389 



Now, based upon your testimony, I would assume that these State 

 laws would be somewhat inadequate. 



Is that a sound conclusion to draw ? 



Mr. HoRSTMAN. Mr. Rountree, yes ; your conclusion is sound. 



The State laws that I am aware of (and I'm only aware really of 

 the State of Florida) are inadequate. The guidelines of the State of 

 Florida for the capture, holding, and transportation of marine mam- 

 mals represent a threshold kind of a situation. 



Mr. Rountree. I want to ask you this, then. Perhaps you can sub- 

 mit an answer for the record. 



In your opinion, do you feel that this is an area which you have 

 been alluding to in your testimony where the Federal Government 

 should, in essence, preempt the States and enact a uniform Federal 

 law on this problem with perhaps provisions for cooperative agree- 

 ments with the States ? 



Mr. HoRSTMAN. Yes, Mr. Rountree. I believe it is necessary. 



Mr. Rountree. Thank you. No further questions. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Thank you, Mr. Rountree. 



Mr. Horstman, you have given us most impressive testimony and 

 we do thank you. 



Our next witness is Mr, John C. Walsh, field officer for the Inter- 

 national Society for the Protection of Animals. 



Mr. Walsh, we are happy to have you with us. 



If you will identify yourself for the record, the Chair would be 

 most pleased to receive your testimony. 



STATEMENT OF JOHN C. WALSH, FIELD OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL 

 SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS 



Mr. Walsh. I am John C. Walsh, field officer for the International 

 Society for the Protection of Animals, located in Boston, Mass. Our 

 headquarters are located in London. 



It is a well known fact that many species of wildlife are gradually 

 moving toward extinction, some species faster than others. Whenever 

 a species is sought for commercial reasons, the resulting pressure 

 causes a rapid decline in that population. Most notable are pressures 

 created for reasons of vanity by the fur industry. The sea otter and 

 the northern fur seal are classic examples. They, too, are shining 

 examples of an effective conservation program attempting to restore 

 a species to full biological productivity through international 

 cooperation. 



Although few modeiTi species of new world or marine mammals 

 have been directly exterminated by man, it is nevertheless true that 

 almost any of these species which have a considerable value for food, 

 fur, oil, or other products, as well as those having a less tangible 

 interest in taking game animals for trophies are endangered increas- 

 ingly with more intensive killing methods of modem times and with 

 the human population growth and consequent reduction of areas avail- 

 able for their support. 



Although marine mammals are seen by fewer human beings than 

 any other group of animals, they are most notably in need of pro- 

 tection. The alarming statistics indicating the decline of the world's 



