An Act to prevent the importation of endangered species of fish or wildlife into the United States; to prevent the interstate shipment of reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife taken contrary to State law; and for other purposes
PL 91-135 (H.R.11363), enacted 12/05/1969

83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
275 
Public Law 91-135 
AN A C T 
December 5, 1969 
T(» prevent the iiin)<)rtJiti()ii of eiubuiuercd species of fish or wildlife into the 
' 
I'nited States: to prevent the interstate sliipnient of reptiles, anipliibicins, and 
other wildlife taken contrary to State law : and for other purjtoses. 
Fish or wildlife. 
Importation of 
Be if emu-fed by fhe Senafe 
(oid IlouHe of liepre>^enf<ifires of fhe 
[hiifed 
Sfdfe.s of America 
in, ('ongres.'^ (f.s.se/iih/ed. l l i a t , for the piir-
l)()ses of sections 2 throuo'h f) of this Act, tlie tei'iu— 
endTtigered spe-
(1) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior; 
cies, prevention. 
('2) "fish or wihllife" means any wild mammal, fish, wild bird, 
amphibian, re[)tile, mollusk, or crustacean, or any part, products. 
eo-<r, or otf'sprino; theivof, or the dead body or i)arts thereof; 
('•)) "United States" includes the several States, the District 
of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Kico, Amei-ican 
Samoa, the Vir<>:iii Islands, aiul (iuam; and 
(4) ''[)erson"' means any individual, Hrm, cori^oration, associ-
ation, or ])artnership. 
SKC. 2. Except as provided in section ;5 of this Act, whoever 
imi)()rts from any forei<rn country into the United States any species 
or subspecies of fish or wildlife which the Secretai-y has determined, 
in accordance with the ])rovisions of secticm 3 of this Act, to be 
threatened with worldwide extinction, shall be ])nnished in accord-
ance with the provisions of section 4 of this Act. 
SEC. :>. (a) A species or subspecies of fish or wildlife shall be deemed 
species 
to be threatened with worldwide extinction Avhenever the Secretary exTinc^ron.^ ' 
determines, based on the best scientific and commei-cial data available 
Determination 
to him and after consultation, in cooperation with the Secretar,y of ^y^^"'^"""" Secre-
State, with the foi-eig'n country or countries in wliich such fish or 
wildlife are normally found and, to the extent ])racticable. with inter-
ested ])ersous and oroani/atious and other interested Federal agen-
cies, that the continued existence of such si)ecies or subspecies of fish 
or wildlife is. in the judgment of the Secretary, endangered due to 
any of the following factoi-s; (1) the destruction, drastic modifiea-
tion, or severe curtailment, or the threatened destruction, drastic 
modification, or severe curtailment, of its habitat, or (2) its overutiliza-
tion for commercial or s])()rting pnrposes, ot- (-'>) the effect on it of 
disease or predation, or (4) other natural or man-made factors affect-
ing its continued existence. After making such determination, tlie 
Publication in 
Cf 
, 
i
n 
1 
. 
1 
<
• 
. • 
i 
. • 
1 
• 
F e d e r a l 
R e g j s -
Secretary shall ])romulgate and from time to time he may revise, ter. 
by reoulation, a list in the Fedei-al Kegister of such fish or wildlife 
by scientific, common, and connnercial name or names, together with 
his determination. The Secretary shall at least once every five years 
conduct a thorough review of any such list to determine what, if any, 
changes have occurred relative to the continued existence of the s])e-
cies oi- subspecies of fish or wildlife then on the list and to determine 
whether sncli fish or wildlife continue to be threatened with world-
wide extinction. T'pon completion of such review, he shall 
take 
ap])roi)riate action consistent with the purposes of this Act. The Secre-
tary shall, upon the re(piest of any interested person, also conduct 
such review of any particular listed sj)ecies or subspecies at any other 
time if he finds and publishes his finding that such person has pre-
sented substantial evidence to warrant sncli a review. 
(b) In order to minimize undue economic hardship to any person 
Economic hard-
importing any species or subspecies of fish or wnldlife which are deter- ^ Filing of appii-
mined to be threatened with worldwide extinction under this section, cation. 
under any contract entered into prior to the date of publication of sucli 
determination in the Federal Register of such species or subspecies, the 
276 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Importation for 
educational or 
scientific pur-
poses. 
