256 



Mr. Potter. Does porpoise meat have any market value in this 

 counti-y ? 



Dr. Perrin. No. 



Mr. Potter. We have heard rumors that other countries may be 

 considering gearing up to catch porpoise. 



Mr. Pollock. May I excuse my general counsel ? We have a meeting 

 scheduled for 4:30 at the State Department and several of us are 

 supposed to go. We are considerably late. 



Mr. Potter. I do not have any questions that require the advice of 

 counsel, I think. If we do, we can defer. 



Mr. Pollock. Mr. Terry and I were both supposed to be over at 

 the State Department. 



Mr. DiNGELL. We can excuse you and if we have other questions 

 or information we can communicate with you and get the information. 



Gentlemen, we thank you. 



Are you going to go, Mr. Pollock ? 



Mr. Pollock. I think I had better stay. 



Mr. DiNGELL. You are welcome either place. 



Mr. Pollock. I think Mr. Terry will have to go. 



Mr. Potter. I would note for the record that this committee is a 

 much more interesting place to be than the State Department. 



Have you given any thought, Mr. Pollock, to whether or not it 

 would be an appropriate exercise of regulation to give the Secretary 

 the authority to regulate the conditions under which marine mammals 

 might be kept by zoos or marinelands or such operations? 



Mr. Pollock. I think we indicated that we think the Secretary 

 should have some standby authority that he may or may not exercise 

 so that he would have the authority to issue regulations if this became 

 necessary. 



Mr. DiNGELL. If you would yield at that point. Would you see to 

 it that your counsel submits to us language you would deem appro- 

 priate for that particular end ? 



I think it would be helpful to us if you would give us suggestions 

 in the form of drafting service. 



Mr. PoLLOTK. The standbv authority. Yes, sir; we will look at it. 



It may be in our draft bill, but if not, we will provide it. 



Mr. Potter. We have received information — and if I can make my 

 filing system work I will find it — regarding the fur seal program 

 and specifically with relation to the question of the interrelationship 

 of the U.S. Government and the Fouke Co. in South Carolina. 



With the Chair's permission I would ask to put into the record a 

 copy of a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Services by minority 

 counsel for the committee and their answer relating to the operation 

 of the Fouke contract. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

 (The letter follows:) 



Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 



December 30, 1970. 

 Mr. Philip M. Roedel, 



Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 



Administration, Department of Interior Building, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Roedel : Attached are several articles from the Fall 1970 Report of 



"Friends of Animals, Inc." dealing with the harvesting of seals on the Pribilof 



Islands. While much that is reported in these articles has been previously docu- 



