33 



Near shore, the story was different. Coastal fisheries at times re- 

 duced stocks, and some management regulations began to be adopted. Stock 

 assessment science developed, really a method of scientifically determining 

 the available potential yield of a stock on a continuing basis. Management 

 measures were adopted to regulate fishing activity, the one parameter of 

 harvest under man's control. 



Recall, however, that these coastal fisheries, by virtue of the inter- 

 nationally accepted three-mile (and later twelve-mile) limit, fell under the 

 ownership of specific nations, and were thus within those nations' manage- 

 ment jurisdictions . Yet, even here it became apparent that "fish have tails" 

 and are prone to movement. The fishery resource that perhaps concentrated 

 within a national limit during one season of the year often migrated to an 

 offshore bank during a later season. When that population moved offshore, 

 it became anyone's property and all one had to do was harvest it. 

 All areas beyond the three-mile and, later, the twelve-mile limit were 

 under no control whatsoever. 



Before industrialization, fishery resource problems concentrated in- 

 shore. Offshore fishing remained risky and dangerous until the development 

 of motorized vessels, sophisticated electronics, and adequate weather fore- 

 casts. All offshore areas were international fishing grounds, and 

 the northern Atlantic Ocean was particularly productive. 



Introduction of the otter trawl early in the 20th Century, in combina- 

 tion with the development of steam-driven trawlers, entirely changed the 

 picture of offshore fisheries. Hook-and-line fisheries from sailing schoo- 

 ners rapidly declined. Sailing vessels were replaced by motor trawlers that 



