400 ^^- ^- Herrington 



conservation management, of a high-seas fishery. Prior to negotiation of the conven- 

 tion the haUbut fishery had expanded rapidly, and following that expansion the 

 yields in individual areas had precipitously decHned. 



Several characteristics of the fishery contributed to the success of the Hahbut 

 Convention. The fishery concerned two countries only, and was confined to one species 

 and largely to a single type of fishing operation. However, success was furthered 

 most of all by a reahstic and eff'ective research program which determined, then 

 concentrated upon, the lines of research which revealed the relation between the 

 fishery and the stocks of fish, and indicated the management measures which would 

 be most effective. As first negotiated, this convention provided for an international 

 commission empowered to conduct research but not to regulate. The results of the 

 research were so convincing that the convention was renegotiated in 1930 to include 

 provisions which gave the commission the authority to regulate the fishery. This 

 commission has its own research staff, and makes use of an advisory committee of 

 representatives from the halibut industry. The convention provides for equal sharing 

 of the expenses by the United States and Canada. 



The Hahbut Convention has been further revised — in 1937 and 1953 — in order 

 to keep it up to date and permit the most effective handling of its responsibiUties. 



Following inauguration in 1931 of the management program, the decline in the 

 haUbut stocks was halted, and a major increase in productivity has resulted since. 

 From a poundage of 44 millions in 1931, the catch rose to more than 70 million 

 pounds in 1954. This production exceeds that of the early years when the fishery 

 was drawing heavily upon accumulated stocks. About 75 per cent of the world's 

 present supply of halibut is produced from the stocks managed by the Halibut 

 Commission. 



PACIFIC SOCKEYE SALMON CONVENTION 

 The United States and Canada ratified their third effective fishery convention in 

 1937 to cover the sockeye salmon of the Fraser River. These salmon had been 

 practically wiped out as a result of landslides on the river, and overfishing. The 

 convention provided for regulation after research covering two cycles of the salmon 

 run, or eight years. The costs of the convention are divided equally between the two 

 governments, and the commission is required to regulate the fishery in such a way 

 that the catch is divided as nearly as possible in equal shares between the fishermen 

 of the two countries. After several years of investigation the commission proceeded 

 with the construction of fishways at Hell's Gate and elsewhere, which the com- 

 mission's investigations had clearly demonstrated were critical to the rebuilding of 

 the salmon runs and, after the lapse of the required eight years, undertook regulation 

 of the fishery. 



The commission's work is now showing practical results in the rapid increase in 

 the runs of sockeye. Through the continued operations of this commission it is con- 

 fidently expected that the runs, worth many millions of dollars annually, will be 

 restored and maintained at maximum productivity. During the peak years of the 

 fishery the production averaged about 20,000,000 fish annually. From this level it 

 was reduced to less than two million. The work of the Commission restored the run 

 in 1954 to about 10,000,000 fish, and it is expected that, under continued sound 

 research and management, runs can be built up to their original level. 



