83 



I know there has been a ^reat deal of research in this field, and we 

 see very contradictory numbei-s appearing constantly as to the popu- 

 lation here, and of all of the ocean mammals. 



Basically, I do not know if I speak entirely for Senator Harris or 

 the other very wonderful people who are instrumental in helping to 

 draft, this legislation, but I think my basic instinct, and I believe 

 would be now, that nature has worked its way over the centuries and 

 the millions of years, and it is time to let nature work its way in this 

 particular field. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. McCloskey ? 



Mr. McCloskey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I have one question. 



You make an exception for municipal and nonprofit zoos. 



What is your feeling about a number of profitmaking institutions, 

 such as the aquatic lands that we have in California and Florida? 



Mr. Pryor. We have no objections, Mr. McCloskey, to stretching 

 this legislation and to treating this section to take care of what we 

 would think a proper number of animals, for example, going to the 

 Marinelands, and so forth, as may be the case in your own State of Cali- 

 fornia, and certainly Mr. Rogers' State of Florida. 



I think that the legislation does have to be properly worded, but 

 the intent of this basic legislation was not to deprive those particular 

 institutions of bringing in a proper number of animals for the public 

 use. 



Mr. McCloskey. Thank you. 



Mr. Dingell. Thank you very much, Mr. Pryor. 



Mr. Pryor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



(The following was supplied for inclusion in the printed record:) 



Congress of the United States, 



House of Representatives, 

 Washington, D.C., September 22, 1971. 

 Mr. John Dingell, 



Chairman, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Committee on 

 Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Longxvorth Building. 



Dear Mr. Chairman : I am forwarding for your attention and that of your 

 Committee the signatures of more than 1100 people who have indicated their sup- 

 port for HR 6558, the Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971. 



I recognize that space vn\\ not permit the inclu.slon of all these names in the 

 Record, but I would be most grateful if the text of the petition and the receipt 

 of the signatures could be duly noted in the Record of the hearings currently 

 being conducted. 

 With warm regards, I am 

 Sincerely yours, 



David Pryor, 

 Member of Congress. 



American Cetacean Society, 

 Marina Del Rey, Calif., September 6, 1971. 

 Hon. David Pryor, 

 House Office Building, 

 Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Sir : Enclosed are the signatures of more than 1100 people who vsdsh 

 to go on record as backing H.R. 6558. (Previously we sent out the same kind of 

 Petition of Interest on S. 1315 and have forwarded to Senator Harris almost 

 2,000 signatures. 



We recognize that there are some inequities in these companion bills, par- 

 ticularly where commercial oceanariums are concerned. As a matter of note, the 



