a. Licenses. Under Japanese administration coaunercial fishing, as distinct 

 from subsistence fishing, was subject to license and regulation. No opinion is 

 expressed here in regard to fees for licenses, or fines for violation of regulations^ 

 The licensing system, however, provides a simple method of obtaining statistical 

 infoRnation on the extent of the fisheries. Some restriction on the exploitation 



of marine resources is necessary if they are to be self -perpetuating, 



b. Closed seasons. These should be continued in effect for trochus during 

 the period July 1 to April 30, permitting the talking of them only during a two 

 week period in either liay or June; pearl oysters during the period August 1 to 

 December 31j hawksbill turtles, Chelonia imbricata (from which tortoise shell is 

 obtained) to be protected from June 1 to August 31 and from Decea±)er 1 to January 

 31. 



c. Size limits. Regardless of the open seasons, trochus shells should not 

 be taken of a size less than three inches (8 centimeters) in diameter at the base. 

 A rough measure is the width of four fingers. Hawksbill turtles and other sea 

 turtles shoiild not be taken if the maximum length of the shell is less than 2k 

 inches (60 centimeters), and no sea turtles or their eggs should be taken when 

 found on shore. 



(2) Trochus, whether occurring naturally, or planted by the Japanese, should be 

 designated as the pj^operty of the native peoples, and administered as a self-perpetuating 

 resource. The fishery for this sinimal should be left entirely in native hands. 



(3) Appoint a fisheries administrator whose chief functions should include the 

 following; 



a. Pi-omulgate and enforce regiilations for the protection of marine resources 

 as outlined in paragraph 1 above, 



b. Provide technical assistance and information as needed by natives for the 

 establishment and/or continuation of fisheries enterprises. This includes train- 

 ing programs in fishing methods and processing techniques to place them on an equal 

 basis with fishermen and processors of other nations. 



c. Assist natives in locating or expanding export markets for fisheries 

 products. 



d. Plan and supervise investigations leading to; (1) a better understanding 

 of the fisheries especially with respect to abundance, migi-^tions, propagation 

 etc., to insure intelligent protection and utilization; (2) improved methods of 

 catching fish, and of handling and prepciring fishery products for successful com- 

 petition in the export market. 



e. Collect and disseminate statistical information on the fisheries. 



f . Issue licenses for authentication by the senior administrative officer. 



g. Report annually to the governing agency on the activities of the office, 

 the status of the fisheries, and v.'hat benefits, if any, have accrued to the 

 native people as a result of the administration of the fisheries. 



In accomplishing these functions, a staff will be necessary, including practical 

 fishermen, technologists, biologists and statisticisms for varying periods of time, accord- 

 ing to the kind and importance of the project. Tihere possible, personnel should be obtain- 

 ed on detail from other agencies of Government. 



84 



