335 



The situation regarding the killing- of whales also presents a perfect 

 example of the need for the type of international cooperation sought in 

 the legislation pending before this subcommittee. Last year, for ex- 

 ample, Russians and Japanese took some 85 percent of the 42,266 

 whales reported killed during the year. As already indicated, the 

 system of international controls being used to date has obviously failed 

 to provide adequate protection. Drastic and immediate action is re- 

 quired. Since the United States has exercised leadership over the 

 last year by voluntarily ending all whaling by American citizens, we 

 must now look to Japan and Russia to observe the moratorium — if only 

 in order to assure themselves of whales for future controlled slaughter. 



The bludgeoning and beating of seals has also been the source of 

 much attention recently and the seal harvest is, in my judgment, a 

 needless and appalling spectacle. 



The United States now has an agreement with Japan and Canada 

 (the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention) to kill seals on the Pribilof 

 Islands. It expires in 1976, and the Ocean Mammal Protection Act 

 directs the State Department to inform Japan and Canada that the 

 treaty will not be renewed at that time. The bill proposes in its place 

 all countries be asked to sign a treaty to stop killing oc€»an mammals, 

 whether they are on land or at sea. If the Japanese and Canadians 

 should refuse to sign such treaty, they could elect to take their 15 

 percent of the usual annual kill quota in dollars — as they have done in 

 the past years — or accept 9.000 skins each per year until 1976 (or 

 until the "new treaty is signed). The bill would also ban the killing of 

 the 42,000 seals usually destined for the United States and prohibit the 

 entry of anv skins into the ITnited States. 



In a significant attempt to stop this needless slaughter and protect 

 these endangered ocean mammal species, H.R. 7706 (as well as other 

 bills pending before this subcommittee) would make the slaughter of 

 any ocean mammal bv any I^.S. citizen or corporation a criminal 

 offense ; ban the import into the Ignited States of products from these 

 animals; call for the State Department to initiate an international 

 treaty ending the killing of ocean mammals : and designate the Pribilof 

 Islands a sanctuary for seals, sea lions, birds, and other wildlife, to 

 be promoted as a tourist attraction for the economic well-being of the 

 native Aleuts. 



A first offense against the act's ban on the taking of ocean mam- 

 mals would be punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprison- 

 ment of not more than 1 year, or both. Subsequent offenses would be 

 punishable by fines of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of not less than 

 1 or more than 3 years, or both. Any vessel subject to the jurisdiction 

 of the United States which is employed in connection with a violation 

 of the act would also be subject to forfeiture. 



Important exceptions to the act's ban on taking ocean mammals are 

 provided for the nation's zoos and for the use of the mammals in scien- 

 tific and medical research. Exceptions would also be provided for 

 Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos, who would be permitted to ocean mam- 

 mals for their own use (not for sale) and in a manner which accords 

 with their customary traditions and native culture. 



Mr. Chairman, it" is in the matter of the legislation's provisions for 

 exceptions to the ban on taking ocean mammals that I feel a change — 

 in the way of an addition — should be made. In as much as I am a 



