194 



this two ways. Either let the Japanese and Canadians seal pela^callv 

 which, incidentally, I would be agrainst. or we allow our natives to take 

 the 30 percent on the islands at the present time. 



That raises another question. Since the scientists of all four coun- 

 tries would not aorree that vou could not harvest more, there is a ques- 

 tion whether Canada or Japan would refrain from pelade sealinsr to 

 take the remainder of the allowable harvest. And I caimot answer that. 

 I do not know, 



Mr. Ktros. What about the possibility of banning or imposmg a 

 quota, on the import of seal pelts into the United States? That has 

 been discussed frequently. 



Do vou think that would have an imptict on the seal killinor ? 



Mr. "McKerxax. It would have slight effect, because most of the seal 

 skins are sold in Europe, 



^Nlr. Ktros. So. that is not a workable siisrgestion. The seal skins are 

 sold in Europe, and are sewn into coats with the labor they have over 

 there and then the garments are brought back into the United States. 



Wliat about a ban on the import of those coats ? 



^Ir. McKerxax. I think most of the coats are sold in Europe. My 

 own personal judgment is it would not have the desired effect you seek. 



Mr. KTRt">s. I have never had so much mail received in my office as on 

 this issue. It would seem to me that State Department is going far 

 beyond what you are suggesting here as to what methods you are 

 going to take with foreign nations, whether it concerns ocean dumping 

 or air pollution- 

 Mr. McKerxax. Well, ^Mr. Kyros. I would disagree with you that 

 we are simply sitting on our hands and not doing anvthing. 



VTe have a orreat many successes in the marine field. Most of our 

 International Fishery Commissions are quite successful. 



It is true, in the last 5 years or so. or even 10 years, that we have had 

 a tremendous influx of foreign fleets off our coa-^s. 



We have not solved all of these problems, but, here again, the United 

 States is very actively seeking a new Law of the Sea Convention. 



There will be a LOS conference very likely in 1973. I spent a good 

 deal of time in Geneva this year at a preparatory conference. And, at 

 this time, the United States has proposed and has shown what I think 

 is a great deal of leadership in providing for additional protection for 

 oar coastal fishermen, the kind, by the way. that would solve the prob- 

 lems In Maine, Massachusetts, and the Xew England coast in general. 



Mr. Ktros. The haddock problem ? 



Mr. McKerxax. On haddock, as well as other snecies. That is, the 

 proposals would provide the kind of protection that would take the 

 pressures of foreign fishermen off these stocks of fish. 



We have had great success in tuna and great success in the rehabili- 

 tation of salmon on the west coast and in the State of Alaska. 



We have had good cooperation from other nations who are fishing 

 there and who would like to fish so they can exnort to our markets. 



I do not think, while there has Iseen a great deal said about a cer- 

 tain lack of progress on some of these difficult areas, that one can say 

 that we have not made considerable progress in settling our marine 

 conservation problems. 



Mr. Ktros. I did not say that. What I said is that we in the Congress 

 should not be fainthearted in dealing with the foreign nations on 



