65 



ery", and authorizes the estahlishment of a Pri'bilof Islands Commission, to worli 

 on the problem of the Aleuts who would he put out of work, following enactment 

 of the bill. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Our first witness this morning is Mr. Thomas L. Kim- 

 ball, executive director, National Wildlife Federation, an old friend 

 of the committee. 



Mr. Rogers. Mr. Chairman, if the chairman would permit, I would 

 just like to say that unfortunately I have to chair a committee at 10 

 o'clock, so I cannot be here to hear all of the statements, but I will read 

 them all. 



I am very much interested in them, and particularly I am very much 

 interested m porpoises, because I have noticed we have a problem 

 developing there as well. 



I think we do have a distinguished list of witnesses here and I regret 

 that I cannot be here. 



I want to make this statement, and I am most interested in the 

 legislation. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. 



Mr. Kimball, we are happy to have you with us. 



STATEMENT OF THOMAS L. KIMBALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

 NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION 



Mr. Kimball. Mr. Chairman, I might help you recoup some of this 

 time, if I might have my statement inserted in full in the record at 

 this point, and try to recapitulate it. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Without objection, so ordered. 



(The full prepared statement of Mr. Kimball follows :) 



Statement of Thomas L. Kimball, on Behalf of the National Wildlife 



Federation 



Mr. Chairman, I am Thomas L. Kimball, Executive Director of the National 

 Wildlife Federation which has national headquarters at 1412 Sixteenth Street, 

 N.W., here in Washington, D.C. 



Ours is a private organization which seeks to attain conservation goals 

 through educational means. The Federation has independent affiliates in all 50 

 States and the Virgin Islands. These affiliates, in turn, are composed of local 

 groups and individuals who, when combined with associate members and other 

 supporters of the National Wildlife Federation, number an estimated three 

 million persons. 



We appreciate the invitation and opportunity to make these comments. 



The National Wildlife Federation does not support any legislation calling for 

 complete protection by law of all ocean mammals. Since H.R. 6554 is completely 

 unacceptable to the Federation, we will not comment on its specific content. Our 

 opposition is based on the fact that not all ocean mammals need protection if 

 we are to assume that the wildlife resource is to be managed for the use and 

 benefit of man. It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, this Committee and then the Con- 

 gress must determine whether or not it is in the overall public interest to man- 

 age, guide, or manipulate wildlife populations in general or marine mammals in 

 particular in such a manner as to provide the public with the greatest possible 

 variety of uses and benefits obtained from this valuable renewable resource. One 

 alternative to management is to give total protection to all species by Federal 

 law and in so doing preempt the professional wildlife scientists from applying 

 his knowledge and judgments and otherwise exercising his dominion and steward- 

 ship over animal populations. The National Wildlife Federation is opposed to 

 such an alternative preferring to support profes.sional wildlife management whose 

 ultimate objective is to maintain maximum variety and optimum numbers of 

 wildlife for the many and varied u.ses of man — to observe, photograph, study, 

 and to harvest the surplus for food and/or wearing apparel. 



