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10455
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Pre-analysis of North Pacific sei whale marking and recovery data
J.G. Cooke, S. Mizroch and H. Yoshida
Data on marks placed in north Pacific sei whales Balaenoptera borealis during 1949-81 were reviewed with
regard to species taking particular account of species uncertainty and uncertainty over the number of marks placed
in each whale and in sei whales in total. Whales recorded as multiply marked were significantly more likely to
be recovered than singly marked whales, but usually with fewer marks than were recorded as placed. The
recovery rate per mark was also higher in multiply marked whales, for reasons which are not obvious. Taking
account of species uncertainty (particularly between sei, Bryde's and fin whales) each mark was assigned to one
of three categories: A (marks placed and size of recapture sample known); B (size of recapture sample known
but number of marks placed uncertain); and C (both mark and recapture samples unknown). Category A marks
convey information about movement and abundance: category B marks provide information only on movement;
and category C marks provide only anecdotal information about movements.