489 



to get the grapes they want for the plastic discs they earn, but until 

 the testimony submitted on behalf of the Sea Mammal Motivational In- 

 stitute, I certainly was not aware that pinnipeds could rival chimpan- 

 zees in tliis respect. 



Dolphins and porpoises have been called the intellectuals of the sea, 

 but it would appear that even the lesser brams among the sea mammals 

 outshine the majority of terrestial species. 



For a long time the distinction which was supposed to separate rnan 

 from the other mammals was his ability to use tools. This distinction, 

 like others previously suggested, collapsed in recent times in the face of 

 scientific evidence — evidence of the simplest kind: observation of 

 animals such as chimpanzees and sea otters. At these fascinating hear- 

 ings we learned that the southern sea otter uses not only the stones with 

 which it has been cracking shell fish on its chest since primeval times, 

 but also pop bottles and beer cans which come to hand so easily today 

 in the ocean's depths as on the face of the earth. 



Scientific descriptions of man as "the tool-using animal" remained 

 unchallenged for so long because insufficient observation of animals in 

 their natural environment had been made, and because the use of tools 

 does seem to be an indication of superior intelligence. Certainly, the 

 sea otter qualifies for a rating at the very highest part of any scale 

 which might be drawn up for many of those qualities which we con- 

 sider most admirable in human beings. To see in the film "The Sea 

 Otters of Amchitka," a mother sea otter with her enormous pup, seem- 

 ingly bigger than she at 12 months or more of age, but still, in her 

 eyes, in need of affectionate care, is an experience which encourages 

 one to take an optimistic view of life despite growing evidence for 

 pessimism. This mother works hard, diving for shellfish but never 

 objects when her huge offspring takes the succulent morsel from her 

 mouth. She .works. He eats. Finally, he falls asleep, floating com- 

 fortably on his back. She preens her fur ready for sleep herself, then 

 thinks she had better take his head up onto her chest. She guards him 

 in his sleep, a marvel of maternal kindness and solicitude. 



Do the majority of women who have worn the skins of such crea- 

 tures as these equal them in tolerance, amiability, devotion and self- 

 sacrifice? Though that question may be better left unanswered, the 

 women who wore these skins in the past may be excused because they 

 did not know what we know now. A question which should be answered, 

 however, is whether the Consress should permit the reestablishment 

 of a luxury ^fu^ trade using the skins of animals of this calibre. It js 

 said that the furs they produce are the most beautiful in the world, but 

 what would be the character of the human being who would be willing, 

 knowing the life history and behavior of the typical sea otter, to deck 

 herself in a garment made of sea otter skins ? 



We would suggest that in the management of an aninial such as 

 the sea otter, the development of techniques to control fertility would 

 be called for in anv instance in which it can be firmly established 

 that an otter herd has exceeded the carrvdng capacity of its range. 

 Such techniques have been developed for the control of pigeon popu- 

 lations in cities and have had limited trials with respect to predator 

 control. They should be expanded for use in the management of sea 

 mammals, especially in areas where undue influence of a commercial 

 nature is likely to be exerted to the detriment of the animals. There is 

 no incentive to apply fertility control unless it is clearly necessary. 



