Observations of Hooded Seals, Cystophora cristata, in the northwestern Labrador Sea and southern Davis Strait in March-April 1998

Observations of Hooded Seals were recorded along the ice edge from the nort hern Labrador Sea to Davis Strait between 30 March and 2 April 1998. A tota l of 131 seals were seen, including a dense group with breeding adults and pups on 1 April at 62 degrees 50'N, 57 degrees 20'W which appeared to be th e southeastern edge of the Davis Strait whelping patch, the location of whi ch has been recorded on only five previous occasions. From the ratio of lon e pups to those still with their mothers, it appeared the peak of pupping h ad been up to about a week earlier.