U.S. participation in conservation of international fishery resources 405 



unless other considerations govern; for example, if the fishery is located m 

 substantial part off the coasts or in the territorial waters of one party. In the 

 latter case, and in cases where the parties do not have adequate scientific staffs, 

 the use of an independent commission staff has been favoured. 



CONCLUSION 

 It is not possible at present to draft an acceptable over-all convention to cover 

 all areas of the Atlantic and Pacific. It is quite possible that further experience will 

 confirm present indications that such over-all conventions never will be the most 

 effective procedures for handling such problems. Furthermore, it is not likely that 

 the expense of operation of such an over-all convention would be less than the costs 

 of specialized conventions such as exist at present. In fact it might be increased. 

 The maintenance of separate commissions does not involve an increase in the expense 

 of operation through additional travel and working time since, whether one or a 

 group of commissions handled the various problems, the number of regional meetings 

 and travel would not be substantially affected. With an over-all convention it would 

 be much more difficult to focus proper attention on specific problems and to maintain 

 necessary public interest and support. 



