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Mr. DiNGELL. Let us talk a little bit about that. That is a very 



interesting point : ^ i i.u 



I would appreciate it if you gentlemen as our experts down there 

 would tell us. You say here those States with resident populations 

 with marine mammals now have in effect appropriate regulations- 

 would you tell us what species ? 



First of all, is it not a fact that before you can have a regulation 

 that you have to have knowledge of population levels and age groups, 

 mortality, length of life, and the harvest and, of course, the entire 

 area of residency, migration, and population ? 



Is that not a necessity ? 



Mr. Pollock. I think that is correct. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Would you name us the species of animals, marine 

 mammals on which any State has that kind of information ? 



Mr. Pollock. I do not know what information the States might 

 have at this point. We could certainly inquire and provide it. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I am curious to know is there any species of marine 

 mammal on which this kind or volume of information is available 

 to us? 



Mr. Pollock. I do not know. 



The State of Alaska, as I indicated in the letter to the secretary, 

 has a staff or biologists trained in marine mammal work which is 

 second in size only to the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



Mr. DiNGELL. 'Second to the National Marine Fisheries Service? 



Mr. Pollock. I am saying we have a lot of biologists. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Do you folks have any information on any popula- 

 tions of marine mammals with the exception of fur seals ? 



Mr. Pollock. I am sure we do. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I would like for you at this time to name it for us. 



Mr. Pollock. Mr. Terry says whales. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Some people tell us the population on the fur seal 

 is not correct. Can you name us any other species? 



Mr. Pollock. Well, Mr. Terry mentions whales. 



Mr. DiNGELL. All right, I want you to give us the name of any 

 whale that you have population figures on within 500. Just name 

 one species. 



Mr. Terry. Mr. Chairman, I am not at all sure that we have popula- 

 tion figures on any type of whale within 500. 



Mr. DiNGELL. What is the magnitude of plus or minus error on 

 whale populations, then ? 



Mr. Terry. I am not prepared to say. 



We have prohibited the taking of whales by Americans. We are 

 satisfied with the information that we have that a number of these 

 whales are in a very dangerous condition. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Well, I am still waiting for somebody to tell me. 



You have got blue whales, maybe 3,600 and in 1930 to 1940 there were 

 100. 



Fin back, there were 400,000. Today there are 100,000. 



These are the best figures we can get. 



The sperm whale, 600,000 for the same period and today it is 

 down to perhaps 50,000. This is an endangered species. 



The humpback whale was 100,000 and is down to 2,000. 



