(Ursus maritimus PHIPPS)

SKRIFTER NR. 149

ODD L0N0

The polar bear

(Ursus maritimus PHIPPS)

in the Svalbard area

Or Hr" I:f ior

N ORSK P OLARINSTITUTT OSL O 1970

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NORSK POLARINSTITUTT

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SKRIFTER NR. 14 9

ODD L0N0

The polar bear

(Ursus maritimus PHIPPS)

in the Svalbard area

NORSK POLARINSTITUTT O S LO 1970

Manuscript received J une ¹⁹⁶⁹ Printed February ¹⁹⁷⁰

Abstract

Page 5

Preface and acknowledgements ^{o........................................} 5

Explanation of some geographical names ^{o.............................} 6

Scientific names of birds and mammals referred to in this paper. . . . . 6

Introduction ^{o.......................................................} 7

Hunting methods ^{o................................................... 7}

Winter hunting ^. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Summer hunting ^{...................... o. . . . • . . • . . • . • • . . . . • • . . . • . • ••} 13

Norwegian polar bear catching in the Arctic ^{o............................} 13

Previous statisties ^{o................................................. 13}

Historie survey of the Norwegians' catch in the Arctic ^{................. o.} 14 The total catch from sealers, trappers, and hun ters ^{.................... o.} 15 1795-1884 o •••••••••• • ••••••• • ••••• ••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••• 15 1885-1908 1909-1923 1924-1944 1945-1968 17 17 19 19 The winter trappers' catch in various hun ting areas ^{.................... o. 23} The western coast of Vestspitsbergen ^{o..............................} 23

The northern coast of Vestspitsbergen ^{o.............................} 23

Hornsund ^{...................... _ ... -.......................... o. 24} Bjørnøya ^{...................................................... o. 25} Sørkapp ^{o ••••••••••••••••••• -••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o. 25} Kvalpynten ^{o.................................................... 27}

Kong Ludvigøyane ^{o........................... o................. 27}

Agardhbukta ^{o................................................... 27}

Kvalhovden ^{.................................................... o. 28} Negerpynten and Zieglerøya ^{o...................................... 28}

Ryke Yseøyane ^{o................................................. 28}

Halvmåneøya ^{o ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o' 28} Kong Karls Land ^{............................................... o. 28} Nordaustlandet ^{o................................................. 29}

Lomfjorden ^{o.................................................... 29}

Hopen ^{...........................................}_o... 29

Novaja Zemlja ^{................................................. o. 31} Jan Mayen ............... _ ......................... _ ..... _ .... o. 32 North -East Greenland ^{.................. _ ........................ o. 32} South-East Greenland ^{o........................................... 32}

Franz Josef Land ^{o •••••• _ •••••••••••••••••••••••• _ ••••••••••••• o.} 34 Recaptured polar bears tagged in the Svalbard area ^{o •• _ ••••••••••••••• o.} 35 Discussion ^{o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• _ •••••••••••••••••• o. 35} Conditions which influence polar bear catehes ^{...................... o. 35} Fluctuations in the number of polar bears ^{o.......................... 38}

The distribution of the polar bear in the Barents Sea area ^{............ o. 39} The Svalbard area ^. . . . . . . . . . . . 40

The Franz Josef Land area and the paek ice southwards to the White Sea ⁴¹ The question of a loeal group of the polar bear in the Svalbard area ^{... o.} 42 Laws regarding hunting of the polar bear in Svalbard and Jan Mayen ^{...... o. 43} Svalbard ^{o......................................................... 43}

Jan Mayen ⁴³

Discussion ^{o ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• _o 43}