188 



I think the reason there is a difference of opinion, in other words, is primarily 

 because there is no clear cut evidence one way or the other. 



Mr. Potter. The suggestion was made (I thought and I would have to go 

 back and check the record) that the Americans were the ones that had been 

 prt'ssiiic f-^r more restrictive arrangements, and the Russians have balked, 

 which to me sounded odd, because the Russians had been trying to persuade 

 us to adopt a ban on polar bear killing for at least 6 years. Are these differences 

 still there, that is to say, are the Russians still pressing for a ban and the 

 United States is still saying do not do anything until we have more information? 



Mr. Burt. I believe it is not only the United States, but Canada as well shares 

 our view. I am not certain of the opinion of Denmark and Norway in this. 



Mr. Potter. That is very helpful. 



Another tiling that came up with respect to this, and perhaps your mforma- 

 tion is more recent than mine, is that the Norwegians have recently imposed 

 restrictions on the ki'ling of polar bears, either by set guns or killing in the 

 water, both of which they used to do. 



Do you know what the status of polar bear hunting in Norway is? 



Mr. Burt. No, sir : I do not. 



I am aware that all governments of countries in which polar bears are found 

 have imposed some restrictions on the taking of them, and this certainly in- 

 cludes the United States. 



The taking of jxilar bears in the United States is regulated, of course. 



I am not aware of the precise restrictions applied by Norway. 



I do not believe there are a large number of polar bears on Norwegian terri- 

 tories. 



Mr. Potter. There may not be a large number taken in Norwegian territory, 

 but for a number of years for which we have information, and I am referring 

 now to the proceedings of the 1965 conference in Alaska, and the two lUC'N 

 conferences, one in 1968 and one in 1970, my impression is that the Norwegians, 

 in most of the years covered killed more than any other country. 



As I say, set guns were probably the primary method of taking by the Nor- 

 wegians, and a number of sportsmen felt outraged by this as a technique. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Anderson. Well, we have something similar in whales. We have 

 the International Whaling Commission. 



What role does State play in that ? 



Mr. McKjernan. Well, the Department does essentially look after 

 all of the international marine conservation conventions. We are a 

 member of nine active commissions o*^ which the Whaling Commis- 

 sion is one of these conventions. 



We request financing for the operation of the Commissions, not 

 for research usually, but for operations of the Commission. 



We do work with the other interested Departments in formulating 

 the U.S. ix>sitions where international relations are involved, and 

 we have followed the activities of the "Whaling Commission and the 

 others as well for many years. 



Mr. Anderson. Is the individual treaty, such as the fur seal treaty, 

 a better vehicle than a whaling commission ? 



For example, in the report I have it says the l^Hialing Commission 

 has not been too successful and then it identifies the fact that we have 

 secured an agreement frm all the countries on some whales, but we 

 are the only ones apparently recognizing the protection of certain 

 whales. 



