309 



research contracts funded by the Service has decreased significantly since 

 fiscal year 1976. While we view these contracts as very valuable adjuncts to 

 our own in-house research efforts, the level of funding available for research 

 efforts will not maintain all requirements. 



The Service has supplemented funds appropriated under the Marine Mammal 

 Protection Act from funding available under the broader Fish and Wildlife 

 Act authorization. The majority of these funds represent our marine mammal 

 research effort conducted prior to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and 

 therefore have not required reprogramming to continue. 



Question. What is your total number of enforcement personnel? (page 53, 

 line 11) 



Answer. The Fish and Wildlife Service currently has a total of 209 perma- 

 nent full-time personnel assigned to law enforcement, this includes special 

 agents and port inspectors. 



4-11-77 



Mr. Leggett. Mr. Forsythe? 

 Mr. Forsythe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



On a level budget basis, the financial support of the program has 

 declined very substantially over the years because of inflation. 

 Mr. Leggett. Unless they have been stealing more from other 



.agencies. 



Mr. Foksythe. That was my next area and I think that is evident 

 without an answer. But in fact the enforcement officers are enforcing 

 a wide range of statutes? 



Mr. Milias. Yes. 



Mr. Leggett. Therefore, the part of their time that is necessary 

 or directly related to your responsibilities under this act are not 

 quantified, really. 



Mr. Milias. They might become involved in this act, or the}- might, 

 in the very same day, be enforcing another act. 



Mr. Leggett. If the gentleman will yield. 



We are just playing games. If they do not know how much en- 

 forcement activity is in here, we are just kind of playing games 

 authorizing these amounts, and appropriating these amounts. 



It goes into a lump sum, and we do not really know how it is 

 spent out. 



