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Salmon which originate in U.S. rivers are often caught (intercepted) in 

 Canadian fisheries before returning to U.S. waters, and vice versa. The 

 U.S. and Canada have argued for many years about the balance, and value, 

 of these interceptions. 



The treaty contained several principles including, resource conservation, 

 optimum production, no undue disruption of existing fisheries, maintenance 

 of treaty Indian obligations, and the equity principle. 



I understand that the United States and Canada have attempted to re- 

 negotiate multiyear salmon management regimes, but, after protracted 

 negotiations, were only able to achieve a 1-year agreement. Considerable 

 effort has been expended to date in negotiations to again achieve long- 

 term management regimes for IBS'* and beyond. 



In spite of the seemingly intractable nature of some of these issues, 

 both sides have signaled willingness to continue working on them. A 

 White House Press Release indicated that Prime Minister Chretien and 

 President Clinton in a telephone conversation on April 22, IBS'*, 

 discussed, among other things, the need for the two countries to work 

 together on Pacific salmon issues. Since specific regimes were not 

 agreed upon prior to the IBS'* fishing season, both countries have 

 attempted to avoid deliberate increases in salmon interceptions. 



I am convinced that a domestic consensus is indispensable to a successful 

 outcome in any fisheries negotiation with the Canadians. 



