THE DISTRIBUTION AND NUMBERS OF BOWHEAD WHALES, BALAENA-MYSTICETUS, IN NORTHERN FOXE BASIN IN 1994

Aerial reconnaissance surveys were conducted in June, 1994, to documen t the distribution of Bowhead Whales in the coastal waters of Fore Bas in and Roes Welcome Sound during the spring migration. The summer dist ribution of Bowheads in northern Fore Basin was examined using both ae rial surveys and boat-based observers. Results indicated that there ar e potentially three migration routes used by Bowheads to enter Fore Ba sin and that once in northern Fore Basin, Bowheads aggregate in a well -defined area north of Igloolik Island. Three systematic aerial strip surveys were done in August to estimate the number of surface whales p resent in northern Fore Basin. Estimates of 256 +/- 31.3 and 284 +/- 4 8.6 Bowheads were derived from two useable surveys.