397 



As an alternative to creation of the proposed Commission, H.E. 

 10420 could be amended to direct the Secretary of the Interior to per- 

 form the duties and services spelled out for the Commission, The Sec- 

 retary should also be directed to establish and utilize a scientific 

 advisory committee as proposed in section 203. 



In endorsing the purposes of H.R. 10420, we are aAvare that it ap- 

 parently envisions the transfer of responsibility for marine mammals 

 back to the Department of the Interior. It is our opinion that not only 

 marine mammals but the entire Bureau of Commercial Fisheries be- 

 longs in a department where the leadership is less likely to say "wait a 

 minute" to efforts to clean up pollution. 



Mr. Chairman, we believe H.R. 10420 is much sounder legislation 

 than H.R. 6554 and similar bills. We do not endorse H.R. 6554. 



I thank you very much for this opportunity to present our \dews. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Callison, I want to thank you for a very enlight- 

 ened and helpful statement. I want to particularly commend you and 

 Miss Wilson. 



Mr. Anderson? 



]Mr. Anderson. No questions. I want to commend Mr. Callison for 

 a very fine statement. 



Mr. Callison. Thank you, sir. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Potter? 



Mr. Potter. Mr. Callison, were you here when I spoke with Mr. 

 Hoyt about the nature of the bill that it seemed to me has been in- 

 creasingly pointed toward in the testimony before us? That is to say, 

 that there needs to be a kind of permit system in which there would 

 be a strong burden of proof on the person who wants to take an an- 

 imal to show it is going to be to the advantage of the herd or the species 

 and that there would be a considerable amount of public scrutiny in 

 looking over the permit grantor to be sure that everything is on the 

 up and up. 



This seems to me to be the thrust of the Anderson bill. 



Mr. Callison. I am not sure I heard your earlier question. I came 

 in late today, and I did not identify all of the witnesses who preceded 

 me. However, I think I would agree with that principle, Mr. Potter. 



This is one of the basic provisions of H.R, 10420, a permit system, 

 a system of controlling the harvest or take of marine mammals through 

 permits. 



I just think this needs to be done extremely carefully. I think we 

 need to know where we are going and much more about the condition 

 of the herds of sea mammals, the different populations; and what 

 must also be taken into consideration is the fact that these animals 

 move and live in an international environment. 



We need to move with some caution in this area so we do not make 

 the situation worse than it is. 



By striking a high moral position, the United States should lead 

 the world in conservation and humane purposes. But we could defeat 

 those purposes by loosening the controls we now have, to the detriment 

 of the animals, 



Mr, Potter, In what way ? 



Mr. Callison, If we rather abruptly abrogated the Northern Pacific 

 fur seal treaty, 



Mr, Potter. I take it that is no longer seriously proposed even by 

 the proponents of the Harris-Pryor bill. 