80 Stat. 383. 
Violations, 
penalty pro-
visions. 
Hearing notice. 
Search and 
seizure warrant. 
Posting of bond. 
Notification 
of seizure. 
Secretary, upon such person filing an application with him and upon 
filing such information as the Secretary may require showing, to his 
satisfaction, such hardship, shall permit such person to import such 
species or subspecies in such quantities and for such periods, not to 
exceed one year, as he determines to be appropriate. 
(c) The Secretary may permit, under such terms and conditions as 
he may prescribe, the importation of any species or subspecies of fish 
or wildlife listed in the Federal Register under this section for 
zoological, educational, and scientific purposes, and for the propaga-
tion of such fish or wildlife in captivity for preservation purposes, 
unless such importation is prohibited by any other Federal law or 
regulation. 
(d) The provisions of section 553 of title 5 of the United States 
Code shall apply to any regulation issued under this section. 
SEC. 4. (a) (1) Any person who violates any provision of section 2 
or 3 of this Act or any regulation or permit issued thereunder, or any 
regulation issued under subsection (d) of this section, other than a 
violation the penalty for which is prescribed by subsection (b) of this 
section, shall be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more 
than $5,000 for each such violation. No penalty shall be assessed unless 
such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with, respect 
to such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. Any such 
civil penalty may be compromised by the Secretary. Upon any failure 
to pay the penalty assessed under this paragraph, the Secretary may 
request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in a district 
court of the United States for any district in w^hich such person is 
found or resides or transacts business to collect the penalty and such 
court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. In 
hearing such action, the court shall have authority to review the viola-
tion and the assessment of the civil penalty de novo. 
(2) Any employee authorized pursuant to subsection (c) of this 
section to enforce the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of this Act, and 
any regulations or permits issued pursuant thereto or pursuant to 
subsection (d) of this section, shall have authority, in addition to 
any other authority provided by law relating to search and seizure, 
to execute any warrant to search for and seize any fish or wildlife or 
property or items taken, used, or possessed in connection with any 
violation of any such section, regulation, or permit w'ith respect to 
which a civil penalty may be assessed pursuant to paragraph (1) of 
this subsection. Such fish, wildlife, property, or item so seized shall 
be held by any employee authorized by the Secretary or the Secretary 
of the Treasury pending disposition of proceedings by the Secretary 
involving the assessment of a civil penalty pursuant to paragraph 
(1) of this subsection; except that the Secretary may, in lieu of hold-
ing such fish, wildlife, property, or item, permit such person to post 
a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary. Upon the assess-
ment of a civil penalty pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection 
for any nonwillful violation of any such section, regulation, or permit, 
such fish wildlife, property, or item so seized may be proceeded against 
in any court of competent jurisdiction and forfeited to the Secretary 
for disposition by him in such manner as he deems appropriate. The 
owner or consignee of any such fish, wildlife, property, or item so 
seized shall, as soon as practicable following such seizure, be notified 
of that fact in accordance with regulations established by the Secre-
tary or the Secretary of the Treasury. Whenever any fish or wildlife 
or property or item is seized pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary 
shall move to dispose of the civil penalty proceedings pursuant to 
paragraph (1) of this subsection as expeditiously as possible. If, with 
respect to any such fish, wildlife, property, or item so seized no action 
is commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the 
provisions. 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
277 
forfeiture of suck lish, wildlife, proi)erty, or item within thirty days 
followin;i>- the disposition of proceedings involving tlie assessment 
of a civil i)eualty, such fish, wildlife, property, or item shall be 
innnediately returned to the owner or the consignee in accordance Avitli 
regulations promulgated by the ^Secretary. 
(b) Any person who willfully violates any provision of section 2 or Penalty. 
o of this Act or any regulation or permit issued thereunder or any 
regulation issued under subsection (d) of this section shall, upon 
conviction, be fined not more than $10,000, or iui])risoned for not more 
than one year, or both. 
(c) The provis'ons of sections 2 and ?> of this Act and any regula- Enforcement 
. 
I . 
, 
, 
, 
. 
*' . 
