to the landing of fish or fish products in any port of American 

 Samoa. Accordingly, a Japanese flag mother ship or fishinc vessel, 

 whether proceeding as such or as a cargo vessel direct from fishing 

 grounds on the high seas, is not prohibited thereby from landing 

 in American Samoa fresh or frozen tuna fish taken on the high seas, 

 Rcr does such law prohibit a United States flag vessel from landing 

 at American Samoa such a fish cargo squired on the high seas by 

 direct transfer from a Japanese flag mother ship. 



Very truly yours. 



(Sgd.) FRANK DOW 

 Commissioner of Customs 



The discovery of rich, new, tuna grounds in Central Pacific equa- 

 torial waters casts yet another hue on any consideration of buttressing 

 the economic position of our domestic tuna fishery. In discussing this 

 subject thus far, empahsis has been made principally on the possibilities 

 of improving conditions in present areas of operation. The field of new 

 areas of operation is also important in the consideration of the economic 

 welfare of the tuna industry because of its significance in the event of 

 any possible deterioration in the productive capacity of the present 

 fisheries . 



Although there have been some changes through the years in areas 

 fished by the domestic fleet, the great bulk of the domestic catch has 

 been taken in the general area of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. There 

 are other areas which also offer commercial possibilites of tuna fish- 

 ing on a large scale by domestic fishermen which are in a relatively 

 undeveloped stage. These areas are the 1/estern Atlantic or Atlantic 

 Coast Area, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Area, and the Central Pacific 

 Area. The likelihood of the development of fisheries for tuna in those 

 areas is considered next. 



2A4 



