REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION 

 APPOINTED UNDER THE NORTHERN PACIFIC HALIBUT 

 TREATY ' 



Bj' John Pease Babcock, Chairman, and Wm. A. Found, Miller Fkeeman, and 

 Henky O'Malley. Commissioners 



The treaty between Canada and the United States for the preser- 

 vation of the halibut fishery of the northern Pacific Ocean, including 

 Bering Sea, was ratified on October 21, 1924, It is remarkable 

 from the double standpoint that it is the first treaty entered into by 

 Canada as a nation and that it is the first effective one anywhere 

 having for its object the conservation of a threatened high-seas 

 fishery. It, therefore, serves as a precedent for international co- 

 operative control of sea fisheries, where such is necessary. This 

 forms an important additional reason why success should be 

 achieved under it. 



The treaty provides an entire cessation of halibut fishing for 

 three months each year. This was regarded, at the time it was 

 entered into, as an essential minimum of protection. It also pro- 

 vided for the appointment of an International Fisheries Commis- 

 sion, the duties of which are to make reconnnendations regarding 

 the need for modification of the close season, to make a thorough 

 investigation into the life history of the Pacific halibut, and to 

 make recommendations as to the regulation of the fishery that may 

 be deemed desirable for its preservation and development. The 

 specific provisions of tiie convention dealing with these phases 

 follow : 



The nationals and iiiliaUiiaiits ami tlif tisliiiij; vcssols and boats of tlir 

 Dominion of Canada and of the Unite*! States, rcspoctively, are hereby pro- 

 hibited from fishinj; for halibut (UipixnjUjssuK) both in the territorial waters 

 and in the h\^\\ seas olT tiie western eonst of the Dominion of Canada and of 

 the United States, including; Berintr Sea, from the Kjth day of November 

 next after tb<' date of Hie excban^re of ratilications of this (Joiivention, to the 

 15th day of the followinj,' Kcbruary, both days ineliisive. and within the same 

 period yearly thereafter, jirovided that upon the leeoinniendation of the 

 International Fisheries (.'omniission ben-inafter des(ribe<l. this (•l(»se season 

 may be iniidifled or suspended at any time after the i-xpiration of three such 

 seasrms, by special agreement eoneluded and duly ratified by the Hiyb Contract- 

 ing Parties. 



The High Contracting Parties agree to apiioint within two months after the 

 exchange of ratilications <»f this convention, a conunissifm to l>e known as 

 the Internatiimal Fisheries Commission, consisting of four members, two to 

 be appointed by ea<'b jiarty. This Commiss on shall continue lo exist so long 

 as this ^invention sball remain in force. Each party shall pay the salaries 

 and expens<'s of its own members, and joint expen.ses incurred by the Com- 

 mission shall be paid by the two High Contracting Parties in equal moieties. 



• Appcn<lix I to thp Report of the U. S. Coinniissioiici- <if Fisli.Ti.->j for lO.W. B. F. 

 Doc. H)".''>. 



