229 



effective December 31, 1971, to conform to the action of the Secretary of the 

 Interior under the Endangered Species Act, whereby he terminated importation 

 of endangered whale products after the end of the year. This in essence places 

 the two Federal agencies in united action to protect those whales included as 

 endangered which .are the sei, finback, sperm, bowhead, blue, humpback, right, 

 and gray whales. 



Immediately after the formation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration I asked for a complete review of the Pribilof Islands seal pro- 

 gram. This summer I visited the Islands to see the operations first hand and I 

 have personally reviewed all pertinent aspects of the program. 



Based on this a policy decision was made that further effort should be expanded 

 on harvesting methods and a greater emphasis be placed on seeking alternatives. 

 One result was the visit by six prominent veterinarians named by the American 

 Veterinary Medical Association to the Pribilof Islands this summer to review the 

 operations and make their recommendations. These recommendations have been 

 received, and I have ordered full and immediate implementation of all of them. 

 Funds have been allocated in FY 1972 and are expected to be allocated in FY 1973 

 for research on .alternative harvesting methods at least as humane as those 

 presently used and less esthetieally displeasing. Private research and develop- 

 ment organizations, as well as .several humane organizations, have expressed 

 interest in conducting contract studies. 



If further information is needed we would be pleased to supply it. 



Sincerely, 



Maurice H. Stans, 

 Secretary of Commerce. 



Mr. Pelly. No questions, but I would like to state it is a great 

 pleasure for us on the committee to have ISIr. Pollock come back and 

 represent the executive branch. 



I think he is doing a very good j ob. 



Mr. Pollock. Thank you verj^ much. I appreciate the kind words 

 of the distinguished Congressman from the State of Washington. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I would like to echo those remarks. 



I will indicate that I think it is the intention of this committee to 

 have observers and perhaps members there and I expect to have a 

 rather rigorous scrutiny of the representatives when they are here. 



Mr. Rogers? 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I want to join in welcoming my colleague back. He is doing a great 

 job and I have much confidence in him. 



Mr. Pollock, this testimony is helpful and I am sure the committee 

 will follow the recomendations and your suggestions very carefully 

 in trying to fashion some legiselation. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Anderson ? 



Mr. Anderson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, want to commend 

 Mr. Pollock for a very fine presentation and want to thank you for 

 your comments and suggestions on H.R. 10420. I was listening to your 

 remarks relative to the tuna fishermen. In connection with H.R. 10420 

 in the southern California area I have talked to many tuna fishermen 

 and they are all giving the view that the porpoises are their friends 

 and they want to do everything they can to protect them. 



Is this, in your mind, a general feeling of most tuna fishermen or is 

 this a story they give me because of my interest in tuna fishing ? 



Mr. Pollock. Congressman Anderson, I think this certainly is a 

 correct statement. I had occasion to talk to a number of people in the 

 industry, fishermen, and I think that someone, some individual who 

 might go out and intentionally want to harm one of the porpoises, if 

 he was abroad one of those vessels I think he would be taking his own 

 life in his hands. I think he would be dealt with very harshly and may 

 very well be thrown overboard. 



