Figure 7. — 19G5 world catch by major fishing areas ( based on FAO statistics) . 

 [Data based on FAO statistics] 



shows the marked absence in our fleets of the larger and generally 

 more efficient ships (Fig. 9). 



To assist the fishing industry, the Federal program in marine science 

 and technology has focused in recent years on two main fields: 

 assessing, developing, and managing fish stocks; and offering eco- 

 nomic and technical assistance to the commercial fishing industry. 

 Funding for fiscal year 1968 is given in Table IX. 



Fishery resource assessment, development, and management de- 

 pend upon an understanding of fish characteristics, locations, habits, 

 and environment. By acquiring knowledge and disseminating in- 

 formation on these matters, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has 

 helped to increase the catch of certain species significantly in recent 

 years. For instance, studies on mortality, predators, feeding habits, 

 growth, and environmental requirements have led to successful restora- 

 tion of silver salmon stocks in the Columbia River, where the commer- 

 cial gill net catch of silvers in 1966 was a record 4.2 million pounds. 

 This compares with an average of 1.1 million pounds during 1960^65. 

 Bonneville Dam recorded one of its largest spawning escapements, 

 and sport fishermen in the lower river had a 1966 catch of some 

 2 million pounds compared with an average 1.1 million pounds during 

 the 1960-65 period. Other programs, by locating and describing the 

 extent, density, and variability of under-used fish resources — such as 

 hake on the Pacific coast— have led to the establishment of fisheries 

 that have landed about 8 million pounds of hake since late 1965. 

 Still other studies of ocean currents have located upwellings and 

 helped to define and locate tuna in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, in 

 the equatorial Pacific, and off the west coast of South America. 



48 



