[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H1692]]
                              {time}  1530
                     OPPOSING THE MAKAH WHALE HUNT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, recently one of the television networks 
presented a new production of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. As we all 
know, this is a drama about a whale hunt in the 18th century. In this 
drama, Melville gives a detailed and gory account of a whale hunt.
  Now, two centuries later, whaling has become one of the things that 
just is not done anymore. Because the world's whaling ships hunted 
whales almost to extinction 100 years ago, whales occupy a special 
place in our conscience. Protecting whales has become one of our 
civilization's most noble undertakings. But the struggling to protect 
these special animals is not over yet.
  I regret that it is in my State, the State of Washington, that an 
Indian tribe has announced its intention to hunt whales again. The 
Makah tribe, backed by the U.S. Government, is preparing to repudiate 
rulings of the International Whaling Commission and kill four 
California gray whales each year.
  Furthermore, it is evident that the tribe, with the backing of the 
United States Government, is willing to set a trend which will lead to 
a resurgence of whaling around the world. And here is the reason: If 
they are allowed this hunt, 13 bands and tribes of Indians in British 
Columbia say that they will also begin to hunt whales.
  Earlier this month, the Makahs met with other aborigines around the 
world to talk about whale hunting. They attempted to keep the meeting 
quiet by staging the meeting in Canada and avoiding the press. They 
intend to assert a ``cultural subsistence'' right to hunt whales. But 
here is the danger.
  If a cultural subsistence is recognized, then what do we say to Japan 
and Norway, two nations that we have for years tried to get them to 
stop whale hunting but still hunt whales? If anybody has a cultural 
right to hunt whales, it is Japan and Norway. Whether or not the Makahs 
are justified in these claims, the real danger in allowing their hunt 
to go on is the encouragement it will give to others around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a slippery slope. Once aborigines around world 
are whaling again, will that not give encouragement to nations who want 
to continue commercial whaling?
  I have already mentioned Japan and Norway, and they continue to 
practice commercial whaling in violation of the International Whaling 
Commission. I have just learned that the Japanese and Norwegians were 
both represented at the Makah meeting in Canada earlier this month with 
the other aborigines. It is unimaginable that this killing could start 
up again on a commercial scale, starting in our State of Washington.
  The gory drama in Moby Dick cannot be repeated in the 20th century. 
For the Nation, it will be a horrible spectacle certain to be 
televised. As the Makahs set out in their canoes, a media event will be 
created. The tribe's reputation and our Nation's reputation will be 
sullied as the Makahs pursue and kill their four gray whales. The gray 
whales swim together, and it is certain that more than four gray whales 
will be wounded or will die for the four that the tribe will take back 
to shore. Because they do not kill each whale; they have a lot of 
misses too and injuries.
  But the worst aspects of the Makah whale hunt are the worldwide 
ramifications, the possible resurgence of commercial whaling. The 18th 
century killing described in Moby Dick will be repeated many times 
around the world. I shall continue to oppose the Makah hunt or any 
other killing of whales.

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