is no longer chairman of the Commission, he has forwarded your letter to Mr. Richard Croker, for reply. Mr. Croker is the present chairman of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. Very truly yours, ARNIE J. SUOMELA, Executive Officer. INTERNATIONAL FISHERMEN AND ALLIED WORKERS OF AMERICA, W. M. CHAPMAN, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary, Department of State, Washington 25, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAPMAN: On behalf of the International Fishermen and Allied Workers, which represents over 100 vessels engaged in the tuna fisheries off of the Mexican and Central American coast, I want to congratulate you and the Department for having concluded negotiations looking toward a treaty with the Government of Mexico with respect to the offshore tuna fisheries. As you know we have been interested in this matter for many years. We feel that the convention as executed on January 25, 1949, represents a sound foundation for the promotion of a long-range fisheries-management program embracing the important tuna resource. It is our earnest hope that this convention will be speedily ratified by the Senate. I trust you will keep our Washington representative, Mr. Seth Levine, advised of the progress of this matter. Please feel free to call upon him for any possible assistance regarding our views. Respectfully yours, JEFF KIBRE, Secretary-Treasurer. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SECRETARY OF STATE, DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME, · Department of State, Washington 25, D. C. (Attention: Dr. W. M. Chapman, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary.) DEAR SIR: We understand that a convention establishing the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was signed by representatives of the United States and Costa Rica on May 31, 1949. The California Fish and Game Commission is pleased to give its support to this convention, feeling that it will not only bring about better relations between the two nations involved, but that it will lead eventually to the adherence of other American republics, with the end result that the tuna fisheries will benefit. If the question arises in the Senate on the stand of the Fish and Game Commission in regard to this treaty, will you please transmit the Commission's views as outlined above. Very truly yours, RICHARD S. CROKER, Chief, Bureau of Marine Fisheries and, Chairman, California Fisheries Committee. PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION, SECRETARY OF STATE, (Attention: Dr. W. M. Chapman, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary.) DEAR SIR: The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission is very glad to hear that the convention between the United States and the Republic of Costa Rica for the establishment of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has been signed by both nations, and that it will soon be before the Senate for ratification. As you know, representatives of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission acted as advisers to the United States delegation during the discussions in Wash ington, D. C., while the treaty was being negotiated. Hence, this Commission feels that it has taken an active part in the formulation of this convention. This Commission trusts that the convention will be ratified and implemented by appropriate legislation at an early date so that the Commission may begin its investigative work. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission will be glad to cooperate with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission in all respects. If the Senate should wish to know the feelings of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, will you please transmit these views to that body. Very truly yours, RICHARD S. CROKER, Chairman, Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. CALIFORNIA Department of NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME, SECRETARY OF STATE, (Attention: Dr. W. M. Chapman, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary.) DEAR SIR: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 31, 1949, in which you enclosed a copy of a proposed bill to implement a convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica for the establishment of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. I am pleased to report that the California Fisheries Committee, which represents all phases of the California tuna industry as well as the State of California, met on June 2, 1949, at Terminal Island, Calif., and gave its approval to the bill as transmitted to us. The committee is writing to members of the California delegation to the Congress, requesting that they introduce this legislation, and that the California Members in the Senate do what they can to speed ratification of the convention. Very truly yours, RICHARD S. CROKER, Chief, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, and Chairman, California Fisheries Dr. WILBERT M. CHAPMAN, SUN HARBOR PACKING CO., Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAPMAN: I wish to take this opportunity of commending you personally, and your Department, on the excellent work that has been done in connection with the establishment of the proposed Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. It is very gratifying to know that at long last our industry's relations with the countries to the south will be established on a more responsible basis than