/ n\ nrovisions. 
tioiis or ])ermits issued pursuant thereto or pursuant to subsection (a) 
of tliis section shall be enforced by either the Secretary or the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, or both such Secretaries. Either Secretary may 
utilize, by agreement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any 
other Federal agency or any Sfate agency. Any employee of the 
Department of the Interior or the Department of the Treasury author-
ized by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury may, without 
a warrant, arrest any person who such employee has probable cause 
to believe is willfully violating, in his presence or view, any such 
section, or any regidation or permit issued thereunder, the penalty for 
which is provided under subsection (b) of this section, and may 
execute a warrant or other process issued hj an officer or court of 
competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of such sections, 
regulat'ons or permits. An employee who has made an arrest of a 
perscm in connection with any such willful violation may search such 
person at the time of his arrest and seize any fish or wildlife or prop-
erty or items taken, used, or ])Ossessed in connection with any such 
violation, or any such employee shall have authority, in addition to 
any other authority provided by law relating to search and seizure, 
to execute any warrant to search for and seize any such fish, wildlife, 
property, oi- item so taken, used, or possessed. Any fish or Mildlife or 
])roi)erty or item seized shall be held by any employee authorized by 
the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury or by a United States 
marshal pending disposition of the case by the court, commissioner, 
or magistrate, except that the Secretary may, in lieu thereof, permit 
such person to post a bond or other surety satisfactory to him. Upon 
conviction, any (1) fish or wildlife seized shall be forfeited to the 
Secretary for disposal by him in such manner as he deems appro-
priate, and (2) any other property or items seized may, in the dis-
cretion of the court, commissioner, or magistrate, be forfeited to the 
United States or otherwise disposed of. The owner or consignee of any 
Notification o
f 
sucii fisli, wildlife, property, or item so seized, shall, as soon as prac-
ticable following such seizure, be notified of that fact in accordance 
with regulations established by the Secretary or the Secretary of the 
Treasury. If no conviction results from any such alleged violation, 
such fish, wildlife, property or item so seized in connection therewith 
shall be immediately returned to the owner or consignee in accordance 
with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, unless the Secretary, 
withhi thirty days following the final disposition of the case involving 
such violation, commences proceedings under subsection (a) of this 
section. 
(d) For the ])urposes of facilitating enforcement of sections 2 and ^^^^^:^°l^-^ °^ 
P
> of this Act and reducing the costs thereof, the Secretary, Avith the ^iJ)n^^y sec^eflry 
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall, after notice and an 
Hearing notice. 
opportunity for a ])ublic hearing, from time to time designate, by 
regulation, any port or ports in the ITnited States for the importation 
of fish and wildlife, other than shellfish and fishery products imported 
for commercial purposes, into the United States. The importation of 
31-100 O - 70 - 20 
seizure. 
Return of 
property to owner. 
278 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Exceptions. 
Regulations, 
issuance. 
International 
agreements for 
fish and wildlife 
preservation. 
International 
conservation 
convention. 
Appropriation. 
Law adminis-
tration, coordina-
tion. 
26 Stat. 416; 
32 Stat. 792; 
76 Stat. 129; 
46 Stat. 689. 
46 Stat. 741. 
such fisli or wildlife into any port in the L^nited States, except those 
so designated, shall be prohibited after the effective date of such desig-
nations; except that the Secretary, under such terms and conditions as 
he may prescribe, may permit importation at nondesignated ports for 
movement to designated ports of entry. Such regulations may provide 
other exceptions to such prohibition if the Secretary deems it appro-
priate and consistent with the purposes of this subsection. 
(e) In carrying out the provisions of sections 2 through 5 of this 
Act, the Secretary may issue such regulations as may be appropriate. 
SEC. 5. (a) In carrying out the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of 
this Act, the Secretary, through the Secretary of State, shall 
encourage foreign countries to provide protection to species and sub-
species of fish or wildlife threatened with worldwide extinction, to take 
measures to prevent any fish or wildlife from becoming threatened 
with extinction, and shall cooperate with such countries m providing 
technical assistance in developing and carrying out programs to pro-
vide such protection, and shall, through the Secretary of State, 
encourage bilateral and multilateral agreements with such countries 
for the protection, conservation, and propagation of fish or wildlife. 
