JULY 1997. ALASKA: MARINE MAMMAL

Air temperature: 60-70F; Water temperature: 50-55F (est). One Pacific white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens approached our sailboat, CORCOVADO while at anchor during the evening of 6 July in Kenai Fjords, Thunder Bay, 59-34 N 150-11 W,. It circled around and investigated us, while rubbing against the boat and Zodiac. It allowed us to rub its back and side with a deck brush. This dolphin was distinguished by several transverse scars near the tail behind the dorsal fin (possibly caused by a propeller). The other dolphin was shy and stayed at a distance. We lowered a hydrophone to listen to its vocalizations. That night it returned to our boat to rub along the hull. When we returned to Thunder Bay on 28 July, the friendly (scarred) dolphin again approached our boat at anchor and entertained us with racing up and down the anchor chain, circling the boat, and making multiple jumps out of the water. It again allowed us to rub it with the deck brush and made a game out of squeaking into and mouthing the hydrophone. Alex & Kathy Swiderski on S/V PROBITY and Dick and Peggy McKibbens on S/V RAGTIME also had encounters w/ this dolphin. This is my first observation of PWSD along the N Gulf of AK coast in 27 yrs experience. (Photos available).--Kimbal Sundberg < kim_debby@compuserve.com>

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