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ness in allowing the primary source of income of its members to be 

 wiped out rather than adopting the sustained yield concept. 



Lately, however, a new theory has gained credence wiiich does, in 

 fact, make more sense, namely that the whaling interests which control 

 the IWC decided some time ago that it would be more profitable for 

 the whaling industry to kill off the world's remaining \Vhales and 

 take a short-term gain rather than to kill a limited number every 

 year over an indefinite period. 



The conclusion that such a decision was intentionally made is almost 

 inescapable : It does not seem possible that the IWC could have been 

 unaware of what effect its quotas were having on the whale herds. 



We are now presented with the opportunity to help save the world's 

 remaining whales, but we must act quickly. If we do not promptly take 

 the lead in providing protection to these unique and awe-inspiring 

 creatures, they will soon vanish from the seas forever. 



Another ocean species which is gravely threatened is the polar bear. 

 According to the authoritative red data book of endangered species, 

 the worldwide polar bear population in 1966 was between 5,000 to 

 1 0,000, with about 1,300 a year being killed. 



Even though the polar bear is rapidly disappearing, Alaska's Fish 

 and Game Dej)artment still permits its hunting by airplane. According 

 to Jack Lentfer of Alaska's Fish and Game Department, "airplane 

 hunting amounts to one plane driving the bear to another plane and 

 the hunter." By the time the hunter is ready to shoot the bear, it is 

 completely terrified and exhausted. 



The Soviet Union, which has the main denning areas of the bears, 

 has protected them since 1957, and blames the United States for hunt- 

 ing this magnificent animal practically to the point of extinction as 

 it migrates from Russia to Alaska. We certainly deserve the charge of 

 killing off the bears which Russia protects. 



Conservationists have long urged the U.S. Department of the 

 Interior to place the polar bear on its Endangered Species List. 

 Earlier this year. Friends of Animals, Inc., brought a suit to force its 

 listing. Interior has refused to do so, and gave the court as its reason 

 this mind-boggier: The Russians are so assiduous in protecting the 

 polar bear that there remain plenty for American "sportshunter" to 

 kill. 



Therefore, the Harris- Pryor bill is now the main hope of survival for 

 the polar bear. 



Mr. Chairman, we can no longer plead ignorance. We all know what 

 is happening to the ocean mammals, and we must all share a portion 

 of the blame for its perpetuation. 



A decade ago, the great naturalist and humanitarian, Joseph Wood 

 Krutch, wrote an article entitled "Human Life in the Context of 

 Nature," which I request be printed in full. I should like to quote here 

 one passage very relevant to your favorable report on the Harris- 

 Pryor bill : 



The wisest, the most enlightened, the most long-seeing exploitation of resources 

 is not enough for the sample reason that the whole concept of exploitation for 

 man's use alone is false and is so limited that in the end it will defeat itself. 

 The earth will have been plundered under that form of conservation and 

 laid waste, no matter how s<nentifically and how far-seeingly the plundering and 

 the waste has been accomplished. Something is fatally lacking in that concept 

 of conservation and the thing lacking is the feeling for, or the love of, the 