The Secretary shall also encourage persons, taking directly or indi-
rectly fish or wildlife in foreign countries for importation into the 
United States for commercial or other purposes, to develop and carry 
out, with such assistance as he may provide under any authority avail-
able to him, conservation practices designed to enhance such fish or 
wildlife and their habitat. The Secretary of State, in consultation with 
the Secretary, shall take appropriate measures to encourage the devel-
opment of adequate measures, including, if appropriate, international 
agreements, to prevent such fish or wildlife from becoming threatened 
with worldwide extinction. 
(b) To assure the worldwide conservation of endangered species 
and to prevent competitive harm to affected United States industries, 
the Secretary, through the Secretary of State, shall seek the convening 
of an international ministerial meeting on fish and wildlife prior to 
June 30, 1971, and included in the business of that meeting shall be 
the signing of a binding international convention on the conservation 
of endangered species. 
(c) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed 
$200,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of subsection 
(b) of this section, such sums to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 6. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary shall 
provide for appropriate coordination of the administration of this Act 
and amendments made by this Act, with the administration of the 
animal quarantine laws (21 U.S.C. 101 et seq., 21 U.S.C. Ill, 21 U.S.C. 
134 et seq.) and the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1306). 
(b) Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall 
be construed as superseding or limiting in any manner the functions 
of the Secretary of Agriculture under any other law relating to pro-
hibited or restricted importations of animals and other articles and no 
proceeding or determination under this Act shall preclude any proceed-
ing or be considered determinative of any issue of fact or law in any 
proceeding under 
any Act administered 
by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
(c) Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall 
be construed as superseding or limiting in any manner the functions 
and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury under the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended, including, without limitation, section 527 
of said Act (19 U.S.C. 1527) relating to the importation of wildlife 
taken, killed, possessed or exported to the United States in violation 
of the laws or regulations of a foreign country. 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
279 
SEC. 7. (a) Section 43 of title 18, United States Code, is amended ,62 stat esv; 
. 
T 
_p •^^ 
' 
74 Stat. 
754. 
to read as lollows: 
"§43. Transportation of wildlife taken in violation of State, 
National, or foreign laws; receipt; making false records 
"(a) Any person who— 
"(1) delivers, carries, transports, or ships, by any means what-
ever, or causes to be delivered, carried, transported, or shipped 
for commercial or noncommercial purposes or sells or causes to 
be sold any wildlife taken, transported, or sold in any manner 
in violation of any Act of Congress or regulation issued there-
under, or 
"(2) delivers, carries, transports, or ships, by any means what-
ever, or causes to be delivered, carried, transported, or shipped 
for commercial or noncommercial purposes or sells or causes to 
be sold in interstate or foreign commerce any wildlife taken, 
transported, or sold in any manner in violation of any law or 
regulation of any State or foreign country; or 
"(b) Any person who— 
"(1) sells or causes to be sold any products manufactured, 
made, or processed from any wildlife taken, transported, or sold 
in any manner in violation of any Act of Congress or regulation 
issued thereunder, or 
"(2) sells or causes to be sold in interstate or foreign com-
merce any products manufactured, made, or processed from any 
wildlife taken, transported, or sold in any manner in violation of 
any law or regulation of a State or a foreign country, or 
"(3) having purchased or received wildlife imported from any 
foreign country or shipped, transported, or carried in inter-
state commerce, makes or causes to be made any false record, ac-
count, label, or identification thereof, or 
"(4) receives, acquires, or purchases for commercial or non-
commercial purposes any wildlife— 
"(A) taken, transported, or sold in violation of any law or 
regulation of any State or foreign country and delivered, car-
ried, transported, or shipped by any means or method in inter-
state or foreign commerce, or 
"(B) taken, transported, or sold in violation of any Act of 
Congress or regulation issued thereunder, or 
"(5) imports from Mexico to any State, or exports from any 
State to Mexico, any game mammal, dead or alive, or part or 
product thereof, except under permit or other authorization of 
the Secretary or, in accordance with any regulations prescribed 
by him, having due regard to the requirements of the Migratory 
Birds and Game Mammals Treaty with Mexico and the laws of 
so stat. uii. 
the United States forbidding importation of certain live mam-
mals injurious to agriculture and horticulture; 
shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in subsections (c) and 
(d) of this section. 
