Three mainstays of fishing in- 

 dustry: skilled hands and nylon 

 net. Average age of fishermen 

 continues to rise as too few youths 

 choose the sea. Nylon makes 

 possible large nets and large 

 catches. 



Photo: Rex Gary Schmidt 



I conclude that we must gain markets in relation to other 

 protein foods and we must begin looking aggressively towards 

 world markets if we are to prosper as an industry. We've 

 obviously been looking inwardly for too long. 



Ample warning has been sounded by several of our speakers 

 about the need for additional knowledge of the fishery resources 

 of the ocean, better regulation of the catch and the efforts, es- 

 pecially on those common grounds fished by many nations, and 

 the need for effective international control and enforcement. 

 One need only to reflect briefly upon the course of this Con- 

 ference to recognize that competition for the markets is going 

 to be greater in the future than it has been in the past. 

 More adequate rules which safeguard the resource and give 

 ample opportunity for marketing ingenuity are needed on an in- 

 ternational basis. These are not the things we can solve today, 

 although it seems obvious that much thought is being given, not 

 only in our three countries, but throughout the world to those 

 problems of international conservation of resources and inter- 

 national cooperation at the marketplace. If I may be allowed 

 to sum up the results of this Conference in a few simple sen- 

 tences, I would say that within the hearts and minds of the 

 fishing industries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States 



there is hope, there is optimism, but there is caution. Our 

 guests have shown us that opportunities are present, but that 

 serious barriers to the development of the full use of the re- 

 sources of the sea by fishermen of all nations exist. There is op- 

 timism for improved fishing and belief that the harvest from the 

 sea can help make the world a better place in which to live. 

 There is also a feeling that too-rapid development, with a lack 

 of adequate research and understanding of the sea and its in- 

 habitants, may well lead us to deplete our resource and destroy 

 our hopes and aspirations. 



I would echo the hope of those who have spoken here that 

 the thoughts and ideas which have been expressed over the past 

 3 days may be made available to us so that we may reflect 

 upon them again and again. And out of these reflections we 

 must urge actions by our respective governments, in coopera- 

 tion with the industries of our three countries, leading towards 

 strong and prosperous North American fishing industries; har- 

 vesting our share of the bountiful food resources of the sea in 

 a manner consistent with the highest conservation principles; 

 making these products available to our own citizens, for the 

 profit of our businessmen and for the strength of our govern- 

 ments — but also for the long-range welfare of mankind every- 

 where. 



72 



US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1966 O — 219-525 