it has been in the past. I am confident that from a long-range point of view, all parties will profit considerably by the new means at their disposal in discussing problems of mutual Cannery workers union of the Pacific Los Angeles Harbor district are on record favoring the Costa Rican and Mexican Tuna Treaty. Also the enabling legislation. Ask that these matters are given favorable consideration. JAMES WAUGH, President. [Telegram] SAN PEDRO, CALIF., July 11, 1949. WARREN F. LOONEY, Department of State. We highly recommend favorable action Mexican and Costa Rican Tuna Treaties and enabling legislation. GEORGE R. WEBB, Fishermen's Cooperative Association. [Telegram] SAN DIEGO, CALIF., July 12, 1949. WARREN F. LOONEY, Foreign Affairs Specialist, Fisheries and Wildlife, Lower California Fisheries Association is in full accord with Mexican and Costa Rican Tuna Treaties as outlined by the chairman of United States delegation and Committee on Fisheries. J. J. CAMILLO, Lower California Fisheries Association. [Telegram] ASTORIA, OREG., July 13, 1949. WARREN F. LOONEY, Foreign Affairs Specialist, Fisheries and Wildlife, Office of the Under Secretary, Department of State. Reference Senate hearing on Costa Rican and Mexican Tuna Commission Treaties and enabling legislation. We approve the establishment of both of these Commissions and urge passage of enabling legislation. We are requesting Senators Cordon and Morse to support enabling bills. T. F. SANDOZ, Columbia River Packers Association, Inc. AMERICAN TUNABOAT ASSOCIATION, Senator THEODORE FRANCIS GREEN, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR GREEN: This letter is written to place on formal record with your committee the support of our organization of the convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica and of the convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico for the establishment of two International Tuna Treaty Commissions. Our organization, the American Tunaboat Association, represents by far the greater portion of the high seas fishing fleet, and its members land somewhat in excess of one-half the entire tuna landings in the United States. The tuna fishing industry is almost solely a product of American enterprise, Over a period of several years that enterprise has resulted in growth of the areas of operations to an extent where fishing is done on the high seas adjacent to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and in some cases, in the territorial waters of some of these nations. Inasmuch as many of these nations are fishing tuna and granting concessions to do so in both their own territorial waters and the high seas adjacent thereto, there arises a mutuality of interest in the study and scientific preservation of fish stocks. These conventions establish a framework for serving that interest to the end that valuable food resources may be intelligently managed and provide a means whereby scientific data may be accumulated in a field where practically no such activity has been previously undertaken. While the fishing of tuna is mentioned, our vessels have a particular continuing interest in the preservation of fishing stocks used for bait, which fish is usually found in the coastal areas within the territorial waters of several of the nations. Access to these grounds will be assisted by the adoption of the conventions. JAN 251950 At the present time there are few fisheries which are as valuable as the tuna fisheries, but at the same time there is probably no other fishery regarding which so little is known. These conventions, once in operation, will assist in overcoming this deficiency. As the major unit of the tuna fishing industry, we are concerned with the type and nature of the proposed Commissions. We feel most strongly that a Commission composed of a representative from the policy level of the Fish and Wildlife Service, a representative from the policy level of the State agency, and a representative of the public at large, with an appropriate fishery committee from the industry itself would provide a broad cross section of opinion and assist in making decisions which would take into account all the necessary factors. We have made inquiry regarding the financial aspects of these conventions and find that the signing will obligate the Government for approximately $2,500 for each convention for administrative costs. The research aspect depends, of course, upon the extent of operations, and because of the exceedingly wide area of operation only a comprehensive program would bring the proper result. estimate for such work ranges from $750,000 to $950,000 for both conventions combined for the first year of full operation, and an estimate of from $400,000 to $500,000 annually thereafter. The As a major segment of the industry our vessels form a major group of taxpayers who are concerned with the business-like administration of any funds provided. The particular composition of the Commission and advisory committee would most certainly provide a safeguard on expenditures and an adequate comparison of costs and results. We should appreciate the review of the program by the committee and its favorable reaction thereon as an assistance to one of the major fishing industries in the United States. Very truly yours, HAROLD F. CARY, General Manager. Senator GREEN. Well, that will conclude the hearing. Thank you very much for your attendance. (Whereupon, at 11:30 a. m., Thursday, July 14, 1949, the subcommittee adjourned.) |