Translation 2783

310
Their re7roduction has not been studied. By analogy with
killer whales of other regions we may surmise that gestation lasts
for a year.or
more, and that the length of a new-born calf is about
2.5 metres,
Killer whales usually stay in Eroups , numbering from a few
up to several . tens, in Antarctic waters. They often congregate near
a whaling factory-ship, especially in the Atlantic sector of the
Antarctic.
As in other regions, instances are frequently reported of
killer whales being found together with baleen whales (fin whales,
hUmp-back whales, lesser rorquals, etc.), the former not being aggressive,
anc: the latter showing no fear of such neighbours.
In South Africa the sounds made by killer whales have been
recorded, and later Played bebk under water to scare sharks away
from bathing beaches.
The hunting of killer whales (see Appendix 12) is very limited,
as it is very difficult to take them with modern whaling
vessels. That may be illustrated by the fact that from 1954 to 1966
only le killer whales were taken in Antarctic waters.
Their products are oil for technical purposes
ton, the oil yield being 15% to 17% of the carcass) and meat.
to one
The weights of killer whales from 6.7 to 7.0 metres in length
were from 3.4 to 6.5 tons, and those from 7.5 to 8.1 metres in length
were from 6.3 to 8.15 tons. The weight of the largest specimen (a
male), measuring 8.6 metres, was 9.9 tons, including 2.75 tons of
blubber, 3.2 tons of mest, 3,2 tons of bones, and 0.8 ton of viscera.
False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
The migrations, diet, and reproduction of false killer whales
are practically unstudied. Sometimes they congregate in huge herds
'An instance is known of the mass death of 835 false killer whales
in the Mar del Plata region (Argentina), and similar cases have been
recorded in Australia and New Zealand.
These whales are often found together with common blackfish.