46 MANAGEMENT OF HIGH SEAS FISHERIES 



scribed under the treaty. Moreover, examination of the proceedings 

 of the meetings give some indication tliat the scientists have been 

 constrained to question and argue the results in a different manner 

 and for different objectives than ^vould probably have held if the 

 results had not been points of negotiation. It is our opinion that this 

 situation has resulted both from a lack of clarity in the treaty's man- 

 date to the Commission as well as from lack of clarity in the objec- 

 tives of the treaty. It has also resulted from the separation of the 

 research into three independent sections responsible to each national 

 section of the Commission rather than to the Commission as a ^vhole. 

 This has tended to preclude the possibility of a strong centralized 

 leadership under a competent single director. 



To correct this situation it appears that the treaty should be al- 

 tered, first to clarify its objectives, second to clarify and make specific 

 the mandate under which the Commission operates, and third to 

 provide the Commission with a director of scientific investigations, 

 adequately supported by appropriations from the three countries. 

 The Commission should then engage a staff responsible to the Com- 

 mission through the director. 



As indicated above, it is realized that this approach presents some 

 serious problems in view of the divergent interests of the three pres- 

 ent parties to the treaty. These problems would be aggravated if 

 U.S.S.R. became a party. However, if it is the desire of these four 

 dominant fishing countries of the northeastern Pacific to develop a 

 sound program of fisheries management which would be objectively 

 and competently carried out, it is difficult to see how any other action 

 can be taken with hope of success. It has been generally found in the 

 case of international commissions that if the commission is provided 

 with a staff which is responsible to it rather than to national sections 

 that the staff tends to identify itself with that international organiza- 

 ion rather than with any national point of view. It thus acquires a 

 point of view which is identified with the treaty, it tends to view 

 objectively the problems posed by the treaty and to develop solutions 

 which are more likely to be acceptable to the different nationals, 

 even when they originally had strong and divergent positions. 



