377 



Inimanitarians that has for the past 17 years dedicated itself to the 

 prevention of cruelty to animals. At the same time, and especially more 

 recently, this organization has joined with several other conservation 

 and ecological organizations in a determined effort to insure the proper 

 management and protection of all animals and mammals toward the 

 end that no species now surviving will suffer the fate of those w^hich 

 no longer populate our planet. 



I have asked Mr. Frank McMahon, director of investigations for 

 our organization, to accompany me to the witness table, because he has 

 been in Alaska and on the Pribilof Islands to witness the northern 

 Pacific fur seal hunt. Mr. McMahon was the only representative of a 

 humane society on the task force appointed by the U.S. Department of 

 the Interior to observe and study the seal hunt in 1968. He has also been 

 present at the hunt in 1969, 1970, and 1971. 



I wish to compliment this committee for the genuine concern it has 

 expressed over the years for environmental and conservation problems 

 pertaining to marine mammals and for the past recommendations you 

 have made affecting other legislation directed toward animal welfare. 



In my testimony today, I should like to speak to certain issues con- 

 tained in two bills now being considered by this committee : H.R. 10420, 

 introduced by Mr. Anderson ; and H.R.^ 10569, the amended bill in- 

 ti-oduced by Mr. Pryor. Both bills have much to commend them and, 

 in general,' the Humane Society of the United States supports the 

 purpose and objective of both. There are, however, several issues raised 

 in both to which I wish to speak. 



First, let me speak to those issues contained in Mr. Anderson's bill, 

 H.R. 10420. In section 107(a) there is an exception to the bill "with 

 respect to the taking of any marine mammal by Indians, Aleuts, or 

 Eskimos who dwell on the coast of the North Pacific or Arctic Oceans 

 if such taking (1) is done solely in accordance with customary tradi- 

 tions as an adjunct of the native culture." I very much welcome and 

 support this exception. Although the Humane Society of the United 

 States has for the past several years been on record opposing the club- 

 bing of the seals on the Pribilof Islands it has not been our purpose or 

 intent to discredit the Aleuts or to seek to infringe upon their cus- 

 tomary traditions or culture. We respect that culture and do not desire 

 that they become either the pawns or victims of efforts directed toward 

 the elimination of cruelty to marine mammals or the protection of 

 various other species. 



Also, I heartily support paragraph (2) of this same section 197(a). 

 However, this bill makes no provision for an alternate source of liveli- 

 hood for those native to the Pribilof Islands if and when this provision 

 is enacted into law. It is quite clear from our observations on the Pri- 

 bilof Islands that there is currently little or no other employment pos- 

 sibilities for these people. I strongly urge that this commitee give very 

 serious consideration to the fate of these persons in light of this 

 provision. 



In paragraph (2), section 107(b) it is stated that "the Secretary 

 shall by regulation specify the methods of capture, supervision, and 

 transportation applicable in the case of marine mammals captured 

 under the authority of this subsection." It is in regard to this provision 

 that I wish to register serious concern and to call to your attention that 

 the current Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Stans, has already concluded 



