37 



probably 60, 70 percent of the production out of there, is now from 

 Minam sockeye, and that river is just immediately south of the 

 Alaska border. All those fish swim north. And while the numbers 

 have gone up, as incidental catches have gone up very dramati- 

 cally, the harvest rate of the fish from these different rivers has 

 not gone up. 



I mean, you know, we take 5 percent or 10 percent or 20 percent 

 or whatever the number may be, and when you have a larger pro- 

 duction, that number goes up, and yes, it has. It is in conjunction, 

 though, with strong healthy fisheries in Alaska that we are trying 

 to access. 



Mrs. Unsoeld. But there — Canada does raise an equity issue, 

 and the numbers, the actual numbers have gone up. They are not 

 satisfied with this arrangement. So there is a necessary participa- 

 tion, a need for Alaska to come to the table to solve, to help solve 

 the overall equity conservation and recovery of the species. 



Mr. Meacham. Yes, I agree with you there, and we have done 

 a number of things and are willing to do more if we are able to 

 get together and talk with the Canadians. 



Mrs. Unsoeld. I appreciate that comment. I am intrigued by the 

 notion of no fishing until a position is hammered out. That one 

 really grabs me. 



Do any of the panel members want to make additional com- 

 ments? 



Mr. Derwinski. Madam Chairman 



Mrs. Unsoeld. Mr. Derwinski. 



Mr. Derwinski. The no-fishing application would be rather ex- 

 treme, but stopping a little short of that, when we did this Treaty 

 10 years ago, each country understood, and then in our case, our 

 three delegations understood that we wanted the agreement that 

 winter. Everybody was told our goal was to have this Treaty and 

 we would, if necessary, stay in Vancouver, and Seattle, all winter 

 until we had it. 



Everybody abided by the rules that were set. The Canadians 

 didn't walk away. Their Canadian senior advisor kept them there, 

 and we kept all of our people there. And that had a very whole- 

 some, practical, not just a psychological effect, it had a practical ef- 

 fect. 



Mrs. Unsoeld. I have heard that negotiations could be expedited 

 if people were locked in a room, beer was served, and then the rest- 

 room was outside the door. 



Mr. Turner. We have tried it. 



Mrs. Unsoeld. I cannot let this meeting close without asking 

 you to clarify an issue regarding the promised financial assistance 

 being directed to salmon-dependent communities in the Northwest. 

 Because it was May 26th that Secretary Brown, Director Panetta, 

 announced an economic package of $15.7 million in assistance for 

 salmon fishermen and their communities, and stated that the 

 funds were available that day and should within a matter of weeks 

 become available in the communities. 



It is now more than two months later. People in those commu- 

 nities are really feeling the pinch of the situation. Last night, I re- 

 ceived a call from a reporter that quoted an administration official 

 as saying that because new regulations needed to be developed. 



