International symposium on the identification and measurement of environmental pollutants, held at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Canada, 14–17 June 1971

Conferences and Meetings Smithsonian Institution, the New York Zoological Society, and the International Biological Programme. Cosponsors were the Conservation Foundation, the US Department of Commerce, the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Audubon Society, the US National Science Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation, and the World Wildlife Fund. The Marine Mammal Council of the US International Biological Programme arranged and conducted the Conference. Programme chairman was Dr Kenneth S. Norris, Director of the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii and executive committee member of the Marine Mammal Council. Scheduled papers, covering the distribution and abundance of whale stocks, biometrics and management, whale biology and natural history, and methods of observation and of tagging whales, were delivered in general sessions early in the meeting. These provided background for discussion when the participants divided into three working groups, assigned to meet and report on: biology and natural history; regional populations; and biometrics, conservation, and management. Biology and Natural History :--This working group was chaired by Dr George A. Bartholomew, Jr (United States), and called for two innovations in research methodology in order 'to produce a picture sufficiently complete to be the basis of biologically-sound harvesting' of whales. These innovations are: (1) a programme of pelagic research captures, away from traditional whaling grounds, using specially-equipped whaling vessels such as a combined catcher/factory ship, and (2) the development of methods for the study of individual whales through radiotelemetry. Regional Populations :--This working group, chaired by Peter B. Best (South Africa), concluded that existing gaps in catch and effort data for large cetaceans must be filled before reasonable estimates of density distributions can be obtained. It recommended that a central agency, such as the Bureau of International Whaling Statistics, assume the task of collecting and handling these catch figures. The group also placed much importance on the use of biochemical methods for stock identification. Biometrics, Conservation, and Management:--This was the largest of the three groups and was the one with perhaps the most complex task. It was chaired by Sidney J. Holt (UNESCO) and its recommendations included: immediate institution of an International Observer Scheme, abolition of the Blue Whale unit as a means of expressing catch limits, establishment of quotas that would maintain stocks at, or above, their optimum levels, and establishment of a quota for Minke Whales in the Antarctic. The working groups also stressed the importance of considering not only the 'commercial' species but also the smaller types--including porpoises and dolphins, which represent a resource of major potential economic importance. A report on the Conference is being prepared for publication by the Marine Mammal Council and is expected to be available this year. Editors are Dr Carleton Ray, Dr Kenneth S. Norris, and Mr William E. Schevill-all of the Council's Executive Committee. Assisting them is a seven-member Editorial Advisory Committee, drawn from participants at the Conference. SUZANNE M. CONTOS,

Executive Secretary, US/1BP Marine Mammal Council, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA.

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INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE IDENTIFICATION AND MEASUREMENTOF ENVIRONMENTALPOLLUTANTS, HELD AT THE NATIONALARTS CENTRE, OTTAWA, CANADA, ] 4 - ] 7 JUNE ]971

The Technical Programme comprising the Symposium featured 80 invited experts from around the world who presented papers on the most recent developments in areas of their specialization, covering a wide range of topics including pollutants and indicators of pollution in air, water, soil, and food. The meeting was held under the sponsorships of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Agricultural Institute of Canada, and the National Research Council of Canada. Three special plenary talks were presented at the meeting: Dr Martin W. Holdgate, Department of the Environment, London, England, spoke on 'The Need for Environmental Monitoring'; Mr William B. Foster, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, spoke on 'Environmental Problems for the 70s'; and the Hon. Jack Davis, Minister, Department of the Environment, Canada, presented an address on 'Pollution and Our Environment'. An edited draft of each paper, including abstracts in English and French, together with the written comments and views of members of the audience, is contained in the published Proceedings of the Symposium. These papers contain a wealth of new material on pollutants, written especially from the viewpoint of their identification and measurement, and as such represent a significant contribution to the scientific literature. The Symposium was highly successful in stimulating new ideas among the approximately 850 participants at the meeting. This stimulation can be broadened and extended through widespread distribution and further study of these important presentations. The cost of the hard-cover Proceedings is $35 Canadian funds. To obtain a copy, contact Mr M. K. Ward, Executive Secretary, ISIMEP, c/o National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I. HOFFMAN,

Chairman of the Symposium, Division of Biology, National Research Council of Canada, Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

SEVENTEENTHINTERNATIONALCONVENTIONON CIVILIZATION DISEASES,NUTRITION, ENVIRONMENT, AND LIVING CONDITIONS, HELD AT THE PALACEHOTEL, MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND,6-12 SEPTEMBER 1971

The Seventeenth Annual Convention of the International Society for Research on Civilization Diseases and Vital Substances lasted a full week. This organization, founded in 1954 as the International Society for Research on Nutrition and Vital Substances, has expanded in scope with an early change of name to its present form. It has also given birth to new organizations to strengthen and coordinate forces to attack certain evils of modern civilization----especially those affecting adversely the life