Tuna bait fishes taken in these foreign waters are normally.' 

 found Trri-thin 3 miles of shore, since the 3-mile zone of national 

 sovereignty is comiaonly recognized and strictly adhered to l^' mary 

 nations (incl-adi.ng the United States), the jurisdiction of these 

 countries o-rer the bait supply is unquestioned. Therefore, when 

 fishing for bait or tuna in foreign territorial waters, American 

 fishermen must abide by the regulations of the countries involved. 

 Approximately fifty percent of the tuna bait is taken from the 

 Me.xican coast under Mexican fishing permits (Chapman, 1952 )o 

 Some othei' countries which have bait resources available at cert.^.n 

 times of the year and for which permits are issued include Panajn?., 

 Ecuador, and Costa Rica. For detailed listing of regulations, 

 jicense fees, etc., for the major bait areas, see the section on 

 Foreign Licenses in this chapter. 



The important point is that, with the exception of Ecuadoran 

 permits, these fishing permits are used almost exclusi\''ely for 

 taking tuna bait» Ecuadoran bait resources increased in importafiCv=5 

 following the discovery of new high seas tuna grounds off northern 

 Peru. As is tr>ie of the other countries, Ecuador has tuna off her 

 continental, coast only at certain seasons, and in much greater 

 abundance over a longer period of the year in the vicinity of the 

 Galapagos Islands o American fishermen have, in the past, been able 

 to ptu-chase fishing permits from the Ecuadoran consul in San Diego 

 which would allow fishing for tuna or bait in Ecuadoran waters, bcvh 

 near the Galapagos Islands and off the continental coast of Ecuador. 

 These permits could also be purchased by the vessels at sea via 

 radiDo 19/ In addition to license regulations, several countries 

 have provided, or expressed such intentions, for closed seasons on 

 certain fisning grounds* 



19/ In Jaruaiy, 19^2, a change in Ecuadoran fishing laws eliminated. 

 '*radi.o*» perjnits and foreign fishing in the claimed territorial 

 waters of continental Ecuador, resulting in a reduction in the 

 number of permits purchased by United States tuna vessels. In ■ 

 September, 19^2, the law vras interpreted to make it possible 

 for a vessel which had a Matricula aboard to radio in to Saa 

 Diego for an Ecuadoran fishing permit, and have it mailed to BXtj 

 port except Ecuadoran. A Matricula is a permit to b-uy a license. 



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