131 



calculate the long-range effects of this herbicide on the animal's 

 reproductive capacity. 



Mr. McClosket. Can you break that down ? Can you show any dif- 

 ferentiation between the vegetation killed by silt and that killed by 

 the phosphates and industrial wastes ? 



Dr. Hartman. Where aquatic vegetation once existed there is none 

 now. Manatees cannot survive without this food source. 



( Showing of slides. ) 



If there are any questions during the slide show, feel free to inter- 

 rupt me. 



This is what one would normally see from a boat while in the Crystal 

 River area, one of only two areas in the world where manatees can be 

 observed in limpid water. Their normal habitat is in murky or turbid 

 rivers and estuaries. 



My study was focused on the headwaters of the Crystal River. Dur- 

 ing the winter snorkeled daily with the animals in the main spring 

 where they would congregate for warmth. 



I kept a record of their activities on an underwater clip board. 



The next slide shows an approaching animal. This is the mermaid 

 of legend. Presumably, the Portuguese and Spanish navigators were 

 responsible for the idea that manatees were mermaids. These sailors, 

 at sea for months at a time, were probably hallucinating from disease 

 and saw mermaids where there were sea cows. 



Manatees are ungainly, grotesque creatures, I have always felt 

 that they are so ugly as to be beautiful. 



You can see in this picture the remarkable lip lobes that they use to 

 crop vegetation. 



The next series of slides illustrates one of the major threats to their 

 surviva;l. 



Here is a little bull lying at the bottom. You can see where a propel- 

 ler has run down the center of his back. 



Again, an adult bull. Once more the pattern of wounds inflicted by 

 a propeller. Almost all of the 70 or so animals I saw at Crystal River, 

 had at least one set of propeller scars on them. I would suspect that 

 wounds sustained on the back or tail are not fatal but those sustained 

 in the head region may well be. 



Here is a cow with a calf to her left. Note how a propeller has cut 

 off half her tail. 



Two manatees "kissing" at the surface. This is part of their be- 

 havioral repertorie. 



Finally, a short sequence of slides illustrating my relationship with 

 a young cow. 



I had a particularly close attachment to this female. She once tried 

 to drag me underwater, all the time making strange noises. 



I was sure slie was trying to tell me some secret of the universe. The 

 last slide shows her kissing my mask as she would another manatee. 



Mr. DiNGBLL. Remarkable set of photographs. 



Dr. Hartman. Any further questions ? 



Mr. DiNGELL. Just one. We would appreciate it if you would take a 

 look at the marine sanctuaries legislation and let us know if this 

 would be a useful tool of preserving the type of species you are talk- 

 ing about and the sea otter. 



The committee would like to have your comments on that particular 

 point. 



