The lists of Essential Activities and Critical Occupations 

 are prepared by an Interdepartmental Conraittee on Essential 

 Activities and Critical Occupations and jointly issued by the 

 Secretaries of Commerce and Labor. The Department of Defense, 

 the Selective Service System j, and the Defense Manpower Adminis- 

 tration in the Department of Labor use these lists in determin- 

 ing policy in calling reservists to active duty, making deter- 

 minations on requests for occupational deferment, and in the 

 priority of referral of viiorkers to essential establishments in 

 shortage areas. 



(End of statement prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor - Office 

 of International Labor Affairs). 



In addition to employment for labor in the tuna fishing industry, 

 employment in allied industries stems from the existence of tuna fishing. 

 The great tuna canning industry also is based to a considerable extent 

 on the existence of a domestic tuna fishing fleet. It, together with its 

 allied industries, provides further employment for United States labor. 

 All of these industries offer a great field for the endeavors of business- 

 men. The loss ;of them in normal times would unquestionably be noticed 

 in the economy of the Nation. 



During World War II certain canned fish such as salmon and sardines 

 were placed under set-aside orders by the War Food Administration. Such 

 action made it mandatory for packers to furnish a sizable percentage of 

 their pack to the National Government for its use in prosecuting the war 

 effort. Although tuna was not included in such action, it is a type of 

 product which serves the same purpose as was intended for the products 

 placed under set-aside orders. The declining production trend for salmon 

 and the increasing production trend for tuna has made it likely that the 

 latter will be a more important source of canned fish for any present or 

 future emergencies such as were encountered in World War II. Such indi- 

 cations are evidence of the future importance of the tuna processing in- 

 dustry to the National security in time of war. 



When viewed from the other aspects of National interest — the econ- 

 omic aspects — the processing industry also takes on great importance. 

 Tuna processing provides employment for a large number of persons, par- 

 ticularly on the west coast. It offers opportunity for business enter- 

 prise to engage in entrepreneural risks with attendant remuneration for 

 successful prosecution of these risks. 



365 



