402 ^^- C. Herrington 



in relation to the catch from the fish stocks covered by the convention. It is hoped 

 through this convention eventually to develop the co-operation of all of the eastern 

 Pacific coastal states, off which tuna are found, in a programme of research and, if 

 necessary, regulation. Recently, Panama has adhered to this convention, and is now 

 an active member. 



NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERY CONVENTION 



For the past two decades many people interested in New England's high-seas 

 fisheries have strongly advocated a fisheries convention among the nations fishing 

 the northwest Atlantic. This finally led to the negotiation in February 1949 of the 

 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention, which convention includes all ten countries 

 from the two sides of the Atlantic whose vessels fish in the area. 



Several new features were developed in this convention to handle the special 

 problems arising from so many countries fishing to varying extents in the different 

 parts of the northwest Atlantic area. The convention divides the northwest Atlantic 

 into five sub-areas and provides a separate panel for each sub-area, each panel 

 including representatives only from those nations fishing in the sub-area concerned. 

 It is possible by this means to bring the many separate problems involving the dif- 

 ferent groups of countries in each sub-area under one over-all convention. This 

 avoids the necessity of a multiplicity of separate agreements. The convention also 

 provides that, when conservation measures recommended by the commission are 

 accepted by all the parties which are members of the panel for a given sub-area, the 

 measures then apply to all parties to the convention. The operations of the com- 

 mission are financed on the basis of $500 annually from each contracting party, with 

 the remaining costs divided among the parties in proportion to the number of panels 

 on which they are members. In the field of research, the convention provides that 

 the commission, when feasible, shall arrange for the co-operative study of the fishery 

 problems of the area by the countries party to the convention, through preparation 

 and co-ordination of an over-all research program, rather than by operating its 

 own research staff as do the halibut, salmon, and tuna commissions. 



NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES CONVENTION 



The north Pacific area includes the three oldest examples of successful international 

 co-operation in the maintenance of the productivity of major aquatic resources — 

 fur seals, hahbut, and salmon. It is also an area which has witnessed some of the most 

 severe conflicts and disagreements between the fishermen of different countries in 

 connection with their fishing operations. The fisheries for halibut and salmon of the 

 northeastern Pacific were developed at an early stage because of the strong market 

 demand which resulted in a premium price. The Governments of the United States 

 and Canada have participated in extensive unilateral and joint efforts to study and 

 regulate these fisheries, and to restore and maintain their maximum productivity. 

 It is generally recognized that the continued productivity of these resources is the 

 result of the expenditure of research and funds by the managing governments and 

 the restraints placed upon their own fishermen by an extensive regulatory system. 

 It is generally felt that if these resources, which have been maintained by the con- 

 tiguous states, could be drawn upon by the fishermen of other countries which had 



