366 



OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 



Total nutnl)er 

 of salt water 



opment of the oceanographic program would seem to be neglectful of responsi- 

 bilities. We strongly urge that the Department of the Interior's participation in 

 the program be broadened to include the Bureau of Sport Fisheries — not confined 

 to the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. 



For your information, we estimate the current number of salt water anglers 

 in the coastal States to be as follows : 



Total number 

 of salt water 

 anglers ^ 



293, 000 



608, 000 



328, 000 



190, 000 



31, 000 



180, 000 



748, 000 



304, 000 



198, 000 



New Jersey 



New York 



North Carolina. 



Oregon 



Rhode Island- 

 South Carolina- 

 Texas 



Virginia 



"Washington 



Total 5, 391, 000 



Alabama 70, 000 



California 775, 000 



Connecticut 103, 000 



Delaware 29, 000 



Florida 487, 000 



Georgia 239, 000 



Louisiana 209, 000 



Maine 70, 000 



Maryland— 148, 000 



Massachusetts _- 200, 000 



Mississippi 126, 000 



New Hampshire 46, 000 



1 Includes many anglers who also fish in fresh water. 



We trust that our comments have been constructive. They are not intended 

 as representing opposition to the objectives of the legislation under consideration. 

 We urge the development of an adequate oceanographic research program as 

 quickly as possible. For example, we strongly favor the part of H.R. 9361 that 

 calls for the immediate strengthening of the marine biological research effort of 

 the National Science Foundation. Implementation of the National Science Foun- 

 dation program is probably the best way to get an early start on basic re- 

 search problems and take advantage of the pool of talent available outside the 

 Government agencies. There should be early emphasis on contractual and/or 

 grant research because these are excellent ways to meet the need for more 

 trained personnel in this field. 



We appreciate the opportunity to present our views to your committee. Please 

 be assured that we will be glad to assist further in any possible way. 



Statement op the Nationai, Oanners Association to the Subcommittee on 

 Oceanography, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, U.S. House 

 op Representatives on H.R. 4276, the Oceanographic Act op 1961, July 

 20, 1961 



The National Canners Association is a nonprofit trade association representing 

 approximately 650 members located in 48 of the 50 States as well as in the 

 territories. The membership of the association, which includes both independent 

 canning companies and cooperative canning enterprises, packs more than 75 per- 

 cent of the entire national production of canned fruits, vegetables, specialities, 

 and seafood. 



NOA members pack more than 80 percent of the entire national production of 

 canned seafood. The fishermen who provide the raw material to these fish 

 canners work out of ports in the States of Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, 

 California, the Gulf Coast States, the Atlantic Coast States, the Commonwealth 

 of Puerto Rico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico. 



Fish canning plays a significant role in our national economy. Retail sales of 

 all canned seafood products in the United States during 1959 totaled more than 

 $550 million. In 1958, there were 12,600 persons employed in the seafood canning 

 industry, with a total annual payroll of $38.2 million. 



Since its organization in 1907, the National Canners Association has placed 

 strong emphasis on research. Today it maintains three full-time laboratories in 

 the United States. This association recognizes the importance of fundamental 



