163 



I know that the heavy metal pollution problem is one that is crop- 

 ping up in unexpected places. Whether or not it applies to the fur seal 

 or not, I do not know. If so, it has not reflected itself in the population 



trend. 



Mr. Kyros. What about the California sea otter population? Is 

 there any known effect of pollution on them ? 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. Here again, we are talking about a species that has 

 been studied almost entirely by the State of California. 



What Mr. Anderson has brought out, the matter of harassment and 

 pollution, is in line with my understanding of it, but I cannot be much 

 more specific than that. 



If it would be helpful to you, we would be glad to check that out 

 with the State and insert it in the record. 



Mr. Kyros. As I understand your testimony this morning, you are 

 in favor of scientific management of the herd. Is that right ? 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. Right. 



Mr. Kyros. Is it not a fact that although the sea otter were ac- 

 corded protection by the State of California and the State of Alaska, 

 this particular otter has become virtually extinct because of the trade 

 in luxury furs? 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. Well, the California herd has either remained fairly 

 stable — or gone down — in the face of continued protection, but this is 

 not the case with the northern herd. 



As I mentioned, beginning in 1911 a fairly aggressive program was 

 developed for the northern herd which included complete protection 

 and a program of transplant that came along in later years. This ani- 

 mal has responded amazingly. It has gone from a relatively few 

 hundred to a total herd population that numbers around 50,000 ani- 

 mals and has increased to the point in some areas where they are ap- 

 parently at the saturation point in terms of what the environment 

 will accommodate. 



We have two different problems, really, and one has come along 

 very well and the other has not. 



Mr. Kyros. As I understand it, scientific management is what the 

 herd and environment will sustain. The second problem will be the 

 economic demand for the particular animal. 



Have you consulted with the SBA or Commerce or anyone else be- 

 fore making judgments? 



Have you considered the economic side of how to manage a partic- 

 ular herd? 



Dr. LiNDUSKA. We have not. Of course, in connection with the en- 

 dangered species legislation we were in close touch with a broad seg- 

 ment of the fur industry and others and took into account their views. 

 And I think in the course of testimony on that bill we pretty well con- 

 vinced a lot of those folks who up to that point were inclined to go out 

 and get the last spotted cat— we convinced them it was to their own 

 long-term advantage to render some protection to the animals at this 

 point, thereby perpetuating this resource into the future. 



There is no question economic incentive can give us a big leg up on 

 the management of these animals. 



That was what occurred with the sea otter. This animal whose fur 

 was extremely valuable was in very strong demand. It was a fur of 

 royalty 100 years ago and economic considerations certainly were in 



