328 



Mr. Chairman, this measure is a flexible one which lessens the likeli- 

 hood that any of our marine mammals would become extinct and at 

 the same time allows for commercial management and scientific re- 

 search. Combined with international agreements, this bill can halt the 

 rapid decline of marine mammal life. Through the issuance of per- 

 mits development of research, and strict penalties, it offers a chance 

 for e'ffective protection of our marine mammal population. I hope this 

 committee will support this legislation. 



Mr DiNGELL. The subcommittee appreciates your fine statement. 



I would now like to call on the gentleman from Nevada, the able 

 Congressman Walter S. Baring. 



STATEMENT OF HON. WALTER S. BAHING, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS PROM THE STATE OF NEVADA 



Mr. Baring. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I ap- 

 preciate this opportunity to put my support during these hearings be- 

 hind legislation to prohibit and control the capturing or killing of 

 ocean mammals and the act to be known as the Ocean Mammal Protec- 

 tion Act of 1971. 



This legislation which I have cosponsored, H.R. 7861, is one more 

 vital pie^e of legislation I deem most important for this Nation as we 

 continue on the path of properly controlling and preserving the envi- 

 ronment of this Nation, and for that matter, of all nations. 



While the bill I have cosponsored is one of many which seeks to es- 

 tablish controls, all of the measures aim for the one solid purpose of 

 halting the wanton and inhumane destruction of our wildlife, all too 

 often solely for commercial gain. 



We must seek to put a stop to incidents of slaughter of the various 

 rare species of this Nation. The bill H.R. 7861, and others, include the 

 tools for us to put the restrictions to work as soon as possible to insure 

 continued productivity of the ocean mammals. 



Also, while this legislation will help set guidelines to solve the prob- 

 lem of protecting ocean mammals, we must also seek solutions regard- 

 ing tlie need for international agreements with other nations as some 

 of tlie ocean mammals, such as the whale, range far and wide through 

 international waters. 



Some species of the whale and the polar bear are feared to be reach- 

 ing such low levels in numbers that extinction of these endangered 

 species will surely result unless proper controls are established. 



I urge favorable action on this legislation. 



Thank you. 



The gentleman from Maryland, Hon. Clarence T>. T^ng, will be our 

 next witness. 



STATEMENT OF HON. CLARENCE D. LONG, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND 



Mr. Long. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to have this opiwrtunity 

 to testify on behalf of my bill, H.R. 7891. before the Fisheries and 

 Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee during your consideration of 

 legislation to protect ocean mammals. I commend you for holding 

 hearings on this issue, which has aroused the interest of the American 

 people and other nations throughout the world. 



