House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; the Honorable Clarence Chairman, Subcommittee of the House Marine and Fisheries Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON: Senate bill 627 of the 1st session of the 88th Congress, an act designed to promote commercial fishery research and development projects, etc., which we understand to be before the Subcommittee of the House Marine and Fisheries Committee is of vital importance to the seafood industry. On February 2, 1964, the board of directors of the Louisiana Association of Young Men's Business Clubs adopted a resolution supporting this bill and requesting that your committee favorably report same to the House for early passage. Promotion of our seafood industry through research and development is a necessity to Louisiana seafood industries and the Louisiana Association of Young Men's Business Clubs feels that enactment of this bill into law would tend to enhance the material prosperity of Louisianians. As you know, the Louisiana Association of Young Men's Business Clubs is composed of approximately 7,000 members from throughout Louisiana, and their stated purpose is in advancing the material prosperity of Louisiana. Your cooperation and assistance in obtaining a favorable report on this bill will be appreciated. Thank you, and with warm regards, I am, ARMAND J. BRINKHAUS, First Vice President. BOSTON FISHERIES ASSOCIATION, INC., Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Cannon House Office Building, DEAR CONGRESSMAN BONNER: The Boston Fisheries Association wishes to be recorded in favor of bill S. 627, which is being heard by your Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, March 3 and 4, 1964. This bill, which was passed by the Senate in 1963, would promote State commercial fisheries research and development projects, by authorizing $5 million annually, on a matching basis, to be used by those States with approved fisheries research programs. There is definite need for a well-planned program of research, development, and marketing for one of Massachusetts' most prolific resources. Within the past year an appraisal was made of the capital assets of the Massachusetts fishing industry which, including boats, plants, equipment, employment, and allied trades dependent upon the industry, was evaluated at $300 million. To further protect this investment, moneys realized from S. 627 can be utilized in projects that will be of tremendous assistance to this important Massachusetts industry. Thank you. With best regards. HUGH F. O'ROURKE, Executive Secretary. COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, Chairman HERBERT BONNER, House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR CHAIRMAN BONNER: The members of the Commercial Fishing Vessel Owners Association regret that they are unable to send a spokesman from their group to appear before the committee in support of S. 627, a bill to promote State commercial fishery research and development projects. We ask that this letter be made a part of the hearing record when considering this vital legislation. Our organization consists of 80 vessel owners who make their living commercial fishing. Troll, gill net, seine, and long-line vessel owners are in our group. Alaskans have dipped deep down in their pocket to provide a program of research and development of their commercial fisheries to the limit of the people's financial capability. The commercial fishermen, working in harmony with the State, have been willing to restrict their commercial fish take in order to insure that salmon and other such species as halibut, king crab, and shrimp are perpetuated. This has been necessary. The pack of salmon declined from a high of 8.5 million cases in 1936 to an alltime low of 1.8 million cases in 1959. Since statehood the salmon pack has increased for each cycle year. We have placed our trust and faith in a program designed for the future rehabilitation of the salmon runs to their former high level of abundance. Research and development programs have been instituted to accomplish the desired objectives; however, this work is expensive and incomplete. The enactment of S. 627 would greatly assist Alaska in its research and development work in commercial fisheries. Programs could be started which are now beyond our ability to finance. An intimate knowledge of our various commercial fisheries is required to achieve sound conservation including wise utilization goals. The State must develop methods for predicting the abundance of salmon returning to fresh water for spawning. We need to know more about the numbers of salmon required for each spawning area-too large or too little salmon escapement for reproductive purposes can be harmful. If we were able to determine the correct number of fish spawners, we would be utilizing our salmon habitat to its maximum. All fish in excess of those required for reproductive purposes could be harvested thus providing an income to the fishermen and food for the growing Nation. The shellfish/commercial fishery in Alaska has become our second most valuable fishery. Our king crab landings have increased from 4.6 million pounds in 1953 to 77 million pounds in 1963. Fishermen were paid $7,700,000 for their catch last year. The expanding crab fishery requires research programs to provide for its conservation and wise use. Foreign fleets operating off our shores are making tremendous landings of bottom and midwater species. Japanese and Russian vessels have been taking Pacific Ocean perch, pollock, black cod, flounder, crab, and shrimp. We have a critical interest in the welfare of these fish stocks. Some of these stocks we are presently harvesting ourselves, and the added foreign pressure stresses the need for more research. We will be able to participate in bottom and midwater trawling for perch and flatfish when economic conditions permit us to do so. The population of the world, and that of the United States, has been increasing. This increase has been so rapid that it is often referred to as an "explosion." It is clear to us that fishermen are going to be looked on more and more in the future to provide fish to meet increasing need. S. 627 is not a handout to the State. Rather, it recognizes the commercial fisheries of the United States as being in the national interest, and the responsibility of the Federal Government working in harness with the State to provide a healthy sustained commercial fishing economy. In behalf of the Commercial Fishing Vessel Owners Association, I strongly urge the enactment of S. 627 in the interest of the State and Nation. Sincerely, COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, ROBERT L. JONES, Vice President. