100
JOHN E. CUSHINO
In conclusion it is noteworthy that the report of the Ad Hoc
Scientific Committee of the International Commission on Whaling
includes the recommendation that serological studies on whales be
continued and if possible extended (International Commission on
Whaling, 1961).
2. The seals and sea lions
Fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus (Walbaum) ) populations wintering
off northcrii Japan were sampled for blood type variations in two
successive years (Fujino, 1959 ; Fujino and Cushing, 1960). Bloods
were collected rather evenly over the months of March through June
of 1958, and March through May of 1059. They were taken by pelagic
sealing vessels that were moved progressively north as the seals travelled
in their spring migration.
Four typos of antigenic specificities were found in 1958, using
absorbed heteroimmune rabbit serum. These included an antigen I11
present on all cells in the 234 samples typed, excepting those of one
individual (taken 27 May). In addition, an antigen I occurred with I11
in thrce individuals, and an antigen I1 occurred with I and 111 in one
individual. These four exccptional seals were all shot on 23 and 24
March off Onagawa (northern Honshu) in the southern end of the
winter range.
Isoagglutinies reactive with antigens I and I1 occurred with high
frequency in the Asiatic population. Isoagglutinins also occurred in
samples received from the American coast through the courtesy of Mr.
Ford Wilke and Dr. George Ridgway (Ridgway, 1958a). Table I
shows how these were used in 1969 to find two seals presumably
carrying at least one of the I, I1 antigens, and to compare the frequency
of isoagglutinins in seals from different sides of the Pacific. Remarkably, the two positive bloods were collected together on the same day
in the same area and within a few days (2 April 1969) of those taken
the preceding season. This localization in the occurrence of them
antigens is highly suggestive of the presence of subpopulation differences within the fur seal.
No natural antibodies were found in the serums of the horse, cow,
pig, goat and sheep that could distinguish the antigens ; however, the
normal serums of four rabbits were reactive with the cells carrying
antigens I and 11; and three of these serums also reacted with cells
carrying antigen I.
The potential value of fur seal serums rn heterospecific reagents
has been suggested by Ridgway (1958b) with respect to the Pacific
herring (Clupea pallasii Val,).
JOHN E. CUSHINO
In conclusion it is noteworthy that the report of the Ad Hoc
Scientific Committee of the International Commission on Whaling
includes the recommendation that serological studies on whales be
continued and if possible extended (International Commission on
Whaling, 1961).
2. The seals and sea lions
Fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus (Walbaum) ) populations wintering
off northcrii Japan were sampled for blood type variations in two
successive years (Fujino, 1959 ; Fujino and Cushing, 1960). Bloods
were collected rather evenly over the months of March through June
of 1958, and March through May of 1059. They were taken by pelagic
sealing vessels that were moved progressively north as the seals travelled
in their spring migration.
Four typos of antigenic specificities were found in 1958, using
absorbed heteroimmune rabbit serum. These included an antigen I11
present on all cells in the 234 samples typed, excepting those of one
individual (taken 27 May). In addition, an antigen I occurred with I11
in thrce individuals, and an antigen I1 occurred with I and 111 in one
individual. These four exccptional seals were all shot on 23 and 24
March off Onagawa (northern Honshu) in the southern end of the
winter range.
Isoagglutinies reactive with antigens I and I1 occurred with high
frequency in the Asiatic population. Isoagglutinins also occurred in
samples received from the American coast through the courtesy of Mr.
Ford Wilke and Dr. George Ridgway (Ridgway, 1958a). Table I
shows how these were used in 1969 to find two seals presumably
carrying at least one of the I, I1 antigens, and to compare the frequency
of isoagglutinins in seals from different sides of the Pacific. Remarkably, the two positive bloods were collected together on the same day
in the same area and within a few days (2 April 1969) of those taken
the preceding season. This localization in the occurrence of them
antigens is highly suggestive of the presence of subpopulation differences within the fur seal.
No natural antibodies were found in the serums of the horse, cow,
pig, goat and sheep that could distinguish the antigens ; however, the
normal serums of four rabbits were reactive with the cells carrying
antigens I and 11; and three of these serums also reacted with cells
carrying antigen I.
The potential value of fur seal serums rn heterospecific reagents
has been suggested by Ridgway (1958b) with respect to the Pacific
herring (Clupea pallasii Val,).