to amend or change or to repeal any law passed by the game and fish commission. So we have, gentlemen, an autonomous agency which combines both executive and legislative functions-an agency which can make and amend its own laws at any hour of the night or day, 12 months out of the year and which has a police force to enforce them. This is a form of government which was warned against by Thomas Jefferson, which disrupts the balance of power as cherished by all Americans and which probably is in violation of section 4, article 4 of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees a republican form of government. This curious agency does exist, however, in Arkansas and is very real to those of us who live here. The attitudes generated by total power caused much undue harassment of our agricultural endeavor in its infancy. At this time the Arkansas fish farmers and the game and fish commission are in a period of truce, but we have no guarantee as to the length or duration of that truce. Therefore, we cannot agree to the allocation of funds to that agency. Our third reason for opposing allocation to this agency can only be explained after an understanding of the first two reasons. The forces which have opposed us in the first two reasons have combined to disappoint us in the allocation of previous funds which were supposed to have been for our benefit. We have an outstanding example of Washington planned and directed research in Arkansas. I refer to the fish farm experimental station at Stuttgart. To date it has been a total failure and there is little or no evidence that it will improve. Chiefly, we think, because the people who plan its operation have never seen a fish farm, have no conceptions of the problems involved, and have staffed the station with persons with a similar background. As you may or may not know, it is being operated by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries, which, in our area, is notorious for its antagonism toward commercial fisheries. That it should not be in the hands of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries is generally admitted by all concerned, but nevertheless it is there by one of the simple little treaties that Washington bureaucrats sometimes use. A copy of this treaty is attached to this. While we have no proof that would stand up in court, we have from what newspaper reporters call usually reliable sources, information that our game and fish commission and sportsmens clubs pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to take this station away from the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. I offer this to support the thesis that it may not always be to the best interest of the Nation's taxpayers to offer funds for commercial fishery research to an agency which might be influenced by sport fishermen and that the funds should be managed on a local level without planning and direction from Washington. In closing I want to say that, in behalf of S. 627, we badly need research in harvesting, technology, and marketing. We will urge our congressional delegation to support S. 627 if it is amended to allow our Arkansas Industrial Development Commission or university to qualify for funds and will ask them to oppose it if it does not. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, To: Director, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and Director, Bureau of Sport From: Chief, Division of Biological Research, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and Chief, Division of Sport Fisheries, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Subject: A fishery research program for rice ponds. In anticipation of the enactment of Public Law 85-342 and the subsequent appropriation of initial funds therefor, we have jointly prepared a statement outlining the responsibilities of the two Bureaus for the authorized program. Basically, this statement recognizes (1) the primary orientation of the project toward the production of fish for commercial purposes, and (2) that most of the on-the-ground research is in the field of pond-fish culture. The latter falls within the province of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Under date of May 6, 1958, the Commissioner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directed the joint preparation of a long-range program detailing plans for the proposed study. It is proposed that we complete this plan by the deadline date of June 30, 1958. The statement of responsibilities, bearing your approval, would be made a part of the long-range program plan by suitable reference. Therefore, we recommend your approval of the statement of responsibilities entitled "A Fishery Research Program for Rice Ponds" at this time. Two copies are attached for signature. JOHN S. GOTTSCHALK, Chief, Division of Sport Fisheries. ALBERT L. TESTER, Chief, Division of Biological Research. A FISHERY RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR RICE PONDS To provide a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the two Bureaus of the Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to activities which may be undertaken with the authority contained in Public Law 85-342, the following guides are established (item numbers refer to the objectives listed in sec. 1 of the act): (1) It is recognized that the primary purpose of the fishery research program for rice ponds is to develop improved techniques for the propagation, culture, and marketing of fishes of value in commerce. The functions of the program which relate to fish culture have been assigned to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for administration in view of the primary interests of that Bureau in fish cultural work. (2) The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries shall (a) Under item 1, have the primary responsibility for determining which species of fish should be the subject of research aimed at their commercial production through culture in shallow reservoirs and flooded ricelands, (b) Under item 6, develop methods of harvesting and marketing, including a study of sport fishing as a means of such harvest, and (c) Under item 4, make a statistical study of the commercial harvest once it is established, to determine the rate of harvesting and fish size at harvesting which will produce the greatest yield of commercially valuable fish. (3) The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife will (a) Under item 2, develop methods for production of fingerling fishes for stocking purposes, (b) Under item 3, develop methods for the