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to provide for graduated degrees of coordinated inanaqement 

 action, and (3) the creation of dispute settlement mechanisms, 

 including the appointment of an impartial arbitrator. 



As the negotiations progressed it became apparent that 

 a comprehensive agreement could not be concluded prior to 

 the 1978 fishing season. A second one-year interim fisheries 

 agreement was negotiated and signed. Although the United 

 States approved, and urged Canada to implement, the 1978 

 agreement, it was never brought into force due to differing 

 interpretations of certain provisions. Reciprocal fishing 

 was informally permitted until June, 1978. Thereafter, each 

 country excluded fishermen of the other from areas of its 

 undisputed jurisdiction. Fishermen of both countries con- 

 tinued operations in the boundary region where the claims 

 overlapped, subject only to their respective domestic 

 regulations. 



In September 1978 Canada published a second boundary 

 claim on Georges Bank. The United States Government promptly 

 informed the Canadian Government that it considered the 

 claim to be without merit and that any attempts by Canadians 

 to fish beyond the initial Canadian claim would meet with 

 U.S. enforcement action. 



In November 1978, confirming the earlier fears of 

 both governments, Canada relaxed the restrictions it had 



