8 SALMON GEAR LIMITATION 



obstructions to the migration of salmon were removed. In addition, 

 the Commission collected detailed and excellent statistics of the 

 total sockeye runs. Regulation of the Fraser River and Puget Sound 

 sockeye fisheries was undertaken for the first time by the Com- 

 mission in 1946. 



The responsibilities of the Commission were enlarged to include 

 pink salmon stocks of the Fraser River by an amendment which 

 was signed on 28 December, 1956. 



Essentially the Commission has the responsibility to decide on 

 the required escapement and the permissible catch from each run 

 of pink and sockeye salmon and to recommend regulations to the 

 Government of Canada and to the State of Washington which will 

 allow an even division of the catch between the fishermen of Canada 

 and United States. 



Organization of the Study 



The Commission and the Department of Fisheries have respon- 

 sibility for conservation and thus the problem which was given to 

 the University essentially was to determine how much fishing gear 

 was needed to harvest the quantity of salmon that can reasonably 

 be expected to be available to Washington fishermen during the 

 next decade, to estimate what earnings fishermen and vessels might 

 expect, and to suggest legal action which should be taken to limit 

 the size of the fleet. Such a study by the University was possible 

 only through close collaboration with the College of Fisheries, 

 Department of Economics, and the School of Law. The general 

 coordination of the contract was handled by the Fisheries Research 

 Institute. Donald E. Bevan and Gerald J. Paulik of the Institute 

 were responsible for the analysis of the data on the runs of salmon. 



The University and the authors of this report have been asked 

 to study the question of gear limitation to provide factual informa- 

 tion that can be used as a basis for decision. We believe that fishing 

 gear limitation as outlined in this report is desirable and will benefit 

 all segments of the fishing industry. Ultimately, of course, the 

 decision for its implementation rests with the people of the state, 

 particularly those most interested in the utilization of the resource, 

 and their elected representatives. 



Fortunately, the Washington Department of Fisheries and the 

 International Pacific Salmon Commission had detailed statistical 

 data on the catch and fishing effort, as well as extensive analyses of 



