560 



we feel that sportsmen should be allowed to take a few for trophy purposes. 

 Conservation to most Alaskans entails the wise use of our resources rather than 

 a policy of preservation. I can assure you if .biological data indicated that these 

 superb animals were in danger of overexploitation, our biologists would be the 

 first to take remedial action. We plan to continue our research efforts and will con- 

 tinue to closely monitor polar bear hunting. Our polar bear biologist will remain 

 an active i>articipant in international polar bear meetings in order to keep up to 

 date (wi findings of biologists from other countries and, should further restrictions 

 on hunting become necessary and justifiable, such action will be taken. 



I hope that this explanation of our policies regarding .polar bears will be help- 

 ful. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. 



Best personal regards. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Keith H. Miller, 



Governor. 



March 27, 1970. 

 Hon. Keith H. Miller, 

 Governor of Alaska, JuneoAi, Alaska. 



Dear Go\'ernor Miller: I would like respectfully to request your comments 

 regarding a proposal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature 

 and Natural Resources (lUCN) in Morges, Switzerland that the Governments 

 of the United States, Canada, Denmark, Norway and the USSR review their 

 polar bear conservaition program with a view to drastically curtailing the taking 

 of those animals for a period of five years, beginning next hunting season. 



This proposal, which was sent to our Ambassador in Bern by the lUCN, 

 originated in the Second Working Meeting of the Polar Bear Group of Research 

 Specialists, Survival Service Commission, lUCN, held in Morges, February 4, 

 1970. According to the lUCN, that Group, whose principal objective is to expedite 

 the collection of data as a basis for conservation of polar bears, has indicated 

 that their studies will require some time for completion and that meanwhile 

 present restrictions imposed by Governments on the killing and capturing of polar 

 bears appears to be insuflacient. as the number of polar bears in general has not 



essentially increased. 



Tlie present proposal of the lUCN appears to be related to the Statement of 

 Accord which resulted from the First International Scientific Meeting on the 

 Polar Bear, held at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, September, 1965. 



I would be most grateful for your comments on this matter. 



Sincerely 



Donald L. McKernan, 



Special Assistant for Fisheries and Wildlife to the Secretary. 



[The Wildlife Society News, December, 1970] 



New Law Encourages Rational Use of Wildlife 



(By Eley P. Denson and Harry A. Goodwin, Office of International Activities/ 

 Endangered Species Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife) 



Ed. Note: The Endangered Si>ecies Conservation Act of 1969 was described 

 by President Nixon as ". . . the most significant action this Nation has ever 

 taken in an international effort to preserve the world's wildlife" This article 

 explains some of the major aspects of the bill. 



On December 5, 1969, President Nixon signed into law an act which is prin- 

 ciiKilly designed to help conserve native and foreign wildlife threatened with 

 extinction. The new law amends the Lacey and Black Bass Acts, and in part, 

 combines with the Endangered Si>ecies Act of 1966 to form the Endangered 

 Species Conservation Act of 1969. Most provisions of the law became effective 

 in June 1970. , , 



The Act is the product of cooperation l>etween U.S. conservatiomsts, who de- 

 sire to protect threatened wildlife throughout the world, and the enlightenetl 

 self-interest of users who need to assure themselves of future sui>plies of wild- 

 life and wildlife products. Enactment receive<l tremendous public support. Fifty 

 Representatives and Senators joined in sponsoring 18 endangered species bills. 



Many asi>ects of the legislation to protect endangered six'cies are poorly 

 understood. Both support and optmsition to passage were based on the hope 



