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civilian action agency of the U.S. Government, the Department of the 

 Interior. The Fish and Wildlife Service, the Geological Survey, and 

 the Bureau of Mines are among the Interior offices which deal with 

 matters relating to the field of the marine sciences. 



We are pleased to welcome a good friend, Dr. Stanley A. Cain, 

 Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of 

 the Interior. Dr. Cain is accompanied by Mr. William M. Terry, 

 Assistant Director, International Affairs, Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries ; and Mr. Cleo F. Layton, Staff Assistant, Office of Assistant 

 Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the 

 Interior. 



Mr. Secretary, we have one question, which we hope you will help 

 to answer during the course of these hearings : 



As you know, our subcommittee has before it some two dozen reso- 

 lutions expressing opposition to vesting of title in the United Na- 

 tions or some other international body to the resources located on the 

 ocean floors. These resolutions were prompted by a proposal advanced 

 in the U.N. by Malta, originally suggesting the preparation of a treaty 

 to give the U.N. jurisdiction over the exploration of deep water 

 resources. 



What we would like to know is this. Wliat is your reaction to the 

 Malta proposal? Wliat problems do you envision that this proposal 

 could entail for the action agencies in the civilian sectors of the U.S. 

 Government ? 



We trust your testimony will touch on all these issues. Mr. Terry 

 and Mr. Layton, won't you join Dr. Cain at the table? 



Dr. Cain. Thank you. 



Mr. Fascell. Dr. Cain, you have a statement, so you may proceed. 



STATEMENT OF HON. STANLEY A. CAIN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

 FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE 

 INTERIOR 



Dr. Caix. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I 

 do have a brief statement which I would like to read to you, if I may. 



The committee has requested the views of the Department of the 

 Interior with respect to House Joint Resolution 816, in opposition to 

 vesting title to the ocean floor in the United Nations. I appreciate 

 the privilege of appearing before the committee to discuss this resolu- 

 tion and to indicate that we are in agreement with the objectives of it. 



The Department is the principal operating agency of the U.S Gov- 

 ernment in the fields of minerals, water, and living resources of the 

 sea. It is deeply concerned with questions which touch upon o\^'ne^- 

 ship of, or sovereignty over, these resources, be they national or inter- 

 national in character. It has noted with satisfaction the coming into 

 force of the Law of the Sea Conventions, as an orderly part of the 

 development of international law. It has supported U.S. participation 

 in numerous multilateral and bilateral agreements for conservation and 

 management of the seas' living resources. 



In respect of minerals, the Department has issued oil leases in areas 

 covered by over 1,000 feet of water. Presently, oil production has ad- 



