Translation 2783

..... 304
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observed a G /,1 and d-2 S. Seasonal movemenirs, t;OVeriied by the
:'eCluence of -i;)'(e seasons of the y('ar, have be:=sn ?°c_`co2'dCC...
(a
Gi'aly males more than 11 metr_es in lc:ngtii enter Antarctic
.ters. !l';.iey are found in a17.. regions, and even penetrate as far
as the edge of the ice-field.. At the end of March 1948 Soviet,
whalers came 11-?on sperm whales only 30 miles from the coast of
Anta..r_c tica., at 69 0 S, 0 0 30' B,
It has been observed that in Antarctic waters sY)erm whales
form denser concentrations at the times of new moon and full moon,
and the kill is greater at these t-i_rnes.
It is possible that in the southern hemisph.ere sperm whales
form se;;;aralle herds in summer, occupyiri- areas similar to those
occupi.ed by blue whales while fattening.
The diet of sperm whales has been studied best in Cook Strait
(i:eti•r Zea.land) . I-11fore than four sp::cieu of squids have been found in
thei r s tOlilachs, but 75;:: of them were I_oroteuthis from 30 to 120 om
long and weit;hine from 0.5 to 3.0 kE. The total t•r'éi^;Yit of stolaa.eh
contents was up to 112.5 kg. Fishes of various species were also
found ^Lo^on, southern Reâalecidaey G-ohidium barbatum, etc.),
each weighint, from 4.5 kf;, to 15.8 k8, eri'cn a total weight of up to
62.0 kg. 5per.:n whales feed. in all water depths. In Antarctic
waters the chief item in tI'ieir diet is the squid 0nychoteuthis.
In. South African ^•rate^s female sperm whales attain sexual
maturity at a body length of about 8.5 metres, but the males attain
full sexual maturity at a lentith of from 13.7 to 14.0 metres.
According to some data, gestation lasts for 15.5 months; according
to ot:aers, for 14.6 months. Consequently different estimates have
been made ret^arding the mating period: fro::. the bebinaiine of October
to the end of April with a peak in December, or from the end of
August to the end of March with a peak in November and December.
The length of new-lnorn calves is from 404 cm (weight about
774 to ;25 cm: ?irths take nlace, according to some data, from
the end of January to the first half of August with a pea,k in April;
according to others, from the beginning of. i\tovember to the beginning
of June wi.tlt a peak in -Pebruary and ilarch. The lactation period
lasts for up to 24. or 25 months, c.urii ; i•rhich time the calves increase
tiieir length to about 'J.8 me ;,res. The females breed once in four
years, rarely once in three years.
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