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origin with regard to the conservation and management of such stocks." The obligation to 

 cooperate in the conservation of the stocks is quite clear. 



Thus, in the absence of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, Canada would lack a basis in 

 international law to demand equity in the management of intercepting salmon fisheries, but 

 would be obligated, nonetheless, to cooperate with the United States in the conservation 

 of U.S. -origin salmon.' It should be understood, consequently, that although Canada 

 behaves menacingly from time-to-time on the subject of Pacific salmon interceptions, its 

 national interest is very likely to deter a decision that could lead to a collapse of the 

 Treaty. The recent Canadian retreat from the imposition of "transit fees" on US vessels 

 in the Inside Passage is evidence of an unwillingness to put too much pressure on the 

 Treaty process. 



The Fraser River Salmon Harvest in Washington State Waters 



Salmon which spawn in the Fraser River north of the U.S. -Canada border must 

 migrate through U.S. internal waters This has placed the United States Government, the 

 State of Washington, and the tribal governments in a critically important position in the 

 conservation and management of Fraser River salmon. 



' I note for the record that I chaired the policy review of then Law of the Sea Treaty at 

 the outset of the Reagan Administration, when I served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of 

 State and Ambassador for Oceans and Fisheries Affairs. Prior to that, I was privileged to 

 serve as Majority Counsel to the House Subcommittees on Oceanography and Fisheries 

 and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment under the chairmanship of then 

 Congressman John Breaux, who took a special interest in the Law of the Sea negotiations. 



