439 



various criteria. The economic view might be the maximum number of the 

 most salable animals that can be taken without causing decline. Biologically, 

 the optimum yield might be less because the wildlife manager felt that some 

 surplus animals were necessary for population or ecosystem health. 



One should not confuse "sustainable yield" and "maximum sustainable yield." 

 Any population, depleted or not, can have a sustainable yield. This is approxi- 

 mately the point at which present Antarctic whaling rests, for instance. The 

 maximum sustainable yield is the largest yield a population can sustain under 

 any circumstances, and is the iwint toward which the managers of whale 

 populations should work. It will be several times the present sustainable yield 

 levels. 



Question 2. Is the monitoring of animal populations, most effectively done 

 through the monitoring of the animals themselves, through monitoring ivhat 

 is happening to the most sensitive portion of their environment, or both? 



Answer. This may depend upon feasibility and techniques available. However, 

 we are dealing with a fundamental concept in which the animal to be moni- 

 tored, and managed may either l)e rather insensitive or very sensitive to pertur- 

 bation. If insensitive animals are monitored, then the less sensitive organisms 

 will be deleteriously affected and the environment will be damaged. If the most 

 sensitive organisms are monitored, all organi.sms of the entire environment may 

 be protected. 



Question 3. Can you confirm or deny the rumors which have come to the at- 

 tention of the Committee that some Asiari countries are now giving consideration 

 to the deliberate harvesting of porpoises and dolphins as sources of protein? If 

 this is not noic happening is there any likelihood of its happening in the future? 



Answer. The Japanese use ix)rix)ises for human food in certain parts of their 

 country. The market i.s apparently relatively limited and the prices modest. For 

 many years, probably back into anticiuity, they have oapturetl porpoise schools 

 that wandered along their shores. Today this is done by boats which go to sea to 

 shoot and harpoon them and to catch them by what is called the Oikomi method. 



In thi.s latter method a number of boats set to sea. locate a school and maneu- 

 ver behind it imtil they actually drive it into certain bays where it can be netted- 

 The nette<l animals are killed regardles of .si>ecies and sent to market. Only the 

 smaller sipecies or moderate sized animals are taken in this way. There is no firm 

 evidence that this level of effort is reducing local cetacean populations. 



As for tuna seining, the Jai)ane«e take part in the ea.stem tropical Pacific fish- 

 ery and kill porpoises along with the rest of the fishery. There are no firm reports 

 that they save the iwrpoises they catch. It is to be expected that they will, how- 

 ever, if they do not now, both becau.'*e iwrpoises are food to Japanese, and be- 

 cause of their in'creasing use of high seas proces.«ing ships. In the latter case the 

 catcher ships take everything they gather to the processing ship, and then the 

 processor decide.^ how the fish and other animals will be used. Thus, we expect 

 they will utilize the porix>ises they catch, if not now, at some time in the future ; 

 thus they may resist the attempt to develop gear that will release the animals. 



I do no think that th^se porpoises are now in danger of extinction. I do think 

 they are desi^erately in need of study so that we can derive the information 

 needed to back up any attempt at international management. 



(Whereupon the subcommittee recessed at 12:15 p.m. to reconvene 

 at 2 p.m., the same day.) 



AFTERNOON SESSION 



Mr. DiNGELL (presiding). The subcommittee will come to order. 



Tliis IS a continuation of the hearings on the series of bills relating 

 to the preservation and protection of marine mammals. 



Our first witness this afternoon is Mr. Jdhn Bums, Alaska Depart- 

 ment of Fish and Game. 



We are happy to welcome you for such statement as you choose to 

 give. 



Counsel here informs me that you have no prepared statement, and 

 we will recognize you for the statement you choose to give, if you will 

 identify yourself fully for the purposes of the record. 



67-765 O - 71 - 29 



