337 



spell sought in this type of legislation, man will come to understand 

 that the power to dominate carries with it an obligation for restraint 

 and compassion. 



Thank you. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Thank you, Congressman, that was an excellent 

 statement. 



I believe we have just one more Member who desires to be heard 

 at this time. Will Congressman Ryan please take the witness chai'r? 



STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM F. RYAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



Mr. Ryan. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the dis- 

 tinguished subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation of 

 the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries to testify 

 with regard to various bills concerning the preservation of ocean 

 mammals. 



Many species of ocean mammals face immediate, or long run, danger 

 of extinction. Essential components of the delicate balance of nature, 

 these animals have been hunted down and destroyed throughout the 

 world. Marvels of adaptation to their environment, jx)ssessed of highly 

 developed intelligence, often characterized by an acute sense of pro- 

 tectiveness for their fellows, the mammals of the world's oceans are 

 irreplaceable. 



Yet, man's arrogant rapaciousness continues. Instead of perceiving 

 this planet as a world we share with our fellow living creatures, we 

 plunder its wealth. Within the last 200 years, nearly 75 species of 

 mannnals alone have become extinct. Only lately has an increasingly 

 aroused public began to rouse itself to our common folly. 



These hearings which you are now holding are particularly timely, 

 because it is the sad lot of many species of ocean mammals that they 

 face — in a frighteningly short, time, unless strong actions are taken very 

 quickly — ^being added to the list of creatures no longer to be seen on 

 this earth. 



You have before you numerous bills and resolutions which take 

 cognizance of this disaster in the making which faces many of the 

 mammalian species which jwpulate our oceans and seas. There are two 

 in particular which I want to discuss. One of these — House Concur- 

 rent Resolution 77—1 introduced on the first day of the 92d Congress. 

 In the 91st Congress, I had introduced this legislation as House Con- 

 current Resolution 495 (and companion bills). The other is H.R. 

 7556, the Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971, of which I am a 

 cosponsor, and of which our distinguished colleague from Arkansas, 

 (Mr. Pryor), is the chief sponsor. This bill has been reintroduced in 

 modified form as H.R. 10569, Ocean Mammal Protection Act. 



Title I of the Ocean Manmial Protection Act of 1971 provides a 

 statement of findings and declaration of policy. I think this title 

 particularly apt, because it accurately articulates the situation we face 

 at this very moment and which demands aggressive action on the part 

 of this committee to avert. Section 101 states the finding that "ocean 

 mammals are being ruthlessly pursued, harassed, and killed, both at 

 sea and on land by hunters of many nations of the world.'' Further, 

 "many ocean mammals will become rare, if not extinct, unless steps are 

 taken to stop their slaughter." 



