DEPAR'MENT OF THE NAVY 

 (COPY) Office of the Secretary 



WASHINGTON 



15 Jan 1953 



My dear Mr, Secretary: 



Your letter of 18 December 1952 requested the views of the 

 Department of the Navy concerning the importance of the tuna 

 industry from the standpoint of national security. 



fishing 

 The Department of the Navy considers the domestic tuna/fleet 

 an important facet in the national security c This may be 

 divided into three categories in the event of an emergency, 

 namely: 



ao Domestic tuna products as a source of food, 

 bo The fishennen as a source of manpower for mobilization. 

 Co The fishing boats as a means of augmenting naval 

 patrol craft o 



The first two categories are self evident. As for the third 

 category, the requisition of a number of fistiing boats may be 

 necessary to augment the naval forces that our national econ- 

 omy can supporto The Department of the Navy is much better 

 prepared than prior to World War II in availability of patrol 

 craft due to the number of vessels in the Reserve Fleet. How- 

 everj, these vessels are approaching the end of their useful 

 life. The tuna fishing boats provide an excellent back up., 

 These boats could be converted for limited anti-sutmarine war- 

 fare, harbor patrol j, mine warfare, and picket boat operations. 

 The Department of the Navy has completed an initial study of 

 methods of utilization and conversion of small naval craft to 

 augment anti-submarine warfare operational capabilities • The 

 study is applicable to comparable size fishing boats. 



It is hoped that this information will assist in the study of 

 the tuna industry. 



Sincerely, 



Honorable Oscar L. Chapman /s/ Dan A.Kimball 

 feiS!^C?n°^5''B.J?^^'^°^ 



354 



