50 MANAGEMENT OF HIGH SEAS FISHERIES 



period indicates that the harvest of salmon should be deferred until 

 they have attained full growth, that is, until they have returned to 

 the vicinity of their home stream. In addition, the harvest of salmon 

 on the high seas precludes adjusting the catch to the productive 

 capacity of individual runs. Efficient management demands that this 

 be done. Undoubtedly, more accurate evaluation of natural mortal- 

 ity during the marine phase of salmon life history is needed. Ho^v- 

 ever, on the basis of present knowledge, objective consideration of 

 the requirements for maximizing the productivity of salmon runs, 

 either biological or economic, indicates that the high seas netting of 

 salmon should be eliminated. Because of the requirements by 

 salmon of special protection by the nation controlling its spawning 

 areas, there are strong equities that favor limitation of the salmon 

 harvest to the country, or countries, that provide these spawning 

 streams. 



The halibut fishery of the northeastern Pacific presents a more 

 complex problem than the salmon, but its solution will probably be 

 more general in application in other areas. The requirements for 

 continued successful management of the halibut fishery appear to be 

 in direct conflict with the desire of the Japanese to develop fisheries 

 for bottom fish. Success of Soviet fishermen in fishing for ocean 

 perch in the Gulf of Alaska without undue interference ^vith U.S. 

 and Canadian halibut and crab fishing indicates that the conflict 

 between halibut fishing and fishing for other bottom species is not as 

 absolute as the Japanese would indicate. On the other hand, there is 

 no doubt that unrestricted development of bottom tra^vling ^vould 

 disrupt the halibut management program. The value of both the 

 lialibut fishery and the halibut management program demands that 

 every effort be made to preserve both of them. This cannot be 

 accomplished by arbitrarily abolishing abstention, nor does it seem 

 that the demand for such action by the Japanese reflects such a vital 

 and immediate need that precipitate action could be justified. It is 

 our feeling that careful investigation of the relation of trawl fishing 

 on difterent banks within the area of distribution of the halibut is 

 called for. A concerted effort should be made to determine the 

 extent and the manner in which such a fishery may be developed 

 and still remain compatible with maintenance of the halibut stocks 

 at their present high level of yield. 



