HEARING

BEFORE A

43. Comp. SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION

ON

THE RATIFICATION BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

OF THE

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE NORTHWEST AT-
LANTIC FISHERIES SIGNED AT WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY
8, 1949 (EXECUTIVE N)

CONVENTION WITH MEXICO FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE SCIENTIFIC IN-
VESTIGATION OF TUNA, SIGNED AT MEXICO CITY, JANUARY
25, 1949 (EXECUTIVE K)

CONVENTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTER-
AMERICAN TUNA COMMISSION, SIGNED AT WASHINGTON,
MAY 31, 1949 (EXECUTIVE P)

JULY 14, 1949

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations

"THEODORE FRANCIS GREEN, Rhode Island HENRY CABOT LODGE, JR., Massachusetts BRIEN MCMAHON, Connecticut

Opening of hearing by Senator Green

1. Message from the President of the United States transmitting a con-

vention between the United States of America and Mexico for the

establishment of an International Commission for the Scientific

Investigation of Tuna, signed at Mexico City, January 25, 1949--

2. Convention for the establishment of an International Commission for

the Scientific Investigation of Tuna_

3. Message from the President of the United States transmitting a certi-

fied copy of the International Convention for the Northwest At-

lantic Fisheries, formulated at the International Northwest Atlantic

Fisheries Conference and signed at Washington under date of Febru-

ary 8, 1949, by the Plenipotentiary of the United States of America

and by the plenipotentiaries of certain other governments

International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries-

5. Final act, International Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Conference,

Washington, January 26 through February 8, 1949-

4.

6. Message from the President of the United States transmitting a con-

vention between the United States of America and Costa Rica for

the establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission,

signed at Washington, May 31, 1949.

7. Convention between the United States of America and the Republic

of Costa Rica for the establishment of an Inter-American Tropical

Tuna Commission_

8. Statement of W. M. Chapman, Special Assistant for Fisheries and

Wildlife to the Under Secretary of State__

Convention between the United States of America and Canada

and protocol of exchange of ratifications (sockeye salmon fish-

eries)

Preservation of halibut fisheries of northern Pacific Ocean and

Bering Sea...

Report of the delegation of the United States to the International

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Conference, held at Washington,

D. C., January 26 through February 8, 1949

9. Prepared statement of W. M. Chapman.

Appendix I. Pacific halibut catch since 1914_

Appendix II. Non-Federal participation -

Appendix III. Landings of tuna in California since 1926_

Appendix IV. Policy of the United States with respect to coastal

fisheries in certain areas of the high seas_

Appendix V. Letter from W. M. Chapman to the Secretary of

State summarizing the Mexico City conference and convention

relative to tuna fisheries_.

Appendix VI. United States-Costa Rica Fisheries Conference,

May 1949-report of the chairman of the United States dele-

gation

10. Statement of Hon. William F. Knowland, a United States Senator from

the State of California_

Letter to Senator William Knowland from George R. Webb,

manager, Fishermen's Cooperative Association, San Pedro,

Calif., April 8, 1949.

76

Telegram to Senator William Knowland from James Waugh,

president, San Pedro, Calif., July 11, 1949_

76

Letter to Senator William Knowland from Richard S. Croker,

Chief, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, and chairman, California

Fisheries Committee, San Francisco, Calif., April 7, 1949__.

Letter to Senator William Knowland from Richard S. Croker,

June 6, 1949----

III

11. Statement of Milton C. James, Assistant Director, Fish and Wildlife

Service, Department of the Interior__.

Table showing total catch of each country and percentage of

grand total taken by each country, in 1938_.

12. Prepared statement of Milton C. James concerning the need for ratifi-

cation of the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic

Fisheries signed at Washington on February 8, 1949____

Appendix I. Résumé of the Fisheries of the Northwestern At-

lantic__

Table 1. Catches of the United States fishing vessels in

selected areas of the North Atlantic, landed at the principal

ports

Page

78

79

84

87

95

Table 2. Rosefish landings at Boston, Portland, and Glou-

cester, 1935–46__.

98

Table 3. Active fishing vessels of New England and New

York City, by tonnage, 1941-46-

98

Table 4. Catch per day by large otter trawlers on New Eng-

land banks, area XXII, 1930-45-

Table 5. Catch per day by large otter trawlers on Nova

Scotian banks, area XXI, 1930-45.-

99

Table 6. Catch per day of haddock, area XXII south, medium

depth, 1932-45__

Table 7. Catch per day of rosefish by otter trawlers between

51 and 150 gross tons (February 15, 1944)

99

.99

Table 8. Comparative annual landings by Canadian and

United States offshore vessels___

100

9. Summary of catches (in pounds) of the principal species of

fish taken in the North Atlantic by Canada and the New

England States_

102

Table 10. Catch in pounds by statistical area of the offshore

vessels of the United States and Canada and percentage

totals taken by each country.

