The domestic tuna industry, in all its segments, is a pro- 

 gressive industry as its achievements over the past fifty years 

 readily demonstrate. Its importance to the National interest is 

 borne out by the World War II record of its fishing fleet and by 

 the current statements of Federal agencies with regard to its 

 importance to the National economy. But when the tuna industry 

 created a desirable product and developed an increasing market 

 for the product J it also created problems. These problems, left 

 unsolved, could reduce the domestic tuna industry, as we know it 

 now, to an insignificant operation insofar as fishing, process- 

 ing, and a substantial part of the distributing function are con- 

 cerned. 



Undoubtedly all those involved with the domestic tuna in- 

 dustry in any respect agree that its problaas should be studied 

 and that attempts to solve the problems in an equitable manner 

 should be made. Outlining the problems is not difficult. Suggest- 

 ing solutions or methods of attack is much more difficult because 

 of the diversity and conflict of interests. 



The more pressing problems follow. They are not necessarily 

 in order of importance nor of priority as to which should be at- 

 tacked first. They are so interrelated that a decision on one 

 usually affects the others. 



1. Hovj can the domestic fishing fleet continue to operate 

 profitably and supply a fair share of the raw material for the 

 canned tuna consumed in the domestic riarket when in cocipetition 

 with increasing imports of tuna in various forms? 



The share of the market supplied by the domestic fishing 

 fleet has declined with increasing imports, and vessels have been 

 forced, at times, to cease fishing for extended periods when their 

 market was over supplied. Imports of tuna, whether frozen round, 

 frozen cooked loins, frozen cooked in cans, or canned in oil or 

 brine, are directly competitive vdth the landings of the domestic 

 fleet ^ 



Many units of the fleet are faced with operating unprofitably, 

 ceasing operations, transferring to another type of activity — 

 which is difficult or impossible for most vessels — or transfer- 

 ring to a foreign registry. 



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