebruaxy. A
single calf, about 4.4 rsetres in lengtll and vrc.iahin;' almost 650 kg,
is born after almost a year of gestation.
Lactation lasts for about
six months, during wiiich time tile young whale attains a lengtin of
7.5 to 8.0 metres. After a short period oi mixed feeding on milk
and crustaceans) it graduates to an independent diet.
1'lhen sei whales are travelling they move rapidly and seldom
emit snoù.ts. Rfter being unaer water for a long spell they ernit a
few 5pout5, after wllickl they disappear again for ût;vc;ral. minutes.
'rlhen they are feeding they swia;l with the back, and even the front
part of the head, exposed above water.
Sei VliialeC are Swlftly°ilOVinE, ai1l.i:iE'ti:i, and liiielî, alF1I:'nii',d ;,l:ey
may develop a speed of 30 knots, but they travel for only a few lain--
utes at that rate. More often they iilovo at from 15 to 16 içnots, or
more, when danger threa.Tens. It is generally more difi'icult to hùnt
them than -6o hunt other rorquals.
1:urinL^ t,-le years preceding World Wa:r :I., and right up to tue
sC9lnnillt; Of the 19jU 1s, üeJ. whales were hunl;eti more actively t ,-jan
t11Cy are no1d; J2'o111 142 to 05 were taken annually, and in 1J20 the
take was as hir;l't as 510, .ïJurii.g the pex'iod follol•rind ..`orld 1lar II
the most succe3sf'ul. season was -1951,-
267 sei t•rha;.Les were killed;
in mou-c other seasons tne take' fell oelow 100.
.Data on tne take of soi whales are given in jL,ppenuixes 6 ana 11.
';'Î1C Cl''1l.Ùll? Oi^ 3©:L 4Jtlale:i is u:.^r.ti: in v^.l'iou:1 L^r^lllcrieS of
tile food ].T1llLlF^'L].'y
Sk)ecit,ien:i yielCl Ll1i to i,rireL' or four Lletir].C
tune of oil), as cn..7.so is t110ir flesh, Nlllcil is used for botii 11Lt..,£6n
and
animal. foocl,
1,o calcl.tlra.t.ionei of the nuuil)r.z:•rj U.,. soi 1'lIICLLf?:, Lr.wu uf c.:ll llraace,
1>ui; it j.;, uï;l.i.f~veci the A;lca,i.o