371 



Do you agree with that ? 



Mr. Poser. No, we do not. 



Mr. Kyros. Why? 



Mr. Schwartz. You were referring before to the harp seals of 



Canada. 



I have not seen or heard in my 48 years in the fur industry, that 

 harp seal is ever used for clothing or for leather or suede. The ban- 

 ning of imports of harp seals or any other species from Canada would 

 not affect the fur industry at all. 



Mr. Kyros. Recently, there was a half page ad by the Fouke Co. 

 which appeared in the New York Times. The ad stated that an import 

 ban would have little effect since most of the seal pelts are purchased 

 and processed by European buyers. Is it not so, however, that a signifi- 

 cant quantity of seal skin coats are imported to the United States? 



Mr. ScHWARi-z. Not imported into the United States. Exported, yes. 



Mr. Dreisin. According to the figures available to us, 82 percent 

 of the whole seal production is export^. 



The seals which come here from South Africa, they come here for 

 processing and as far as I know, over 90 percent of the finished 

 product is exported. 



The main user of seals is today Europe. 



Mr. Kyros. And sealskins do not go out of the United States and 

 come back as a finished product ? 



Mr. Dreisin. Nothing is imported in a finished garnient, not to my 

 knowledge. Most is exported in finished skin form or in the finished 

 garment. 



Mr. Kyros. Is it a consideration that European women like seal 

 coats and American women do not ? 



Mr. Dreisin. I must frankly tell you that America used to con- 

 sume quite a bit of seals. However, latelv we have been subjected to, 

 I do not know what to call it, but to half truths and imtruths in 

 the newspapers. 



We have been accused of being all kinds of things and this, of cousre, 

 has made the wearing of a seal coat today synonymous practically to 

 beins a murderer. And tliis has, without anv doui3t, hurt our industry 

 to a very great extent. 



Mr. Kyros. Thank you, very much. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Dingell. Any further questions ? 



Gentlemen, the committee is grateful to you. It has been a pleasure 

 to have you here. 



You have given us helpful information. Insertions will be made of 

 the matters you requested to be inserted in the reccord and if you 

 have any other additional information you are asked to furnish it to 

 us as promptly as possible. We thank you. 



Our next witness is Mr. Richard Denney, wildlife field consultant, 

 the American Humane Association. 



Mr. Denney, if yo uwill identify yourself fully for the purpose of 

 the record, we will be most happy to hear you. 



