341 



is one example. Another example of international cooperation was the 

 First International Conference on Polar Bears, held at the University 

 of Alaska in September 1965. However, international organizations 

 and agreements are thus far too weak. The International Whaling 

 Commission, for example, has no enforcement powers, and in many 

 respects its efforts at preservation have been stymied. Consequently, 

 our Government must undertake efforts, through the United Nations, 

 for example, to achieve binding international accords. 



In fact. I would recommend working toward a moratorium on all 

 killing of ocean mammals, not only by means of the Ocean ^lammal 

 Protection Act, which only applied to the United States, but world- 

 wide. At the least, this moratorium must rmi for 15 years, so that our 

 scientists can determine what chances of survival remain for ocean 

 mammals, and what can be done to assure this survival before these 

 magnificent creatures are banished by man. through his arrogance and 

 stupidity, from the face of the earth. 



During the moratorium we must work for title Ill's prescription : 

 "International agreement or agreements" which "should seek to outlaw 

 all killing of these mammals for any reason." 



HOUSE COXCURREXT RESOLTTTIOX 7 7 



I now want to turn to House Concurrent Resolution 77. of wliich I 

 am the chief sponsor and in which 17 of my colleagues have joined 

 in sponsoring. These 17 are : 



Mr. Halpern, :Mr. Hanley, Mr. Horton, Mr. Hosmer. Mr. Koch. Mr. 

 Kyros. Mr. Moorhead, Mr.' Morse, Mr. Xix, Mr. Obey. Mr. Rosenthal. 

 ]Mr. St Germain, Mr. Svmington, Mr. Vigorito, ^Ir. Waldie, Mr. 

 Whitehurst, and Mr. Wolff. 



I have delaved discussing House Concurrent Resolution 77 until first 

 discussing the Ocean Mammal Protection Act because my resolution's 

 aim is ven' relevant to that expressed in title IV of the latter act. Both 

 of which concern the slaughter of Xorthern fur seals on the Pribilof 

 Islands. 



House Concurrent Resolution 77 has two operative j^rovisi^ons. The 

 first of these expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary 

 of the Interior shall prescribe and shall implement with all possible 

 spe^d and urgency regulations for the harvesting of Xorthern fur 

 seals which insure that the seals are quickly and painlessly killed 

 before skimimg. The second clau-e provides that penalties be pre- 

 scribed by the Secretary- for violation of the regulations which he 

 shall prescribe and implement in accordance with this resolution. 



Once again, we have a tragic example of a cruel practice employed 

 to accomplish an unneeded end. Tlie seals are slam solely for their 

 furs, which in turn are employed to satisfy the market for an unneeded 

 luxurv. The seals do not threaten man, nor do they threaten his food 

 supplies. Xo product which they apply is irrejjlaceable. The reason why 

 they are victims of slaughter is because they fill an acquired desire for 

 seal fur garments — a desire which can be satisfied in other ways. 



Unfortunately, international circumstances would api^ear to bar an\- 

 immediate cessation of the seal harvest. The premise for the harvest 

 is an international convention, firet agreed to in 1911 by the United 

 States, Great Britain, Japan, and Russia. The aim of this convention 



