the issues further and determine the best course of action 
after gathering and evaluating technical information on 
trade in Northern fur seals and the Canadian research and 
management programs and plans relating to harp and hooded 
seals. 
The Service responded to the Commission's recommendations 
and suggestions by letter of 7 October 1980 indicating that 
the Service had decided not to propose the listing in 
Appendix I of all stocks of whales that are protected from 
commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission 
because those zero quota stocks did not meet the criteria 
for listing on Appendix I. Notwithstanding this statement 
in the letter, however, the copy of the proposal which had 
been submitted to CITES on behalf of the United States which 
was enclosed with the letter did, in fact, propose listing 
in Appendix I all those stocks for which the International 
Whaling Commission allows no commercial harvest, as the 
Commission had recommended. With respect to the harp, 
hooded, and Northern fur seals, the meeting that the Commission 
had suggested was not convened and the Service indicated in 
its letter that it had decided not to submit proposals to 
include those species on Appendix II, based upon available 
information and the recommendations of the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, the International Convention Advisory 
Commission, and the Government of Canada. 
By letter of 27 October 1980, the Service transmitted 
copies of proposals submitted to CITES by the French Republic 
and the Federal Republic of Germany for review and comment 
by the Commission. The Federal Republic of Germany submitted 
proposals to add all stocks of fin, sei, and sperm whales to 
Appendix I, including some stocks for which the International 
Whaling Commission allowed a commercial catch, while the 
United States as noted above had proposed listing in Appendix 
I only those stocks for which the International Whaling 
Commission allows no commercial catch. The French Republic 
proposed including all stocks of gray seals and harbor seals 
in Appendix II. Based upon preliminary consultations with 
representatives of the Commission and other interested 
agencies and individuals, the Service transmitted comments 
to CITES indicating that the United States' proposal should 
be clarified to call for listing of each species of whale 
followed by the statement "all stocks for which the International 
Whaling Commission allows no commercial catch, as specified 
in the 1980 Schedule". The Service indicated that the 
United States continued to seek a moratorium on commercial 
whaling which would be supported by the German proposals, 
but that the United States would withhold further comment on 
the German proposals pending resolution of issues concerning 
= ogee 
