INTEEXATIOXAL FISHERIES COMMISSION 17 



From the northwest (magnetic) extremity of Wiah Point. <Trahani Island, 

 true north 5^^ miles tu a point approximately latitude 54° 12' 20" north, and 

 longitude 132°' 19' IS" west: thence true east 25 miles to a point approximately 

 latitude 54° 12' 40" north-and longitude 131° 37' west; thence magnetic south 

 10 a point on Graham Island. 



4. THE EXTENSION OF THE PRESENT CLOSE SEASON BY TWO WEEKS, AND 

 THE FACILITATION OF FUTURE ALTERATIONS 



Article I of the present treat}* provides a j'early close season for 

 all halibut fishing in the waters covered b}^ the treaty from the 16th 

 day of November to the loth day of February folk^winjj:. both days 

 inclusive. The economic advantages of this closure and the absence 

 of effects beneficial to the perpetuation of the fishery have been 

 already commented upon. It is evident that the close season has 

 mereh' shortened the period within which the catch lias been taken 



The commission is satisfied, however, that the adoption of the close 

 season was a wi.se measure, as it has obvious l)eneficial economic 

 eflFects as far as the whole fishery is concerned. It eliminates the 

 most expensive fishing part of the year and one which is also full 

 of hardship. It stabilizes the price of frozen halibut, and this, in 

 turn, has a favorable effect on the demand for s\ich frozen fish. The 

 catches at that time of year are claimed to be of poor (juality and 

 frequently so great a.s to lower the selling price below what is i)rofit- 

 able. On account of these conditions all branches of the industry 

 and the commissi(»n are unanimous in their support of maintaining 

 the close season. 



Indeed, with the exception oi the owners of some of the large 

 fishing vessels, who feel that their investment is too great to admjt 

 of a longer close season, the industry favors the lengthening of the 

 closure by two weeks at both ends. 



The commission i- -atisfied that lengthening the close season by 

 two weeks at the beginning would not be .seriously detrimental to any 

 interest and would Ijc economically beneficial to the industry as a 

 wiiole. Hence, it r«'comniends that by s})ecial agreement of the char- 

 acter provided f<»r in Aiticle I of the treaty the annual close season 

 be lengthened .so as to begin on the Ist instead of the KUh of Novem- 

 ber in each year. 



It is entirely conceivable, however, that under other circumstances 

 the present length of the clo.se sea.son would be too great and would 

 lead to serious economic difficulties. C(mditions in a fisheiy are not 

 so .stable as to justify reliance upon their indefinite continuation. 

 At the present time prosperity would <vom to render the maxinunn 

 closure |K)ssible, l)ut it does not follow that this w ill lie permanently 

 tiue. There should, therefore, be i)rovided means wherel)y the length 

 of the close season may be altered more readily than is now the case. 



In concluding, the commissioners desire respectfully to urge upon 

 tlieir governments the very serious conditions of this great fishery 

 and tlie necessity for i)rompt action to rehabilitate it. 



(Signed) John Pf:ASE Raucock, 



C'ha/nnaii, 

 Wm. a. Found, 

 Miller Frekisi a n , 

 Henry O'Mallev, 



