APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
Soviet efforts to increase high seas fishing have been 
successful. In 1950, 46 percent of the Soviet catch came 
from the high seas and 91 percent in 1975. 
Likewise, efforts to develop more efficient fishing 
vessels have been successful. The number of fishermen in 
1974 was about the same as it was in 1913 yet the 1974 har- 
vest was about nine times greater than the 1913 harvest. 
Moreover, the fleet is becoming even more efficient and is 
requiring less labor. For example, in 1974 the Soviet Union 
introduced a trawling system which permits alternate oper- 
ation of two trawls so that no time is lost in handling and 
resetting fishing nets; as one net is hauled, the other is 
set. NMFS projects that through 1980 the Soviet Union will 
continue to modify and expand its fleet, emphasizing large 
fishing and support fishing vessels. 
An indicator used by NMFS to measure the productivity 
of fishing fleets is the ratio between the catch and the 
gross registered tons of the vessels. Using this indicator, 
NMFS shows that of the five nations having the largest fish- 
ing fleets in 1973, the Soviet Union's fleet ranks last in 
productivity. The following table illustrates this. 
Country Catch 
(pounds harvested 
Pea sgEOss com 
of vessel) 
Norway 327, 62's 
United States 16,645 
Japan Sy 1G09 
Spain 6,900 
Soviet Union 2,910 
Using the same productivity measure, the fishing fleets 
of all remaining fishing nations, as a group have a producti- 
vity level about nine times greater than that of the Soviet 
fleet. 
Regardless of the merit of the productivity measure 
used by NMFS, the Soviet Union's low catch per gross vessel 
ton highlights a weakness in its fishing method. Remaining 
at sea for extended periods increases the number of non- 
fishing support vessels required to service the fishing fleet. 
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