For Estimpji the Si Population Ar' 1ulti Ial of Amigrati

This report applies the results of Sanathanan (1972, The Annals of Mathematical Statistics 43. 142 152) on estimating the number of trials of a multinomial distribution to the estimation of the size of the western Arctic stock of bowhead whales. Cell totals used in the estimate are from a whale census conducted during spring migration. The population size is modeled as the sum of the number of trials of several independent multinomial distributions each of which represents a particular visibility condition occurring during the census. The problem of incomplete observation of totals within particular cells as well as the problem of unobserved cells is dealt with. A confidence interval estimate of population size is derived. Suggestions are presented for future research to strengthen the data base for estimating trends in the whale population.