458 



Mr. Burns. It would be very desirable. 



Technology, outside of the use on small walrus hide covered boats 

 of the very effective Norwegian whaling cannon, is impractical. 



One problem is that the technology for use in small boats by men 

 up agamst the whale physically — one man in front of a boat on top of 

 a whale — is not available to these people. 



Certainly, within the technology available to us on how to destroy 

 life, including human life, we ought to be able to come up with an 

 effective and merciful means of killing whales, 



Mr. DiNGELL. Maybe you ought to provide them an efficient method 

 of harA^est and require that they utilize it and fix orders. 



We can properly cut the loss of bowhead whales. You indicate 

 they are taking 15 to 20 a year but the loss is on the order of 5 to 1, 

 if they are losing 5 for every 1 they take, you are talking about a 

 loss of whales here of 75 to 125 and if you add the 15 to 25 you are 

 talking about, a total harvest on the part of the natives up there of 

 bowhead hales which is an endangered species which is not now 

 coming back, it occurs to me that we are talking about an annuaJ 

 harvest of 90 to 150 whales of which 75 to 125 are being lost. 



Mr. Burns. I could not agree more with you, sir. 



The question as to the population size of bowheads in the Bering 

 Sea as was pointed out to Mr. Potter considering the abundance 

 as we can see it on a narrow scale indicates the population is not in 

 a healthy state by any means, but populations are far in excess of 

 estimates which are available to you. 



I could talk for a considerable amount of time on that. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Is there a higher level of population of bowheads? 



Mr. Burns. About 400 animals. 



Mr. DiNGELL. I do not know the population and I do not think 

 anybody else does. 



Mr. Burns. The reported population in figures I believe are avail- 

 able to this committee, correct me, Mr. Potter, if I am wrong, but 

 they are 400 animals. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Well, I do not really think the total number of bow- 

 head whales is vital here. 



I think it is pretty well agreed that the bowhead whale right now 

 is an endangered species. The total population is probably below the 

 level providing for the assured safety of the species. 



I will take almost any figure that you care to give me with regard 

 to population levels for bowhead whales and not quarrel with you 

 and still make the assertion that that level was endangered and 

 then ask, you if you want to disagree with my conclusion with regard 

 to the numbers of population. 



I think whether you have 400 or 800 or 1,000 or even 4,000 your 

 figure is not a sufficient number of bowhead whales to make the prob- 

 able assumption that the future of the species is assured. 



Well, thank you, Mr. Potter. 



Mr. Pottter. Just a couple of other questions. 



You indicated, Mr. Burns, that the position of the State of Alaska 

 is that its existing regulatory structure for resident species are 

 adequate. 



Is that a fair summary of the position of the State? 



Mr. Burns. Mr. Potter, they are obviously adequate with regard 

 to the pinnipeds in question. 



