379 



ered under section 202(a), paragraph 3, not only to "undertake or 

 cause to be undertaken studies * * * for determining the need for 

 additional measures for the protection and management of marine 

 mammals," but for the humane slaughtering of these mammals also. 

 Further, this Commission should also be empowered to recommend 

 to the Secretary methods for humane slaughter as well as to recom- 

 mend steps it deems necessary or desirable for the protection and 

 management of marine mammals. I cannot stress too strongly our 

 concern that this Government take every conceivable action possible 

 to insure that when it is deemed necessary to kill any marine mammal, 

 that it be done in a manner that is totally humane. For this reason, I 

 would urge that a representative from one of the major humane orga- 

 nizations also be appointed to this Commission. 



Let me now speak briefly to the other bill, H.R. 10569, the amended 

 bill introduced by Mr. Pryor. It is the opinion of our organization 

 that this bill is the stronger of the two and that we support its enact- 

 ment with minor, but important revisions. 



I am delighted that Mr. Pryor has submitted this amended version 

 which includes a more realistic position as regards the Northern Pacific 

 Fur Seal Convention. I support these amendments which will insure 

 that, in the event an agreement with the parties to the Convention 

 cannot be obtained which would ban all killing of Xorth Pacific fur 

 seals, we will not again be faced with the horrendous spectacle of 

 pelagic sealing. 



Especially do I support the international character of this bill. While 

 there is much to be said for legislation that would restrict any person 

 of this Nation from participating in the taking of ocean mammals, it 

 is most imperative that this Nation attempt to influence other nations 

 to cooperate in the preservation of the ocean mammal life throughout 

 the entire world. For unless this is an effort that involves all the na- 

 tions of the world, it may well make little difference that we have im- 

 posed this restriction on ourselves. Yet, let us make the beginning, and 

 by example enlist the cooperation and support of others. For it is 

 alDundantly clear that our hands are far from clean in this matter. 



The indiscriminate slaughter of the walrus by Eskimos and other 

 natives has long been known to humane societies and to officials of 

 the State of Alaska. We have no accurate figures because they have 

 never been made available to us, but we have been informed that three 

 out of every four walrus are wounded and sink, without being re- 

 covered by the natives. Obviously this situation could be remedied 

 without interrupting or disturbing the economy of the natives 

 involved. 



An official of the Department of the Interior admitted to this com- 

 mittee that no figures were available on the population of almost all 

 of the species of sea mammals and submitted very sketchy estimates of 

 the numbers of sea otters. There is no question that the population of 

 the sea ott^r has increased, but certainly its population is nowhere 

 near a maximum level, and conservation, ecological, and humane socie- 

 ties are very concerned about what will happen to the largest known 

 population on Amchitka if and when the underground nuclear ex- 

 plosion is conducted. 



As regards the Southern sea otter population, we have no definite 

 figures. Our California branch has been concerned with this problem 