control of parasites and diseases of brood fish and fingerlings, (c) Under item 4, develop economical methods for rearing fish to marketable size, and (d) Under item 5, foster cooperation with the Department of Agriculture in research on fish crop rotation. The Bureaus will consult with each other as the need arises to further define research objectives, including the establishment of standards governing the marketability of fishes utilized in this program. Budgets will be prepared for each Bureau's needs based on the anticipated long-term program. The respective operational units will make every effort to keep each other advised on project plans and results. A comprehensive report covering all aspects of the program will be prepared annually for use by the Commissioner. Approved: June 12, 1958, Donald L. McKernan, Director, Bureau of CommerIcial Fisheries. Approved: June 13, 1958, Daniel H. Janzen, Director, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Mr. LENNON. If you will be back tomorrow, sir, I hope the committee can hear you. I know they will be glad to. Thank you very much. Now, is there anyone else we can accommodate in that way, because there is another bill scheduled for hearing tomorrow in addition to trying to finish the testimony on this particular one. If not, gentlemen, the committee will stand adjourned until tomorrow at 10. (Whereupon, at 12:29 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned, to reconvene at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 1964.) 30-812-64- -13 MISCELLANEOUS FISHERIES LEGISLATION COMMERCIAL FISHERY RESEARCH THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1964 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, The subcommittee met at 10:10 a. m., pursuant to recess, in room 219, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. T. A. Thompson (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. THOMPSON. The subcommittee will come to order. Our colleague on the full committee and very close friend, Mr. Glenn, would like to make a short statement, gentlemen. Mr. Glenn, we welcome you to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation. STATEMENT OF HON. MILTON W. GLENN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY Mr. GLENN. Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. My statement is very brief so I won't take much of your time. The Federal Government has spent millions and perhaps billions of dollars down through the years on the development of agriculture throughout the Nation, the purpose, of course, being to safeguard and develop sources of foodstuffs for ourselves and for marketing throughout the world. With the population increasing as it has during the past few decades, and with its continuing increase in the normal course of events, it has become evident the time will be reached when there will be a need to develop new sources of food supply. Scientific research has shown that one of the great untouched sources of food is the oceans of the world, particularly along the coastal areas. Research and development can undoubtedly show where this great untouched source of supply can be put to use, not only from the standpoint of development, but also from the standpoint of rejuvenating our fishing industry. The Soviets are way ahead of all other nations in their research on this great source of supply and have their ships going into all the oceans of the world and even into our own coastal areas, gathering information which they say (and which I hope) is for the research into fish, aquatic plants, and so forth, and all the data which will aid in developing the products of our oceans for human consumption. In fact our Nation, which was at one time in second place among the fishing nations of the world, has now dropped to fifth place, and it is general knowledge that fishing (one of the Nation's oldest industries) is in a very depressed state, and that whole areas that were once given over to the fishing industry are suffering from an almost complete closing down of fishing activity as well as fish processing. The enactment of this legislation will enable the Federal Government to aid the various State agencies in the development of programs in the furtherance of commercial fisheries which will be of great aid to the present depression in the fishing industry as well as in the development of sources of food supply and, even aiding in the growth and increase of species of fish and shellfish along the coast, which are fast disappearing. I have introduced H.R. 8537, which is identical to the bill under consideration. That concludes my statement Mr. Chairman. Mr. THOMPSON. Are there any questions? We certainly thank you for your appearance here this morning, Mr. Glenn. Mr. Ralph A. Richards? (No response.) Is Mr. Ronald Green present? (No response.) Mr. Dana Wallace? Mr. WALLACE. Right here, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Wallace, will you come up and we will be glad to hear your testimony on S. 627. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your statment. STATEMENT OF DANA E. WALLACE, MARINE RESOURCES SCIENTIST, MAINE DEPARTMENT OF SEA AND SHORE FISHERIES Mr. WALLACE. Sir, I have a prepared statement here and would like to make some additional remarks, if I may. My name is Dana Wallace, a marine resources scientist with the Sea and Shore Fisheries Department of the State of Maine. However, I am appearing today on behalf of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as current chairman of their biological committee. I will make my remarks brief, as my statement is written and to be submitted. I will try to elaborate on several points. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has been very interested in the total development of our fisheries along the Atlantic coast. One of the earliest projects that they worked on was to call attention to this matter of pollution. As to pollution, you may ask why as fisheries agencies are we so concerned with this problem. We are concerned with it because of the tremendous loss of our fisheries resources because of pollution. Thinking now in terms of bacteriological pollution along the entire coast we have large areas that are closed to the taking of shellfish. As fisheries agencies, we are not in the position of working directly with the communities in sewerage abatement plants, projects, reviews and all that sort of thing, but we do have a very definite function in presenting to the people in these communities facts as to what is being lost. We feel this to be tremendously important. |