It is likely, therefore, that different gear, such as long lines, would 

 need to be employed to take advantage of the rich tuna grounds recently 

 found in Central Pacific equatorial waters by the Pacific Oceanic Fishery 

 Investigations. Besides the normal problems involved in establishing 

 ar industry in such a remote place there is also the problem of prov- 

 ing conclusively that tuna can be taken in the area in sufficient quan- 

 tities to support profitable canning activities. Should the operation 

 prove successful, only a limited number of fishing vessels would be re- 

 quired. 



It is reported that fresh or frozen tuna may enter American Samoa 

 free of duty. Canned tuna is dutiable at 15 per cent ad valoreum. 

 Exports of products from American Samoa are subject to an export duty 

 of 2 per cent of appraised value. Further inforiiation concerning cus- 

 toms problems with respect to American Samoa is given in the folloxidng 

 letter from the U. S. Bureau of Customs to the Special Assistant for 

 Fisheries and Wildlife to the Under Secretary of State: 



TREASURY DEPARTMENT 

 (30PY) BUREAU OF CUSTOMS 



WASHINGTON 2$, D. C. 



Feb. 25, 1953 



Mr. William C. Herrington 



Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State 



Department of State 



Washington 25, D. C. 



Sir: 



Reference is made to your letter of December 8, 1952 (U/FW) 

 stating that negotiations are under way between an American busi- 

 ness concern and the authorities of American Samoa for the lease 

 to and operation by the former of a tuna cannery situated in that 

 territory. As the canned product would be marketed in the con- 

 tinental United States, you request information regarding several 

 matters pertaining to such shipments to the United States. 



You ask first for information regarding the dutiable status 

 of canned tuna shipped to the continental United States, whether 

 in oil or in brine, which emanated from American Samoa as a pro- 

 duct of that territory. Such canned tuna brought into the United 



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