329 



My bill would prohibit the taking of ocean mammals by any person 

 or vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and would 

 ban the import of such animals into the United States. To protect 

 the natives who rely on these animals for food and clothing, my bill 

 allows Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos who live on the coasts of the 

 North Pacific and Arctic Oceans to take the animals for their own 

 use. However, the polar bear would be protected even from the natives. 



One of my constituents who is concerned that the polar bear is 

 quickly becoming extinct presented a petition bearing more than 

 1,200 signatures from all parts of the country to the Bureau of Sport 

 Fisheries and Wildlife during a meeting in my office. The petition 

 demands that immediate action be taken to fully protect the polar 

 bear in all arctic areas controlled by the United States and that the 

 U.S. Government enter into immediate negotiations with the gov- 

 ernments of other arctic countries to establish an international agree- 

 ment protecting the polar bear. 



I am aware that Congressman Pryor has revised his bill to pro- 

 vide for negotiations to obtain an international agreement to protect 

 all ocean mammals. My bill is identical to his original bill, and I en- 

 dorse his provision for such an agreement. 



I have received numerous letters from my constituents urging pas- 

 sage of tliis legislation. After watching a documentary of the slaughter 

 of baby seals, a woman from Baltimore wrote, "Some of the baby seals 

 were skinned while still alive. It made us all sick and our 4-year-old 

 son cried, because of the way these so-called men killed these poor 

 animals." A man from Baltimore wrote to me, "It would be different 

 if man needed the skins of sea mammals to protect himself from the 

 elements but this is no longer the situation." Another constituent 

 wrote, "It's horrible what is being done to those poor animals just 

 to keep human beings happy, and we certainly are not worth it." A 

 young girl from my congressional district wrote, "After all the talk 

 on our animals becoming extinct, why are we letting these adorable 

 seals become extinct ? Those darling creatures do nothing at all to harm 

 man. Some of the fishennen who go on the annual kill say they do it 

 for sport!" 



The walrus is one ocean mammal which faces extinction in the near 

 future. It is estimated that in the mid-19th century, the Pacific walrus 

 population was 200,000. By 1968, only 45,000 remained. The total kill 

 of walrus each year in the Pacific is about 8,300. Because it is a slow 

 breeder, the walrus produces only one calf for each two adults killed. 

 The figures speak for themselves. 



I believe that enactment of this legislation is urgent, and I hope 

 that the subcommittee will soon report it to the full committee so 

 that we may have a chance to consider it on the House floor, 



Mr. DiNGELL. Thank you very much Congressman, that was an ex- 

 cellent statement. 



Our colleague from the State of Arizona, has requested to say a 

 few words. Mr. Rhodes, you may proceed. 



STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN J. RHODES, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA 



Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Chairman, It is an honor to appear before this sub- 

 committee on behalf of the legislation you consider today, and more 

 specifically, H.R. 7861 which I cosponsored. 



