PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ESTIMATES OF ALLOMETRY AND CALF PRODUCTION IN FIN WHALES, BALAENOPTERA-PHYSALUS

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) from a census area on the outer con tinental shelf of the United States were measured photogrammetrically from vertical-aerial photographs taken in 1979 and 1980. Equations of allometric growth were developed that allowed prediction of total leng th from other body proportions such as snout-to-blowhole, snout-to-fli pper insertion, and fluke spread. Annual rates of reproduction (28-55% ) and annual rates of calf production (4-7%) were estimated for this p opulation of fin whales, indicating a potential increase in size of th e population.