84 



San Diego chapter of the American Cetacean Society has voted against fur- 

 thering either ball for that reason. 



However, we believe a platform of this sort from which to examine these 

 problems is preferrable to finding that we have no problems because there are 

 no longer enough animals left to create them. Amendments may be in order, but at 

 least this is a start. 



If you have any suggestions for further action on our part, please let us know 

 so that your Board may consider it. 



Yours truly, 



Bemi DeBus, 

 Editor "Whalewatcher." 



Enclosure. 



petition of interest 



Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971 



We, the undersigned, strongly support and urge passage of the Pryor-O'Hara 

 bill, H.R. 6558, companion to the Harris bill, S. 1315, which would prohibit the 

 killing or capturing of all whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, otters, walruses, polar 

 bears, and manatees, and which would ban the importation of any portion of 

 them into the United States. 



[Signatures omitted.] 



Mr. DiNGELL. At this time we are very pleased to welcome the dis- 

 tinguished chairman of the full committee, Mr. Edward A. Garmatz, 

 for such statement as he chooses to give. 

 The Chairman. Thank you very much. 



I would like to preface my remarks by saying that, during my 24 

 years as a Member of Congress, I have never before experienced the 

 volume of mail I have been receiving on the subject of ocean mam- 

 mals. During the past few months, a steady flow of letters and tele- 

 grams has inundated my committee and congressional oiRces ; for the 

 past few weeks, they have averaged 200 a day, and all of them express 

 concern over the way which man is treating his fellow creatures of the 

 earth — the ocean mammals. 



One of the most dominant themes of this mountain of correspond- 

 ence relates to the controversial techniques used in killing the Alaskan 

 fur seal on the Pribilof Islands. Almost everyone is aware that these 

 seals are killed by a blow to the head, followed by a cutting of the 

 artery. 



As a result of the furor raised by that method, the Department of 

 Commerce formed a task force which conducted a study to determine 

 if a more humane method of harvesting the seals could be devised. 

 Just yesterday the Commerce Department held a press conference 

 on the results of that study, and reported that the task force found the 

 annual fur seal harvest is "humanely and efficiently conducted," but 

 that a search for more acceptable methods would continue. 



I appreciate the Commerce Department's efforts in conducting this 

 study, but I feel we should not close the door to outside experts. Ac- 

 cordingly, I have asked Congressman Dingell — who will chair these 

 hearings — to throw this entire subject open for close scrutiny and com- 

 plete discussion. I think the committee should be relentless in its efforts 

 to find the best possible solutions to the many problems concerning 

 ocean mammals, and I know that Chairman Dingell will make certain 

 that every bill pending before the committee will be given fair and 

 thorough consideration. 