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, NATIONAL FISHERIES INSTITUTE, INC., Chairman, Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: On behalf of the National Fisheries Institute, I request that you make this letter a part of the record of the hearings on the bill S. 627, "An act to promote State commercial fishery research and development projects, and for other purposes." The National Fisheries Institute supported this bill as introduced into the U.S. Senate, and as heard by the Committee on Commerce of the U.S. Senate. The National Fisheries Institute supports Senate bill 627 as passed by the U.S. Senate, and including the amendment to section 4(b) (lines 12 through 24, p. 3 of the bill copy) as introduced by Mr. Donald McKernan, Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, on March 3, 1964. We commend the bill to you and your committee, and request a favorable report to the U.S. Congress. Your action in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, F. P. LONGEWAY, Jr., General Manager. GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY, Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory does the teaching in marine biology and fisheries for 14 colleges in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Missouri. It is also the research agency for the Missisippi Marine Conervation Commission. I have been personally concerned with the fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico for the past 34 years. Fisheries production in the Gulf of Mexico has increased 700 percent since 1936, and we now have one of the leading fishery areas of the world. Nevertheless, at present, nobody has the information for administration of the fisheries of the gulf in ways which will conserve them, and maintain them, in a healthy economic condition. In part, we are far behind in knowledge of our fisheries, because they have grown so fast. The various State legislatures have not seen the need for the promotion of research in fisheries as clearly as the Federal Government has. We need help from people who take the broad view. Although we are ignorant today of many of the facts needed for fisheries administration, we will be better off tomorrow if we acquire the knowledge and use it properly. Therefore, it is my belief that the total fisheries industry of the United States would be greatly advanced by the passage of the bill before you. The Marine Conservation Commission of the State of Mississippi, and the board of trustees which administers the colleges and universities of the State, have considered S. 627 and expressed strong approval of this bill in formal motions. All State officials who are acquainted with it have personally expressed their approval to me. I sincerely hope that you are able to get it passed. Sincerely yours, GORDON GUNTER, Director. INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S Representative HERBERT C. BONNER, AND WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION, Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We urge early and favorable consideration to Senate bill 627: Federal aid to promote State fishery research and developments. As in other industries, research is necessary insurance for the future to insure renewable resources that are of major importance to the State's economy. We have, and need more, research to establish a reliable method of predicting heavy salmon runs, so a heavy run is not wasted if there are not enough fishermen in the area, or if canneries are not able to handle an unpredicted large amount of fish. Development studies, within our State, are important in finding ways of increasing the production of those fish whose natural production is being utilized. Development would include restocking native species to areas that have been depleted through improper management in the past, areas where no known factor would prevent their reestablishment. The enactment of Senate bill 627 would assure establishment of preserving the value of the fish population, thus providing maximum production on a sustained basis. We also urge approval of Senate bill 1006: Vessel construction subsidy. We have received word that this bill has had hearings before your committee, and we hope it was given favorable consideration. This bill, which is an amendment to extend the act of June 12, 1960, for the correction of inequities in the construction of fishing vessels and other purposes, which has expired, will provide for a subsidy payment in construction of fishing vessels on the part of the Federal Government to a maximum of 55 percent, instead of 33% percent, as under the original bill. Also, that this subsidization shall be for the amount of $10 million per year for 5 years, instead of $2%1⁄2 million per year for 3 years, as in the original bill. Sincerely yours, ROLLIE LINDSEY, Chairman, Legislative Committee. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Coos BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, DEAR MR. BONNER: I have received a letter from Senator Neuberger of Oregon stating that S. 627 has passed the Senate and is being referred to your committee for consideration. The Coos Bay Chamber of Commerce is extremely interested in this bill and we would appreciate any effort that you can make to see that this bill receives favorable consideration in your committee. Coos Bay, Oreg., and environs are located on the southwestern Oregon coast in the heart of the commercial fishing industry, as practiced in this area. Our principal sea products are salmon, halibut, flounder, sole, crabs, and oysters. The area also possesses another advantage: for some years the University of Oregon has conducted a summer seminar at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology located in Charleston, Oreg. This is attended by students and teachers from all over the United States and is fast being recognized as a leader in marine biological research. These facilities would indeed be an important adjunct to any State commercial fishery research and development program that would be established in this area as a result of the passage of this subject bill. While not being a depressed area, the fact is that the Coos Bay area is generally in the need of any project that will contribute substantially to the economy of the area. I sincerely hope that you will give this bill your full endorsement. DEAR SIR: Bob Bartlett just told me that you have introduced a companion bill to his S. 627, which just passed in the Senate. Good for you. The U.S. Bureau of Fisheries let the red salmon resource of the Kodiak area become so nearly depleted that lengthy closures at the watersheds of the major red salmon streams became necessary. These closures did rebuild the salmon population and for some years a healthy red salmon fishery was enjoyed. Following is a list of statistics for most of these years: But history repeated itself. The Federal conservation and enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the Alaska fishery again let this precious resource dwindle. The following pack figures bear this out: My purpose in quoting these statistics is to point out the poor inheritance that Alaska received when assuming statehood. There are many barren potential red salmon producing lakes within the Kodiak area. During all the years when the Federal Government had control of our fisheries, no effort whatsoever was made to make the lakes productive. The State has now developed two of these lakes into producers. I am anxiously hoping for a speedy enactment of legislation as set forth in S. 627 and/or your companion bill. Sincerely, KARL BRUNSTAD, United Fishermen's Market Association, Inc. NORTH BEND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, North Bend, Oreg., August 2, 1963. Hon. T. ASHTON THOMPSON, U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON: It is our understanding that your committee is considering the Commercial Fisheries Research and Development Act of 1963, which was recently passed by the Senate as S. 627. This organization and area actively support favorable consideration of this bill. Our area has a relatively small fishing industry. We feel research of the sort proposed in this bill would be of great assistance to the development of this |