"(c) (1) Any person who knowingly violates, or who, in the exer- 
Penalty. 
cise of due care, should know that he is violating, any provision of 
subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be assessed a civil penalty 
by the Secretary of not more than $5,000 for each such violation. 
Each violation shall be a separate offense. No penalty shall be assessed 
^ea^^g notice. 
unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing 
with respect to such violation. Any such civil penalty may be com-
in'omised by the Secretary. Upon any failure to pay the penalty 
assessed under this paragraph, the Secretary may request the Attorney 
General to institute a civil action in a district court of the United 
280 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Search and 
seizure warrant 
Notification of 
seizure. 
States for any district in which sucli person is fonnd or resides or 
transacts business to collect tlie penalty and such court shall have 
jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. In hearing such action, 
the court shall have authority to review the violation and the assess-
ment of tlie civil penalty de novo. 
•'(2) Any employee autliorized by the Secretary to enforce the 
provisions of this section, or any officer of the customs, shall have 
authority to execute any warrant to search for and seize any wildlife, 
product, property, or item used or possessed in violation of this sec-
tion with respect to which a civil penalty may be assessed pursuant 
to paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such wildlife, product, property, 
or item so seized shall be held by such employee pending disposition 
of proceedings by the Secretary involving the assessment of a civil 
Posting o
f bond, pejuilty pursuaut to paragraph (1) of this subsection; except that 
the Secretary may, in lieu of holding such wildlife, product, property, 
or item, permit such person to post a bond or other surety satisfac-
tory to the Secretary. TTpon the assessment of a civil penalty pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) of this subsection for any nonwillfid violation 
of this section, such wildlife, product, property, or item so seized 
may be proceeded against in any court of competent jurisdiction 
and forfeited to the Secretary for disposition by him in such man-
ner as he deems appropriate. The owner or consignee of any such 
wildlife, product, property, or item so seized shall, as soon as prac-
ticable following such seizure, be notified of that fact in accordance 
with regulations established l)y the Secretary oi- the Secretary of the 
Treasury. Whenever any wildlife, product, property, or item is seized 
pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall move to dispose of 
the civil penalty proceedings pursuant to paragraph (1) of this 
subsection as expeditiously as possible. If, with respect to any such 
Avildlife, ])roduct, property, or item so seized, no action is commenced 
in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the forfeiture of 
such wildlife, product, property, or item within thirty days follow-
ing the disposition of proceedings involving the assessment of a civil 
penalty, such wildlife, pi'oduct, property, or item shall be innnedi-
ately returned to the owner or the consignee in accordance with regu-
lations promulgated by the Secretary. 
"(d) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any pro-
vision of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall, upon conviction, 
be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one 
year, or both. 
"(e) Any wildlife or products thereof seized in connection with 
any knowing and willful violation of this section with respect to which 
a penalty may be imposed pursuant to subsection (d) shall, upon con-
viction of such violation, be forfeited to the Secretary to be disposed of 
by him in such manner as he deems appropriate. Any other property 
or item so seized may upon conviction, in the discretion of the court, 
be forfeited to the United States or otherwise disposed of. The owner 
or consignee of any such wildlife, product, property, or item so seized 
shall, as soon as practicable following such seizure, be notified of that 
fact in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary or the 
Secretary of the Treasury. If no conviction results from any such 
alleged violation, such wildlife, product, ])roperty or item so seized in 
connection therewith shall be immediately returned to the owner or 
consignee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secre-
tary, unless the Secretary, within thirty days following the final dis-
position of the case involving such violation, commences proceedings 
imder subsection (c) of this section. 
Penalty. 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
281 
"(f) For the purpose of this section, tlie term— 
Definitions. 
"(1) 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior; 
"(2) 'person' means any individual, firm, corporation, associ-
ation, or partnersliip; 
"(:>) 'Avildlife' means any wihl mannnal, wild bird, amphibian, 
reptile, mollusk, or crustacean, or any part, egg, or otfspring 
thereof, or the dead body or parts thereof, but does not include 
migratory birds for which protection is afforded under the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended; 
te use vfo.' 
