369 



Thus, the United States imported 3.74 percent. 



Obviously, the statistics do not show but, again. I am assured that of the 

 7,250 skins bought by U.S. buyers all were mature seals. 



In 1969 the exports to the United States were only 1,053 skins from Canada. 

 Sincerely, 



James R. Sharp. 



Mr. Kyros. What about pelts from baby seals killed off South 

 Africa and imported into the United States in raw process form? 



Mr. Hessel. There are no baby seals in the South Africa importa- 

 tion. The South African seal harvest is controlled by the government 

 in South Africa and by other shippers. 



Mr. Kyros. Are they sliipped to the United States ? 



Mr. Hessel. Yes; fur seals are imported from South Africa. 



Mr. Kyros. To what extent are these fur seals killed off South 

 Africa and shipped here in finished or raw fonii ? 



Mr. Hessel. The figures, for instance, in April 1971, the Fouke 

 Fur Co. offered for sale 20,842 Alaskan seals against 29,047 South 

 African seals. The latter were sold for account of the South African 

 Government and partly for other shippers, but there were no baby 

 seals. I wish to make tliis clear. 



Mr. Kyros. I asked about fur seals and you have not answered the 

 question yet. 



Mr. Sharp. Perhaps he did not- miderstand the question. 



Mr. Poser. The seals which Mr. Hessel refers to are fur seals. 



The statistics he gave you on South African seals are fur seals. 



Mr. PoTFER. Let me ask you a question. 



Reviewing the Fouke documents, it is my impression that the pelts 

 described in those documents as coming from South Africa, are usually 

 described by Fouke as "small" and "extra small." 



The pelts wliioh are sold for the account of the United States, for 

 the account of Japan and the U.S.S.R., are usually the "large" and 

 "medium" sizes. 



Does this not indicate that the seals that are being taken by the 

 South Africans are in fact small and quite young? 



Mr. Schwartz. May I answer that? The climatic conditions of the 

 Cape of Good Hope have caused these seals to be smaller. 



The older South African seal and the largest such seal would not 

 equate with the largest of those growing m the Pribilof Islands. They 

 are not baby seals. They are just smaller by nature, not necessarily 

 baby seals at all. 



Mr. PoTTTER. Do you know Avhat the average age of those seals in 

 South Africa is? 



Mr. Schwartz. Well, I do not have the statistics of the South 

 African Government, but I am convinced they follow our ix)licy of 

 harvesting only 3- and 4-year-olds. 



Mr. PoiTER. If you can supply evidence to support that, it would 

 be most helpful and I would ask permission of the chainnan to insert 

 that in the record at this point. 



(The following letter and newspaper clipping was received in refer- 

 ence to the above : ) 



