Sockeye  # 0330

Sockeye is one tough individual who has been seen around these parts since 1984.  If a whale could talk, this old man would probably have a lot to say.  

If you're lucky enough to get a good close look at his face (particularly his rostrum or mouth) you will notice that his lower jaw protrudes out and almost over his upper jaw.  The tip of the lower jaw has quite a hook on it.  This looks similar to a Sockeye Salmon, thus his name, Sockeye.  When male Sockeye salmon begin to breed their body goes through a metamorphosis.  A huge hump develops on the back and the mouth forms a protruding hook.  This fish is also known as the Christmas fish because during the breeding season the fish turns red and green. (Sockeye, the whale, does not show this characteristic).

Baleen usually hangs straight down, with the inner fringe creating a net or sieve.  This is what traps the whale's food.  Sockeye's baleen is somewhat deformed.  His baleen is bent outward in the middle. When he is engaging in open mouth feeding, both the jaw and baleen deformities are very evident.  When he closes his mouth, water shoots up the side and sprays out.  This is probably due to an entanglement or perhaps a birth defect.  Sockeye has learned to adapt and is doing very well.

Sockeye also has a good-sized white, square scar located just behind his blowhole.  This may have been cause by a small boat or again, an entanglement.  

We are not quite done yet.  Take a good look at his fluke.  You will find that riddled along the mid- to trailing-edge are orca teeth rack marks.  At sometime in his life he was attacked by the main natural predator of humpbacks, the orca or killer whale.