I'M nil si-oKi I ism R^ 



V) It constrains all fishermen to the same generous 

 hmit, though most will cateh less and a few would be 

 prepared to pay to catch more. 



To correct these deficiencies and to maintain the quality 

 ofsptKtfishint;opp*)rtunities, I propose the tbilowing: 



6. In IW.^, the saitHater sportlishin^ privilejje sIhxiUI 

 eniNHh a p(inclK';ird limiting the iMtklcr to 30 saliiHtn 

 rcgardloNs of sptvics. 



7. Simple plastic taj^ sIhhiUI be available at a price of S2 

 each, aiid should he re<|uired t<» be attached to all 

 saliiMHi in excess of a liceiicx' lK)lder's piiiiclioird limit. 



The relative advantages of tags and punchcards have 

 been studied at length. Most observers agree that tags are 

 a better means of regulating catches than punchcards 

 because they are more flexible and, being visible, pro- 

 mote better compliance; but they are much more costly. 

 My proposal is aimed at providing the flexibility without 

 the high costs. With the punchcard entitling each licensee 

 to 30 salmon, relatively few will purchase tags (recall that 

 nearly 40 percent catch no salmon at all, and few, per- 

 haps 6 percent, catch more than 30 per year). Moreover, I 

 propose minimal administrative requirements, which is 

 the main source of estimated costs of tag systems. I 

 intend that they be simple plastic tags detachable from a 

 sheet, like those used in New Brunswick, and that they be 

 issued without restriction at the same price for all cate- 

 gories of licence holders. No attempt should be made to 

 prohibit transfers, which means no records need to be 

 maintained to identify particular tags with particular 

 licences. 



These arrangements will provide all sport fishermen 

 with an equal opportunity to catch salmon; the most 

 ardent will be able to continue to take large catches pro- 

 viding they pay extra for their heavy demands on the 

 resources; the different salmon species and the different 

 geographical groups of fishermen who depend on them 

 will be treated more appropriately; and the revenues 

 from sportfishing will be more closely related to the value 

 of resources used. 



Nonresident Sport Fishermen 



Over 30 thousand nonresidents purchased licences to 

 fish on Canada's Pacific coast last year. These visitors 

 make a substantial contribution to the tourist industry, 

 and many resorts, charterboat operations and service 

 establishments depend mainly on them." 



Judging from the apparent willingness of many foreign 

 fishermen to pay to fish in Canada, particularly on the 

 west coast, the goal of maximizing economic and social 

 benefits from the resources suggests that opportunities for 

 this category of sport fishermen should be maintained. 

 But in contrast to fishing by Canadians (where the 



benefits o( recreational enjoyment accrue to Canadians 

 whether they are paid for or not), the benefits to the peo- 

 ple of Canada from sportfishing by foreigners arise 

 almost entirely from their expenditures on sportfishing. 

 Indeed, insofar as they u.se fish that would otherwise be 

 available to Canadians, they impo.se a cost. 



For the.se rea.sons, a heavier fee on foreign sport fisher- 

 men is justified. My earlier recommendation to double 

 fees will have the effect of raising the annual licence for 

 nonresidents to $40 and the three-day licence to $20 and 

 so no further change is warranted for the time being. 



The Qiarterboat and Guiding Industry 



Rapid growth in sportfishing over the last two decades 

 has substantially increa.sed the demand for fishing guides, 

 charterboats, accommodation and a host of other goods 

 and services. For present purposes I will set aside all 

 those shore-based businesses that supply goods and ser- 

 vices to fishermen, such as tackle, accommodation, bait, 

 and so on, because they are only indirectly influenced by 

 fisheries policy. Here I am concerned with operations 

 that provide sportsmen with professional assistance in 

 fishing in the form of vessels, vessel operators and guides. 



Charterboat clients are motivated by the same qualities 

 of sportfishing opportunities as are other sport fishermen, 

 and the operators offer a useful service that broadens 

 these opportunities. 



. . . the industry is affected by two overriding 

 factors, the ability of potential clients (the 

 public at large) to pay for a sportfishing expe- 

 rience, and the perceived likelihood that his 

 expenditure will be justified in terms of recre- 

 ational value and the opportunity for a good 

 catch.-° 



Despite a surprising amount of debate about whether 

 guiding and charterboat operations constitute recre- 

 ational or commercial fishing activity, I have no hesita- 

 tion in classifying these businesses as commercial. How- 

 ever, they differ fundamentally from the sector usually 

 referred to as the commercial fishery; whereas the com- 

 mercial fishing industry is based on the production and 

 sale of fish, the charterboat and guiding industries are 

 concerned with the provision of sportfishing services and 

 facilities. The fees charged by these businesses and their 

 total incomes are not closely correlated to the number of 

 fish landed by their clients. 



Charterboat operations Charterboat operations take a 

 variety of forms, which can be roughly categorized into 

 four groups; floating resorts, which are large ships, typi- 

 cally stationed in remote areas near superior fishing 

 grounds, that provide a full range of hotel accommoda- 

 tion and services to sport fishermen; guided charters, 

 which are typically vessels of 12 to 45 feet hired with a 



