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exploitation of the species, is pursued as a rarity. Instead^ as we can 

 see from previous testimony, policies of national industrial carnage 

 and commercial exploitation, have dictated the first critical encounters 

 between man and sea mammals. A review of the history and current 

 affairs in this slaughter and abuse of almost every species of sea 

 mammal, creates an absolutely sickening feeling in those of us who 

 have enjoyed the close companionship of these animals. Wlien we see 

 the approaching e tinction under current policies of the great whales 

 or the Pacific porpoises', unconscionable destruction as a happenstance 

 to the tuna industry, we can only ask what fools are these men who 

 pretend to harvest the oceans while destroying the source of their 

 bounty ? 



With important modifications, H.R. 10420, designed to protect mar- 

 ine mammals and to establish a Marine Mammal Commission as intro- 

 duced by Congressman Anderson, represents the type of law required. 

 However, a complete moratorium on the taking (as defined in the bill) , 

 of ocean mammals, must ensue for a short period of time, to allow for 

 critical census and deeper social and behavioral understanding of ocean 

 herds and the results of harvesting them. 



With the eventual lifting of the moratorium, the present commercial 

 development of ocean mammal products which are largely wasteful 

 and frivolous, must not be resumed. The fur and perfume industries 

 have carried out their bloody business too long on behalf of the com- 

 fortable ladies of Scarsdale and Beverly Hills. 



After the moratorium, stringent, yet intelligent, restrictions must 

 be placed upon the taking of these animals for purposes of research 

 and display. Certainly, the casual destruction of sea mammals for 

 scientific or entertainment purposes, must be stopped. Also, it would 

 benefit us all if man would seek to understand these animals in their 

 natural environment as much as they seek to transport them to labora- 

 tories for study. Men will learn the most critical lessons through the 

 close study of sea mammal ethnology and behavior. These are the origi- 

 nal harvesters of the sea and the most intelligent form of life adapted 

 to the oceans. They, like us, live on land and fled for survival, to the 

 sea. They can teach us much about our own physiology in an alien en- 

 vironment. Also, much consideration should be given to section 3, para- 

 graph 4, which excepts from the bill, the taking of marine mammals 

 which occurs as an incident to commercial fishing. 



The business of this Nation will not be finished by the enactment of 

 strong national laws, however. This Nation governs only a fraction of 

 the world's oceans. Sea mammals make their homes and follow paths 

 of migration where U.S. law bears no weight. Hence, this committee 

 should bring to the Congress' attention, the unfortunate reluctance of 

 our Secretary of State to become sympathetically involved with the 

 plight of these creatures. Other nations, particularly Russia, Japan, 

 and Canada, must be persuaded to the wisdom of a moratorium on 

 marine mammal slaughter. Both bills presently instruct the Secretary 

 of State too lightly in this matter. The Congress should develop sanc- 

 tions to urge the Secretary to his duty. 



There's much wisdom' in the Anderson bill in that it proposes a 

 Marine INIammal Commission and Scientific Advisory Board. How- 

 ever, the enormous failure of the International Whaling Commission 

 is too current to allay doubts that such a structure would work by 



