LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION 

 COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES 



Committee Proceedings 



The first meeting of the Legislative Research Commission 

 Committee on Fisheries (hereinafter referred to as "the Commit- 

 tee") was held on November 17, 1977 (all meetings were held in 

 the Legislative Building in Raleigh) . The Committee was informed 

 by the chairman. Representative Gilmore, of its function to study 

 the problems of price instability in the commercial fishing 

 industry. Representative Gilmore recognized former Representative 

 Ronald Earl Mason who introduced House Joint Resolution 1385 

 directing that the subject be studied. Mr. Mason informed the 

 Committee that price instability in marketing was the single 

 greatest problem in North Carolina's fishing industry. Mr. Mason 

 suggested that a marketing report program which had been estab- 

 lished with Federal funds, but not supported by commercial 

 fishermen, would be an aid in correcting the problem of price 

 instability. 



Mr. victor Barfield, Assistant Secretary of the Department 

 of Commerce, spoke before the Committee concerning the need for 

 a uniform marketing program and state support for processing 

 facilities. Mr. Barfield also informed the Committee that the 

 marketing and promotion program which was established in the 

 Division of Marine Fisheries in 1973, but deleted in 1975, was 



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