30 



Mr. Leggett. Thai corresponds to testimony before the committee] 

 last year, thai fishing by a large fleel for an extended period of time 

 might cause extended fishing of immature fish. That might abort the 



convent ion. 



Mr. Pollock. I think Mr. Brewer, our general counsel, has a com- 

 ment. • 



Mr. Brewer. If for some reason there is a number of the U.S. fleet 

 who do go foreign flag, they may go to countries who are not members 

 of the [ATTC, namely, a flag-of-convenience country. 



1 1' that occurs, I am sure the effectiveness of the convention will be 

 greatly diminished. 



Mr. Leggett. We are not going to let the American fleet go foreign. 



[Laughter.] 



Mr. Pollock. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate your forebearance and 

 tolerance. Yours and the other members, because of the sensitivity of 

 some of the questions. 



Mr. Leggett. We appreciate your cooperation, too, Mr. Pollock. 



The next witnesses are the organization structured to solve this 

 problem. 



At the outset, the Marine Mammal Commission, and its Chairman, 

 Mr. Douglas Chapman. 



Mr. Chapman, I understand you have no formal statement, so you 

 can make any comment you care for the record. 



STATEMENT OF DR. DOUGLAS G. CHAPMAN. CHAIRMAN, MARINE 

 MAMMAL COMMISSION, ACCOMPANIED BY ROBERT EISENBUD, 

 GENERAL COUNSEL 



Dr. Chapman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to 

 appear before you today at these oversight hearings. 



I am Douglas Chapman, Chairman of the Marine Mammal Com- 

 mission. On my right is Robert Eisenbud, our general counsel. 



Many aspects of the tuna-porpoise problem were discussed in the 

 Commission's Annual Report for calendar year 1976, which has been 

 made available to you and the members of the subcommittee. If there 

 are others who wish copies, they can obtain them from the Com- 

 mission. 



As has been noted several times, the 1077 regulations are under 

 development at this time and, unfortunately, it is not appropriate to 

 discuss them. 



We are concerned, of course, as others are. about delays in the 

 implementation of these 1977 regulations. Others, the industry wit- 

 nesses, will no doubt speak to you of the problems that have been 

 caused them. The Commission is also concerned about problems that 

 may be caused to the porpoise population as a result of the possibility 

 that foreign vessels are setting on porpoises, which they might not 

 ordinarily do, and therefore cause additional kill. 



When we last appeared before you, in September. Dr. Kenneth 

 Norris and I discussed the research cruise which was jointly spon- 

 sored by the Commission, the Research Applied to National Needs 



