18 MANAGEMENT OF HIGH SEAS FISHERIES 



excess of growth continues up to the time they approach their natal 

 streams, and they fatten extensively during their last fe^v months at 

 sea. Thus, by regulating the catch of each race individually at the 

 mouth of each stream we can obtain the essential, selective escape- 

 ment, maximum size, and best quality. 



The nature of regulations under these circumstances requires fur- 

 ther study to develop economic criteria upon which some judgment 

 may be exercised as to the rate at ^vhich depleted runs should be 

 rebuilt. Such regulations should be based on sufficient biological 

 information and on regulations of such efficiency as to permit almost 

 complete control of the size of escapement of each race. 



INTERNATIONAL NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES 



COMMISSION 



On June 12, 1953, the "International Convention for the High 

 Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean" came into effect between 

 the United States, Japan, and Canada. As a part of this treaty, the 

 principle of abstention was established and was applied to eastern 

 North Pacific salmon, halibut, and herring. The Japanese agreed to 

 abstain from fishing the northeastern Pacific stocks of salmon east of 

 175° West Longitude and halibut and herring of North American 

 origin for five years or until June 12, 1958. Canada also agreed to 

 abstain from fishing salmon in the Bering Sea. After June 12, 1958, 

 the treaty provided that each stock of each of these species would be 

 considered annually to determine whether or not it complied with 

 the requirements of abstention. 



Accordingly, since 1958, each year the fishery scientists of the three 

 member countries to this treaty have met and considered the ques- 

 tion of whether the different stocks of these three species comply with 

 Article IV, which specifies the requirements for abstention. From 

 an examination of the various reports of the International North 

 Pacific Fisheries Commission several things become clear. 



Japan has never conceded that any stock, salmon, herring, or 

 halibut, complies with the requirements for abstention and, as indi- 

 cated above, she proposed removal of both halibut and herring from 

 abstention at the first opportunity provided under the treaty, i.e., in 

 1958 (Oda, 1960). In addition, Japan has declined to accept any 



