BUREAU OF FISHERIES 293 
value to domestic primary handlers of all fishery products in 1938 is 
estimated at $214,000,000. 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
HALIBUT INVESTIGATIONS 
Under authority of the treaty of January 29, 1937, the Interna- 
tional Fisheries Commission continued the regulation of the Pacific 
halibut fishery and carried on the scientific investigations of the 
halibut and its fishery, which form the basis for regulation. 
The representation of the United States on the Commission was 
changed during the year. Mr. Frank T. Bell, who had been a mem- 
ber of the Commission since July 31, 1933, resigned effective January 
31, 1940. Mr. Charles E. Jackson, Acting Commissioner of the 
United States Bureau of Fisheries, was appointed to succeed him. 
The membership of the Commission at the end of the year was: 
Mr. L. W. Patmore and Mr. A. J. Whitmore, for Canada; Mr. 
Charles E. Jackson and Mr. Edward W. Allen, for the United States. 
Meetings of the Commission were held at Seattle on July 7 and 
December 12, 13 and 14. At the latter meetings, Mr. L. W. Patmore 
was elected Chairman and Mr. Edward W. Allen was elected Secre- 
tary for the ensuing biennium. 
In fulfillment of its regulatory duties, the Commission determined 
the catch limits necessary for each regulatory area, recorded the 
catch from each area, forecast and announced the date of attainment 
of each area limit and closed the areas accordingly. In 1939, areas 
1 and 2, which include all halibut-fishing grounds south of Cape 
Spencer, Alaska, were closed to halibut fishing at midnight July 29. 
The total catches were 1,068,000 and 24,309,000 pounds, respectively, 
for the two areas. Of the area 2 catch, 373,000 pounds were taken 
under permits while fishing for other species after the closure of that 
area. Areas 3 and 4, which include all the halibut-fishing grounds 
north and west of Cape Spencer, were closed at midnight October 28 
with catches of 25,360,000 pounds and zero pounds respectively. 
The 1940 fishing season was opened on April 1 under regulations 
issued on March 25, 1940. Several changes were made in these regu- 
lations to facilitate enforcement and to assure limitation of the catch 
to the prescribed poundage which is as much as is justified by the 
present condition of the stock. Possession of undersized halibut was 
prohibited, fishing was restricted to one area on any one trip, and 
provision was made for the examination of all records dealing with 
the landing, purchase, and sale of halibut. At the request of the 
fleet, the method of closure of area 3 was changed to conform to 
that of area 2. 
