A catch history for Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) in the eastern Canadian Arctic D. Bruce Stewart 1,* , Jeff W. Higdon 2, Randall R. Reeves 3, and Robert E.A. Stewart 4 1 Arctic Biological Consultants, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3V 1X2, Canada * Corresponding author; Email:
[email protected] 2 Higdon Wildlife Consulting, 912 Ashburn Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3G 3C9, Canada 3 Okapi Wildlife Associates, 27 Chandler Lane, Hudson, Quebec, J0P 1H0, Canada 5 501 University Crescent, Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada ABSTRACT Knowledge of changes in abundance of Atlantic walruses ( Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) in Canada is important for assessing their current population status. This catch history collates avail - able data and assesses their value for modelling historical populations to inform population recov - ery and management. Pre-historical (archaeological), historical (e.g., Hudson’s Bay Company journals) and modern catch records are reviewed over time by data source (whaler, land-based commercial, subsistence etc.) and biological population or management stock. Direct counts of walruses landed as well as estimates based on hunt products (e.g., hides, ivory) or descriptors (e.g., Peterhead boatloads) support a minimum landed catch of over 41,300 walruses in the eastern Canadian Arctic between 1820 and 2010, using the subsample of information examined. Little is known of Inuit catches prior to 1928, despite the importance of walruses to many Inuit groups for subsistence. Commercial hunting from the late 1500s to late 1700s extirpated the Atlantic walrus from southern Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces, but there was no commercial hunt for the species in the Canadian Arctic until ca.