196 



Mr. AxDKRROx. Tliank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. DixnF.Li.. Afr. Potter? 



Mr. PoTTT'.R. Mr. McKernau, at the 1972 conference on polar bears, 

 the dele<rates at that conference were instrncted to return to tlieir ^rov- 

 ornments and to ur^e measures for greater protection of the polar 

 bears. 



ITaA'e they communicated their concern to the Department of State, 

 and what is" the Depai-tment of State doing? 



Mr. McKf.rxax. You must mean 1970. You said 1972. 



Mr. Po'iTKR. I am ahead of myself then. 



Mr. McKerxan. Well, we have contacted the Soviet TTnion fur- 

 ther in relation to attempting to get together with them and negotiate 

 an international convention on polar bears. 



The Soviet Union has, once again, been somewhat reluctant for 

 reasons imknown to me, but in recent months they have indicated that 

 they are willing to meet on all of these particular species, and I am an- 

 xious to get together and to try and resolve this issue. 



Of course, vou are perhaps more familiar than I am with many re- 

 sults of the scientists and technicians. 



Since this activity, the State of Alaska has cone on and has insti- 

 tuted a number of conservation measures as well. 



Mr. PoTTKR. I do not want to get into what Alaska has done. I am 

 talking now what the State Department has done or not done. 



Mr. McKkrxax. The only responsibility the Department of State 

 has is to try to bring together the principals to negotiate an interna- 

 tional convention. 



Mr. Potter. I do not think that would be too difficult. 



What is your ]:)roblem with the Russians? Thev have been urging 

 us for 6 years to impose a ban on the killing of polar bears. 



Mr. McKernan. That is right, and it has been our view that we 

 ought to get together and negotiate an international convention on 

 the subject, and get to study the animal and put appropriate manage- 

 ment measures into effect. 



Mr. Pelt.y. May I interrupt at this time? Is the polar bear 

 migratory ? 



Mr. McKerxan. It apparently is. I am not an expert on polar bears 

 and do not claim to be. It is my understanding that there is some 

 possibility that there are different stocks of polar bears. 



Mr. Pelly. Then, under a treaty, if we wish to do so, you could 

 sign a treaty that Avould be binding on Alaska and Canada. 



Mr. McKernax. And other nations as well ; yes. 



Mr. Peij.y. Just like migratory birds ? 



Mr. McKerxax. Yes. In recent years, there has been, as was pointed 

 out this morning, a great deal more activity in terms of study and 

 research on polar bears by the Federal Government, as well as the 

 State of Alaska. 



Mr. Potter. Now, in December of last year, the Commerce Depart- 

 ment and the Interior Department declared, in effect, that as of De- 

 cember of this year, no more whales or whale products, from any of 

 the species currently commercially taken, could be imported into the 

 United States. 



Mr. McKerxax. The Department of Interior did that under the 

 Endangered Species Act ; yes. 