"(4) 'State' means the several States, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Auierican Samoa, the Virgin 
Islands, and Guam; and 
"(5) 
'taken' means captured, killed, collected, or otherwise 
possessed." 
(b) Section ^054 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended 
^^ ^'^'- ^^''• 
to read as follows: 
"§ 3054. Officers' powers involving animals and birds 
"Any employee authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to en-
force sections 4'2, 43, and 44 of this title, and anv officei- of the customs, 
^^ f
*
^
'
- ^
^
^
• 
^ 
- 1 
j _ - 
V > 
I I 
1 
1 
Ante, 
p. 
279. 
juay arrest any person Avno violates section 42 or 44, or who sucli 
62 stat. 687. 
employee or officer of the customs has probable cause to believe is know-
ingly and willfully violating section -J3, in his presence or view, and 
may execute any Avarrant or other process issued by an officer or court 
of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of said sections.''. 
(c) Section 3112 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended to 
^2 stat. 820. 
read ;)s follows: 
"§ 3112. Search warrants for seizure of animals, birds, or eggs 
''Any employee authorized by the Secretary of the IiUerior to en-
force sections 42, 4;'), and 44 of this title, and any officer of the customs, 
shall have authority to execute any wai-rant to search for aiul seize any 
wildlife, product, property, or item used or possessed in connection 
Avitli a violation of sex'tion 42 or 44, or in connection Avith a knowing 
and willfid violation of section 43, and any such wildlife, product, 
l)ropei-ty, or item so seized shall be held by him or by the United States 
marshal ])endina' disposition thereof by the court.'". 
Si:c. 8. (a) The first paragra])h in 'section 44 of title 18, United 
working and 
States Code, is amended by deleting "Avild animals or birds, or the slonsT^ provi-
dead bodies or parts thereof," and inserting "any Avild mammal, Avild 
bird, ami)hil)ian, or reptile, oi- any mollusk or crustacean, or the dead 
body or parts or eggs thereof." 
(b) Section 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end thereof a neAv paragraph to read as folloAA's: 
"In any case Avhere the marking, labeling, or tagging of a package 
under this section indicating in any Avay the contents thereof Avould 
create a significant possibility of theft of the package or its contents, 
the Secretary of the Interior may, upon request of the oAvner thereof 
or his agent or by regulation, provide some other reasonable means 
of notifving a})])ropriate author-ities of the contents of such packages." 
SF.C. b. (a) Section 2 of the Black Bass Act (44 Stat. 576), as a^endLn^s" ^'''' 
amended (10 I'.S.C. 852), is amended to read as folloAA'S: 
^Tl"s^^?5^*7. 
" S K ( \ 2. It shall be uidawful for any ])erson—• 
"(1) to deliver or receive for transportation, or to transi)ort, 
by any means Avhatsoever, in interstate or foreign commerce*, any 
black bass aiul other fish, if such person knows or in the exercise 
of due care should know that (A) such delivery or transportation 
is contrary to the hiAV of the State or any foreign country from 
Avhich such black bass or other fish is found or transported, or is 
contrary to other applicable laAv, or (B) such black bass or other 
282 
PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
fish has been either caught, killed, taken, sold, purchased, 
possessed, or transported, at any time, contrary to the law of the 
State or foreign country, in which it was cau*^ht, killed, taken, 
sold, purchased, or possessed, or from which it was transported, 
or contrary to other applicable law; 
- 
"(2) to purchase or receive any such black bass or other fish, if 
=
*
' 
such person knows, or in the exercise of due care should know, 
that such bass or fish has been transported in violation of the pro-
visions of this Act; 
''(3) receiving any shipment of black bass or other fish trans-
ported in interstate or foreign commerce to make any false record 
or render a false account of the contents of such shipment, if such 
person knows, or in the exercise of due care should know, that 
such record or account is false. For the purposes of this section, 
62 Stat. 686. 
^j^g provisious of sectiou 10 of title 18, Ignited States Code, shall 
apply to the term 'interstate or foreign commerce"." 
(b) Section 3 of the Black Bass Act (46 Stat. 846), as amended (16 
61 Stat. 517. 
X^.S.C. 852a), is amended by deleting the comma after "'commerce" 
and inserting therein "or foreign commerce,"'. 
