MARINE MAMMALS 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1971 



House of Representatives, 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, 



Washington D.C. 



The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., in room 1334, Longworth Office 

 Building, Hon. John D. Dingell, chairman. 



Mr. Lennon (presiding). Today the subcommittee holds its fourth 

 day of hearings on legislation to protect marine mammals. We have 

 already heard from a wide variety of witnesses, and the hearings today 

 will extent even further the scope of the testimony on this important 

 legislation. 



The hearings today will almost certainly continue this afternoon, 

 and I want to say to the other witnesses here that they will be heard 

 today, or possibly tomorrow morning, if it becomes necessary to con- 

 tinue these hearings in order to see that everyone is heard. 



Mr. Dingell has asked me to apologize to you all for his inability 

 to be here this morning. There is an important matter coming before 

 another committee with which he is involved, and he did not think 

 that he could fail to be there. He will be here this afternoon. 



The firet witnesses this morning are scientists who are considered to 

 be among this country's foremost experts on marine mammals. Drs. 

 Ray and Norris and Mr. Schevill have kindly agreed to act as a panel, 

 presenting a statement for the committee and then answering any 

 questions that the committee members may have on the joint statement 

 or on any of the matters raised by witnesses earlier in these pro- 

 ceedings. 



Doctors, if you will come forward to the witness stand. I am not 

 advised at this point in time whether there is a prepared statement 

 that you gentlemen have. 



I am now advised that you do have a prepared statement. 



Would you, gentlemen, for the record, please identify yourselves 

 and give such statement as you choose. 



STATEMENT OP DR. G. CARLETON RAY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, 

 WILLIAM E. SCHEVILL, AND DR. KENNETH S. NORRIS, MARINE 

 MAMMAL COUNCIL 



Dr. Ray. Mr. Chairman, members of the Subcommittee on Fish- 

 eries and Wildlife Conservation, we are before you today to aid in 

 the design of strong, constructive legislation on marine mammals. 

 Most of our comment will be directed toward H.R. 10420 which we 

 largely endorse. Rather than give you a detailed critique, we will 



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