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While there, he consulted with the following : 



1. A group of six veterinarians named by the American Veterinary Medical 

 Association to study the methods employed in fur seal harvesting. 



2. Members of the administration of St. Paul, the major Aleut community in 

 Alaska, located on one of the Pribilof Islands. 



3. Representatives of the American Humane Association, the International 

 Society for the Protection of Animals and the Humane Society of the United 

 States, who were on the Island to observe the harvesting. 



4. Representatives of the Canadian government with responsibilities for seal 

 harvesting in Canada. 



5. Members of the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is responsible 

 for the harvesting and preparation of the seal skins. 



"The issue is not whether we will or will not continue to manage the fur seal 

 herd," the Secretary said. "The issue is how we will manage the seal herds at 

 their optimum levels most humanely." 



The Secretary said present management practices were arrived at after the 

 near extinction of the herd sixty years ago, and cessation of the internationally- 

 negotiated management program now very likely would result in the same 

 catastrophic effects. He said these could include resumption of high seas hunting 

 of the seals, with indiscriminate slaughter, and a very high mortality rate of 

 the pups on shore. 



"As a result of my meetings and my personal review of the situation," he 

 said, "I can report the following conclusions : 



"1. There is no molestation or harvesting of the female seals, the pups or 

 the male bulls associated with the harems in the rookeries. The only harvesting 

 that takes place is of male seals three or four years old who situate themselves 

 at a distance from the breeding herds. 



"2. Except for the fact that the operation takes place in the open, the method 

 of harvesting is very similar to that which takes place in a meat-packing plant. 

 The herd of male seals is removed about 100 yards from the beach, sorted into 

 groups of from six to ten, and each animal in a group is then rendered uncon- 

 scious by a quick blow to the head and immediately killed by bleeding. The 

 entire process, including the skinning of the dead animal, takes about one 

 minute. 



"3. Investigations have been conducted over a period of years to determine 

 whether or not there is a more eflBcient method of harvesting. None has been 

 found. The six veterinarians on the spot have been asked by me to make any 

 recommendations for a more humane method of harvesting, and their report will 

 be made to me upon the completion of the assignment. If their scientific studies 

 establish that a better method is practicable, it will be adopted. 



"4. The annual period of harvesting and the number of seals harvested is 

 determined carefully on a basis that will maintain the population of the seal 

 herd at its optimum level. As a result of this process, the nimiber of seals on 

 the Pribilofs is currently estimated at 1,300,000, compared to only 200,000 in 1911. 

 There is no present danger whatsoever of extermination of the herd under these 

 policies. 



"5. The harvesting of the seals is the source of practically all of the income 

 of the 700 Aleut residents of the Pribilof Islands. To deprive them of this income 

 wou'd make them dependent on the government. The local officials make it quite 

 clear that they want the harvesting to continue so that the residents can earn a 

 living and that under no circumstances do they want to move from the Islands. 



"6. Any implications, such as those recently published, to the effect that baby 

 seals are harvested, that harvesting is depleting the herd, that harvesting meth- 

 ods are inefficient or inhumane, or indiscriminate, are totally unfounded. The 

 crop of these animals is being managed and harvested under scientific practices 

 just as domestic animals are raised and harvested. 



"Ending the program would not be in the interest of a sustained seal popu- 

 lation, the Aleut workers, or the federal government. I repeat, if and when more 

 humane methods or harvesting are found and satisfactorily tested, they will be 

 adopted." 



Secretary Stans said the fur seal management program has been one of the 

 most effective wildlife conservation and management programs in history. 



