recognized territorial waters, such as fishing, port privileges, 

 shelter, etCo, or thej"- may be of a conservational or investigative 

 character. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is an 

 example of the latter. Secondly, the United States Department of 

 State is continuing its policy of warding off, wherever possible, 

 impending illegal seizures of other illegal molestation of United 

 States fishing vessels by foreign authorities, and of rendering 

 appropriate assistance #iere United States citizens do become so 

 involved. 



Manpower 



Efficient tuna fishing is dependent upon team work and skill 

 of the crew manbers. Vessel operators have recently expressed 

 alarm over two developments T*iich reportedly threaten to cause an 

 acute shortage of skilled tuna fishermen to adeqixately man the 

 vessels. Concern has been expressed that the McCarran-Walter Act, 

 by eliminating fishermen from classification as seamen, will re- 

 sult in a number of experienced fishermen of foreign nationality 

 being forced to leave the country. It is believed that approximately 

 1^0 tuna fishermen are affected. Up to the present, no reports 

 have been received of a tuna vessel being tied up for lack of a 

 crew, and it appears that there are a sufficient number of qualified 

 fishermen to operate the fleet under present conditions. Secondly, 

 there is a possibility of younger fishermen being taken into the 

 armed forces by the draft. Manning the vessels with inexperienced 

 fishermen reduces efficiency and raises the costs of production, 

 thereby tending to reduce the competitive ability of American fisher- 

 men with foreign tuna-producing nations. It has been the policy to 

 grant military deferments and even discharges to skilled fishermen 

 ■viio are essential to operation of a vessel. If the tuna fishery 

 is to maintain its position as a vital food-producing industry, 

 this problem of skilled inanpower warrants increased consideration. 



421 



