The migration of humpback whales past the Bay de Verde Peninsula, Newfoundland, during June and July, 1978

Approximately 255 humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, moved through the waters off the Bay de Verde Peninsula, Newfoundland, between 1 June and 10 August 1978. Their distribution and northward migration speed were closely related to the density of depth sounder traces in the 80–120 m depth range, believed to have been made by postspawning schools of the humpbacks' major local prey, the capelin, Mallotus villosus. Residence times of individual humpbacks were usually less than 3 days. Only one animal had a preferred range within the study area.