the seal herds on the Commander Islands and Robben Island. In return, the Soviet Union and the United 

 States agreed to deliver to Canada and Japan each 1 5 percent of the "gross in number and value" of the 

 sealskins taken commercially each season on these respective breeding grounds.' ^ 



However, it is further provided that if the number of seals of either the Commander Islands or the 

 Robben Island breeding grounds falls below 50,000 head, according to data in official records, then the 

 commercial killing of seals and apportionment of skins may be suspended by the Soviet Union until the 

 number of seals exceeds 50,000 in the breeding grounds in question.'* The Commission is authorized to 

 modify the 50,000 figure in accordance with its scientific findings.' ^ 



If the Soviet Union suspends sealing on the Commander Islands or Robben Island, the Commission 

 must determine whether or not to reduce the level or to suspend completely the pelagic sealing for 

 scientific purposes in the Western Pacific Ocean during the period of suspension.' * 



3. Budget 



Each State Party undertakes to bear the expense of its own research, but it retains title to sealskins 

 taken during the research." Each Party also pays the expenses of its Commissioner and or equal share 

 of the joint expenses incurred by the Commission.'* It must also contribute to the Commission 

 annually an amount equal to the value of the sealskins it confiscates in accordance with the Convention's 

 enforcement provisions.' ' 



Finally, special provision is made to divide the costs of pelagic research in the Western Pacific Ocean 

 more equitably. Canada and Japan agree to forego the delivery of the sealskins otherwise due them from 

 the Soviet Union for a three-year period, the Soviet Union agrees to deliver annually to Canada and Japan 

 1 ,500 sealskins each during these three years. ' " " 



In fiscal year 1969, the United States will contribute $2,000 to the Commission's expenses, which 

 will amount to 25 percent of its estimated total expenditures of $8,000. In addition, the United States 

 will spend in fiscal 1969 approximately $200,000 on research (in United States research institutions) for 

 purposes of this Convention.'" ' 



4. Enforcement 



To enforce the provisions of the Convention, each State Party agrees: 



(a) To enact and enforce the legislation necessary to guarantee compliance with the Convention's 

 provisions, with appropriate penalties for violation thereof; 



(bj To cooperate with each other in taking appropriate measures to carry out the purposes of the 

 Convention, including the prohibition of pelagic sealing. 



(c) When a duly authorized official of any of the Parties has reasonable cause to believe that any vessel 

 subject to the jurisdiction of any of the Parties is offending against the prohibition of pelagic sealing, he 



The data in the text were supphed by National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development, the 

 Department of State and the Department of the Interior. 



Convention, Art. X. 



vni-118 