Table 11. Summary of the number of fishing vessels of various

categories used in the Canadian and United States fisheries

of the North Atlantic (Canadian Maritime Provinces and

New England States)

103

104

Table 13. Fishing vessels of the Maritime Provinces by ton-

nage, 1941-44_

Table 12. Canadian inshore and offshore catch in 2 prewar

years (1938 and 1939) in area XXI..

105

105

Table 14. Catch of cod off the east coast of North America

by Newfoundland fishermen (data represent round weight

of fish)_

106

Table 15. Greenland cod catch (data represent the quantity

purchased by the Royal Greenland Trading Co.)--

Table 16. Catch of all species (in pounds) taken by various

European nations in North Atlantic waters, as reported by

the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

(1932-38)_

Table 17. Catch of cod (in pounds) taken by various Euro-

pean nations in North Atlantic waters, as reported by the

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (1932-

38).

Table 18. Haddock taken in North American waters by

European boats__

106

107

107

107

108

Table 19. Catch of cod off the east coast of North America

Appendix II. Special Data on the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries__

Table 1. Average weight in pounds of all haddock caught on

Georges Bank by the New England fisheries (1931-46)----

Table 2. Average weight in pounds of rosefish taken in the

Gulf of Maine by the Gloucester fleet (1942–46) -

Table 3. All cod landed at New England ports during the

years 1931-46, by pounds, estimated numbers, and esti-

mated average weights..

108

108

109

109

12. Prepared statement of Milton C. James-Continued

Appendix II-Continued

Table 4. Average value per pound for scrod and large had-

dock landed at New England ports, and percentage differ-

ences (1930-46).

Table 5. Average value per pound for scrod, market and

large cod landed at New England ports and percentage

difference (1930–46)_.

Table 6. Relationship between fishing effort and dis-

tances traveled from New England ports 16-year period

(1931-46), all year..

Table 7. Fishing effort in days on various grounds at vari-

ous distances from New England ports, all types of gear,

by years (1931-46).

Page

109

110

110

111

111

112

Table 12. New England landings of rosefish by grounds and

years, 1931-46_

Table 8. Fishing effort in days of New England fleet in vari-

ous areas, by years for all other trawlers (1931-46).

Table 9. Fishing effort in days of New England fleet in vari-

ous areas, by years, for handliners, 1931-46_.

Table 10. Fishing effort in days of New England fleet in

various areas, by years, for line trawlers, 1931-46_-

Table 11. New England landings of haddock by grounds

and years, 1931-46__

112

113

113

Table 13. New England landings of cod by grounds and

years, 1931-46_

114

Table 14. New England landings of halibut by grounds and

years, 1931-46_

13. Prepared statement of Milton C. James concerning the need for ratifi-

cation of international conventions with Mexico and Costa Rica to

provide for scientific investigation of the tuna resources of the

Pacific...

114

114

Résumé of some of the tuna and live-bait fisheries of the west

coast of North America__.

117

Table 1. Total Pacific coast commercial tuna landings.

Table 2. Total Pacific coast commercial tuna landings show-

ing origin of catch..

121

122

Table 3. Estimated amounts of live bait used in the skipjack-

yellowfin bait fishery, showing origin of catch_-

Table 4. Numbers of operating units of some of the gear used

in taking tuna_

123

123

14. Letter and telegrams submitted by Senator Green...

123

Letter to Senator Green from Sheridan Downey, United States

Senate, July 12, 1949.

123

Letter to Senator Connally from Charles R. Carry, National Can-

ners Association, Fishery Products Division, Washington, D. C.,

July 13, 1949__

124

124

Telegram to Senator Sheridan Downey from Montgomery Phister,

San Pedro, Calif., July 11, 1949-

Telegram to Senator Sheridan Downey from James Waugh, presi-

dent, Cannery Workers Union, San Pedro, Calif., July 11, 1949-

15. Additional communications concerning the fisheries conventions..

Letter to Senator Tom Connally from Charles R. Carry, National

Canners Association, Fishery Products Division, Washington,

D. C., July 12, 1949--

Letter to Senator Tom Connally from William F. Knowland,

United States Senate, June 28, 1949_

Letter to Dr. Wilbert M. Chapman from Sun Harbor Packing
Co., Jack Crivello, president, Sun Harbor Packing Co., April
12, 1949

127

Letter to Dr. W. M. Chapman from Arnie J. Suomela, executive

officer, Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, April 12, 1949_-

Letter to W. M. Chapman from Jeff Kibre, secretary-treasurer,

International Fishermen and Allied Workers of America,

Seattle, Wash., April 28, 1949.

127

128