151 



Mr. Goodling ? 



Mr. Goodling. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I have no questions. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Doctor, it is always a pleasure to have you before this 

 committee. 



You have been here many times, and in each instance, something 

 good has come from you. Thank you. 



Dr. Talbot. Thank you, ^Ir. Chairman. 



Mr. DixGELL. Our next witness is an old friend of the present occu- 

 pant of the chair. Dr. Joseph Linduska, Acting Director, Bureau of 

 Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of the Interior. 



Doctor, if you have any member of the staff that you would like to 

 have present with you for today for comment or assistance to the 

 committee, please bring them to the table with you. 



STATEMENT BY DR. JOSEPH P. LINDUSKA, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, 

 BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT 

 OF THE INTERIOR; ACCOMPANIED BY HENRY HANSEN 



Dr. Linduska. Mr. Chairman, I have with me ]Mr. Henry Hansen, 

 who is Assistant Chief of our Division of ^lanagement and Enforce 

 ment. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Hansen, we are happy to welcome you this 

 morning. 



Proceed, Doctor. Identify yourself fully for the record. 



Dr. Linduska. J am Joseph P. Linduska, Associate Director of 

 the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of the 

 Interior. 



Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, those of us who long 

 have been involved in the conservation of natural resources welcome the 

 increasing degree of public awareness of the monumental problems 

 we face in resolving the very real and very pressing problems of our 

 environment. 



The unprecedented, worldwide expression of concern over the plight 

 of the sea mammals is especially encouraging and speaks well for the 

 possibility of increasingly mature and responsible environmental 

 husbandry. 



Since most of the members of this group of hitherto obscure animals 

 spend much — or in some cases all — their lives on the high seas, they 

 are truly an international resource. As such, their welfare — with some 

 exceptions — has been everyone's responsibility and, unfortunately, as 

 is too often the case in such situations, no one's. 



As a result, some of these animals, such as some of the whales, 

 presently face the possibility of becoming extinct. Others, such as 

 the northern fur seal, have fared much better as the result of work- 

 able agreements between the governments involved, in their manage- 

 ment and of the application of and adherence to scientifically devel- 

 oped and time-tested principles of wildlife management. 



We are optimistic enough to believe — given the legislative authority 

 and the necessary resources — that these principles can be applied to 

 other sjDecies of ocean mammals so that the outlook for their future 

 will be brightened. We are not opposed to the concept of complete 

 protection in those cases where such action is warranted. 



67-765 O — 71 11 



