537 



Game Management and Hunting Activities 



resolution passed at 1971 annual meeting of the american society of 

 mammalogists, vancouver, canada 



Whereas, there is an immense existing and potential influence of the hunting 

 and fishing public in matters affecting the maintenance of habitats and natural 

 biotas ; and 



Whereas, there is a rapid rise of anti-hunting sentiment in other sectors of the 

 public, which is exploited by the news media, in dramatizing and thereby polariz- 

 ing opinion of the issue : and 



Whereas, the scientific investigation and management by game biologists con- 

 tinues to provide l)asic biologic information regarding the harvested si^ecies and 

 insures survival for the enjoyment of the non-hunter as well as the hunter: 

 Now. therefore be it 



Resolved, That the American Society of Mammalogists inform the Federal, 

 Pro\'incial and State Governments of its deep concern regarding the recent in- 

 crease in protests against legitimate hunting activities ; and be it further 



Resolved, That the American Society of Mammalogists reaffirm its belief that 

 the maintenance of hunting opportunity can help to perpetuate wildlife popu- 

 lations and wildlife habitats, and to preserve healthy populations of animals for 

 the enjoyment of all. 



Management of Marine Mammals 



Whereas, legislation was recently introduced in the United States Congress 

 totally prohibiting the har^'esting of marine mammals ; and 



Whereas, such legislation, if adopted would have the effect of nullifying exist- 

 ing international agreements and prevent sound conservation management of 

 these resources on a sustainable basis ; and 



Whereas, marine mammals (such as the sea otter, northern fur seal, Steller's 

 sea lion, California sea lion. Pacific walrus, and northern elephant seal) that 

 formerly were seriously threatened, have been restored to greatl.v improved 

 population levels by sound conservation and management policies and practices : 

 Now therefore be it 



Resolved, That the American Society of Mammalogists supports the principle 

 of rational management of marine mammals species ; and be it further 



Resolved, That said iwlicies be extended by additional international agree- 

 ments for the conservation and management of marine mammals, particularly 

 in international waters. 



Dover, N.H., September 22, 1971. 

 Frank Potter Jr.. 

 Counsel, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. 



Dear Mr. Potter: At your request, the following impressions of the status 

 of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) and Gray Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the 

 area of Mount Desert Island, Maine is submittetl. This information is, neces- 

 sarily, tentative based on the findings of the first three months of a tw^o year 

 stud.v of seals in the vicinity of Acadia National Park. This study is funded by 

 the National Park Ser^^ce and the investigator is employed by the contracting 

 agency, the Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries. 



The study area comprises approximately three hundred square miles including 

 the waters of Frenchman. Blue Hill and Jericho Bays from Schootlic Peninsula 

 to the north to Isle Au Haut to the south. A preliminary aerial survey of this 

 area was taken on two successive mid morning low tides in June 1971. U.sing 

 photographs of seals hauled out sunning at 65 locations revealed a population 

 of approximately 1000 seals. literature investigation suggests to the investigator 

 that the sex ratio is very nearly equal in both species, that one pup is normally 

 born per female, and that apparently about 80 per cent of mature females bear 

 young and that in a random population sampling immatures are in about equal 

 numbers to mature seals. It is therefore deduced that a yearly birth of 200 pups 

 could be expected in the study area. However due to stillbirth, accidents, being 

 .swept out to .>^ea. disea.se by known i>athogens and infection by roundworm para- 

 sites and natural predation (of pups) by eagles and 'hawks, sharks and possibly 

 whales, 50 per cent of all pups might be expected to reach breefling maturity. 

 Therefore in this area of the Maine coast of approximately 36 linear miles a 



