I want to call the meeting to order and welcome everybody here.
Welcome, Ambassador Sullivan. We realize, Ambassador, that this is very short notice and we certainly appreciate the opportunity of having you come before the committee this morning.
At our meeting on Tuesday we were discussing some future business and somebody suggested that we get you here to have a chat about your travels and experiences in dealing with the seal hunt, seal harvest. I informed them that I knew you were in town, so we managed to arrange a meeting.
I want to say sorry to all the committee members, and especially to Mr. Simms for making him have to get up so early in the morning, but time is of the essence and Mr. Sullivan couldn't make it at any other time other than 8:15. We know that it bothers you, but that's all we can do about it.