147 



I feel this is exceedingly important because it is possible to manage 

 a wild species for a maximum sustained yield under conditions which 

 may alter or make less stable other parts of the environment. 



Therefore, the maximum sustained yield in some cases may not be 

 necessarily the yield level at which the optimum environmental bal- 

 ance and perhaps optimum yield of various other species may be 

 maintained. 



Therefore, coming back to the first part of your question, the ob- 

 jective of management, as we see it, should not be purely economic gain 

 in the short or the long term, but environmental balance and economic 

 gain consistent with that. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Would you yield at that point? 



Mr. Potter. Yes. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I note that is a A-ery admirable point and I am not 

 satisfied that the provisions of H.R. 10420, or, indeed, the other bills 

 before us, necessarily exemplify that kind of philosophy in precisely 

 that way. I do not want you to answer this question at this particular 

 moment. Dr. Talbot, but, if you have an opportunity to reflect, would 

 you indicate to us whether you feel an amendment could accomplish 

 that particular point to H.R. 10420 or any of the other bills before us; 

 and, if so, would you give us your counsel as to how that can be 

 accomplished ? 



Again, I am requesting drafting service from the counsel to the 

 committee without clearance through the Bureau of the Budget. 



Dr. Talbot. Be happy to try. 



(The information follows :) 



Suggested Amendments to H.R. 10420 



Section 2 (2). Should be changed to read a.s follows (the addition is under- 

 lined, the rest of the words remain unchanged) : "such species and population 

 stocks should not be permitted to diminish beyond the point at which they con- 

 tribute effectively to the health and stability of the marine ecosystem, and 

 consistent vnth this major objective, they should not be permitted to diminish 

 beyond the point at which they . . ." 



Section 2 (5). Insert the word "ecological" in the second line between the 

 words "significant" and "esthetic". 



Following the word "management" at the end of the paragraph, add the fol- 

 lowing: "and that the primary objective of their management should be to 

 maintain the health and stability of the marine ecosystem. Wherever it is con- 

 sistent with this primary objective, a secondary objective may be to obtain an 

 optimum sustained yield." 



Mr. Potter. From what you tell me I gather that you are suggesting 

 that it would be appropriate and desirable in some cases to develop 

 fairly rigid controls on the killing of any given animals from a herd 

 or species before that herd or species becomes formally "endangered" 

 within the language of the Endangered Species Act. 



Dr. Talbot. Absolutely, Mr. Potter. If we wait until animals are 

 formally endangered it may be too late to save them and it frequently 

 means that difficult, expensive, and questionable methods must be 

 followed to attempt to save them. 



The objective in my view should be to seek to avoid undue depletion 

 and to keep them from getting on the endangered species list rather 

 than to treat them once they are there. 



Mr. Potter. The last question I have to ask you is, Are you faniil- 

 iar — and I know you are because I asked you before the hearing — with 



