Personnel changes constantly occur and interest in good seamanship is 

 virtually nonexistent. The situation is, in part, explained by the 

 fact that the greatly increased demands for personnel, resulting from 

 the rapid expansion of shrinnp filing operations after 1950, could not 

 have been met without drawing on available pools of labor which lacked 

 training and experience. 



A variety of measures to improve the quality of personnel as 

 well as measures to provide captain and crew with a stake in the operation 

 of the vessel, have been proposed. One of the contractors recommends the 

 setting up of an organization with a membership representing all parties 

 interested in the prosperity of the fishery, with governmental agencies 

 acting in an advisory capacity. This organization should have as its 

 task the adoption and financirig of a program encompassing: (1) dissem- 

 ination of educational information, (2) establishment of training 

 programs for captains and crews, and (3) participation of captain, and 

 perhaps crew, in the ownership of newly-constructed vessels. 



The first step in this direction has already been taken. On 

 August 8, 1956, the President signed F^iblic Law 1027, 8Uth Congress, an 

 Act to Promote the Fishing Industry in the United States and its 

 Territories by Providing for the Training of Needed Personnel. One 

 section of this law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make 

 grants to universities for the training of professional personnel needed 

 in the field of commercial fishing. Another provision of the act amends 

 the Vocational Education Act of 19ii6 by placing responsibility for the 

 geographic apportionment of specified funds for vocational education in 

 the fishery trades and industry and distributive occupations connected 

 with the industry with the United States Commissioner of Education, the 

 latter official being expected to consult with the Secretary of the 

 Interior to determine an equitable basis for allocation. 



With Congress appropriating the funds authorized by the provi- 

 sions of the A;t, a conprehensive educational program to benefit the 

 shrimp industry is beginninp to be launched. 



The use of personnel trained in seamanship and efficient 

 fishing methods should lead to a reduction of repair and maintenance costs 

 and should have a favorable effect on depreciation and insurance costs. 



There are additional ways in which vessel operators may reduce 

 their operating expenses. Throu^ proper insulation of holds, ice con- 

 sumption can be substantially reduced. Three inches of insulation on the 

 hull and four inches on the deck and engine room bulkheads for wooden 

 vessels are deemed adequate for this purpose. An additional inch is 

 recommended for steel hulls. When holds are too heavily insulated the 

 water film on the shrimp from the melting ice is inadequate to minimize 

 oxidation. 



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