an overwhelming majority of responding owners were in favor of 

 government help- -90 percent in New England, 68 percent in the 

 Gulf Area, and 90 percent in California (table A-I30 in Appendix 

 A^"don't knows" were grouped with responses agadnst government 

 help). The significant part of this response lies in the fact 

 that government subsidies, general finamclal assistance, control 

 of fish imports, price supports, and the like were more popular 

 than investigation of rates and repair charges. Coast Guard 

 inspection of vessels, education of vessel personnel, and similar 

 suggestions . 



Betterment of business conditions rather than other measures 

 for solving the insurance problem seem to reflect largely the 

 sentiments of vessel owners who represent sellers of fish. No 

 other statement sxjms up their position more eloquently than the 

 following from a Calif omi an: "If the Government would solve the 

 perilous conditions that Japanese imports have caused, the high 

 premiiuns now existing could be paid without much difficulty." 

 For reasons well kno\m to them, their business outlook is a 

 pessimistic one. They maintain the opinion that the United States 

 Government is unable or unwilling to take direct measiires designed 

 to raise receipts from fish landings. Consequently, they are 

 doubtful as to whether the Federal Government would or could do 

 something to solve the insurance problem. On the other hand, 

 although vessel owners who represent buyers of fish may recognize 

 the relationship bet'v/een business conditions and the insurajtice 

 problem, they are Inclired to favor a hands-off policy for the 

 Government and direct measures designed to Improve scSety 

 standards, to educate vessel personnel, and other similar 

 suggestions . 



The above analysis attempts to reflect the general sentiments 

 which were likely to prevail among vessel owners with conflicting 

 interests in the fish marls t. Dspartvures from these two basic 

 positions were not infrequent and the conflict between the adherence 

 to a philosophy of laissez - faire capitalism on the one hand, and 

 stark reality, on the other, was quite evident on both sides. 

 Perhaps a few of the remarks of a New England vessel owner and 

 buyer of fish are most appropriate: "Government is best which 

 governs least. But where private enterprise becomes unprofitable 

 and unable to cope with the situation- -at this point the govern- 

 ment should step in." Similar sentiments are expressed by a 

 California absentee owner: "I do not like to see the Federal 

 Government in any business any more than necessary; but if the 

 authority is to survive, there must be a quota on foreign, frozen 

 tuna or the Government should assist the industry in some majiner." 



105 