(c) Section 6(a) of the Black Bass Act (46 Stat. 846), as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 852d(a)), is amended by adding a new sentence at the end 
thereof to read as follows: "The provisions of this section and any 
regulations issued thereunder shall be enforced by personnel of the 
Secretary of the Interior, and he may utilize by agreement, with or 
without reimbursement, personnel, services, and facilities of other 
Federal agencies." 
(d) The first section of the Black Bass Act (46 Stat. 846), as 
amendeid (16 IT.S.C. 851), is amended by inserting immediately before 
the period at the end thereof a comma and the following: "and the 
term 'State' means the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, 
and Guam". 
^""P^^^- 
SEC. 10. The second paragraph of section 4 of the Migratory Bird 
4/statr'is5".' 
Treaty Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 705), is hereby repealed. 
Effective dkte. 
SEC. 11. The provisious of sections 1 through 10 of this Act shall 
be effective one hundred and eighty days after the date of enactment 
.t ^. >..E: 
of this Act. 
...OS ,a,:....: 
g^^^ ^2^ ^^^ Section 1 of the Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 926; 
16 U.S.C. 668aa), is amended by adding new subsection at the end 
thereof to read as follows: 
w'l'^i-f'^""'^ 
"(d) For the purpose of sections 1 through 3 of this Act, the 
term 'fish and wildlife' means any wild mammal, fish, w41d bird, 
amphibian, reptile, mollusk, or crustacean." 
(b) The last sentence of section 2(c) of the Act of October 15, 
1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C. 668bb(c)), is amended by changing the 
"$750,000" to "$2,500,000". 
(c) Section 2(d) of the Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 
U.S.C. 668bb(d)), is amended by adding a new^ sentence at the end 
thereof to read as follows: "The Secretary is authorized to acquire 
, .yia 
j^y purchase, donation, exchange, or otherwise any privately owned 
land, water, or interests therein within the boundaries of any area 
administered by him, for the purpose of conserving, protecting, re-
storing, or propagating any selected species of native fish and wild-
life that are threatened with extinction and each such acquisition shall 
be administered in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to 
Appropriation. 
gyp|^ nven, aud there is authorized to be appropriated annually for 
fiscal years 1970, 1971, and 1972 not to exceed $1,000,000 to carry out 
the provisions of this sentence." 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-137-DEC. 5, 1969 
283 
(d) The provisions of sections 1 througii 5 of this Act and sections 
1 through 3 of the Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C. 
668aa-668cc), as amended by this section, shall hereinafter be cited 
as the "Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969". 
citation o
f act. 
(e) The second sentence of section 1(a) of the Act of October 15, 
1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C. 668aa(a)), is amended by changing the 
coninia after the word "extinction" to a period and deleting the re-
mainder of the sentence. 
(f) The provisions of sections 4 and 5 of the Act of October 15, 
1966 (80 Stat. 929; 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended, shall herein-
after be cited as the "National Wildlife Refuge System Administra- 
citation o
f act. 
tion Act of 1966". 
Approved December 5, 1969. 
Public Law 91436 
AN A C T 
December 5, 1969 
To ameiicl section 336(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
[H. R. 3666] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 336(c) Naa^nliu*y°Ac^?'^ 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act is hereby amended to read as amendment. 
follows: 
"(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this title, no final 
hearing shall be held on any petition for naturalization nor shall any 
person be naturalized nor shall any certificate of naturalization be 
issued by any court within a period of thirty days after the filing of 
the petition for naturalization. The Attorney General may waive such 
period in an individual case if he finds that the waiver will be in the 
public interest." 
Approved December 5, 1969 . 
66 Stat. 257. 
8 u s e 1447. 
Public Law 91-137 
AN A C T 
December 5, 1969 
To extend for one year tlie authorization for research relating to fuels and 
[s. 2276] 
vehicles under the provisions of the Clean Air Act. 
Clean Air Act, 
amendment. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the first sen-
tence of section 104(c) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 1857b-l(c)) "TrstaT.^ss 
is amended by striking out "and", and by striking out the period at the 
end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof ", and for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1970, $45,000,000.". 
Approved December 5, 1969.