393 



Yet, all of these are exported, and utilized in Europe. 



Do you want to comment on your point in your submission on the 

 23d? 



Mr. Walsh. I have from other members of our organization in Euro- 

 pean countries learned that they are contemplating legislation that 

 will prohibit hair sealskins going into other countries also. 



Mr. RouNTREE. On the basis of that it would not be a simple denial 

 of an economic motive, but it would be the fact that the United States 

 is taking a world leadership position that would be the reasoning 

 behind your desire for a total ban. 



Mr. Walsh. Well, I cannot discuss the economic ramifications. I am 

 sure the officials of the State Department or Bureau of Fisheries could 

 handle that. 



Mr. Potter. On this question of an import restriction, while I am not 

 asking you to do it right this minute, I would be interested in any 

 ideas you may have on the circumstances involved in an import restric- 

 tion. Would it be appropriate and necessary, for example, if it were 

 shown that animal skins were taken from an animal from the depleted 

 herd? 



It seems to me that one problem we are beginning to recognize with 

 the Endangered Species Act is that you have to wait until the species 

 is actually endangered and then it might be too late. 



Mr. Walsh. In relation to that, the Canadian Government asked the 

 International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries to reduce 

 the quota by approximately 100,000 animals this year, I should say 

 effective the next season. They feel there was an overkill. 



They set up the regulations and the quotas for taking the seals 

 in the Northwest Atlantic. 



Mr. Potter. That is very interesting. We have received information 

 to the effect that the Canadian Division of Fisheries, in setting the 

 quota for the harp seal har\-est this year, set it at about 100,000 over 

 what their chief biologist. Dr. Sargeant, had recommended. 



Is your inf onnation consistent with that ? 



Mr. Walsh. The biologist that has pro^dded this information rec- 

 ommended that the figure be much lower than it was. 



Mr. DiNGELL. As a matter of fact,df I understand it, they are taking 

 on the order of something like 240,000 and the annual renewment is 

 140,000. This is 100,000 over the annual renewal. 



I am curious as to how long that situation can go forward. 



Mr. Walsh. That is why I feel that a total ban would be effective. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I would appreciate having these suggestions. 



Thank you very much for your presence and your very helpful 

 testimony. 



Our next witness is an old friend of the Chair, one who has been 

 here many times and has worked with me on many projects, a dis- 

 tinguished conservationist, Mr. Charles Callison, from the National 

 Audubon Society. 



I note that you have Miss Cynthia Wilson present with you. 



If you would identify yourself for purposes of the record, we will 

 be pleased to hear your statement. 



