132 MARINE SCIENCE 
always contended that we can’t have real conservation in the North 
Pacific without Russia being a party. . 
He agreed at that time to sound out his Government on this. I 
put it on the basis that they are members of the Northwest Atlantic 
International Fisheries Commission of which we also are a member, 
and that as fish don’t know any politics, and political considerations 
have nothing to do with it, his Government should look into it. I 
received informal word from him on Wednesday that the Soviet 
Government was taking a good, long look at it. I think that is 
progress in some direction as far as your Commission is concerned, 
because it is their fish, too, particularly in the salmon area. 
Mr. Brooprne. You might be interested to know in that regard 
that at the last three annual sessions of the Commission, we have had 
_Russian observers in attendance, noting what we were doing. So 
Russia is completely familiar with the concept of our conservation 
program and with the details of our research that have been 
developed. 
The CHatrman. Of course the State Department problem is the 
problem, as you know, between Japan and Russia. It is a sensitive 
area, I appreciate. But I do think we are making some progress to 
get them not only interested but maybe to become an active member. 
I hope that culminates. : 
Mr. Brooprne. I think we all recognize that the fish of the sea do 
not recognize territorial waters or boundaries of countries. That is 
what makes the problem so difficult. 
Fish canning plays a significant role in our national economy. Re- 
tail 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 an- 
nual payroll of $38.2 million. The fishermen who provide raw ma- 
terial to our fish canner members work out of ports in the States of 
Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, the Gulf Coast 
States, the Atlantic Coast States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, et cetera. 
Since its organization in 1907, the National Canners Association 
has placed strong emphasis on research and maintains three full-time 
laboratories in the United States. This association recognizes and 
upholds the importance of fundamental research in adding to man’s 
basic storehouse of knowledge concerning his environment. It is 
somewhat ironic that our knowledge of the oceans, which comprise 
approximately three-fourths of the earth’s surface, has lagged far 
behind our knowledge and exploration of land and sky. 
Although we are blessed with an abundance of food in this country, 
other countries are not so fortunate. Our humanitarian concern for 
those less-fortunate countries is reflected in our national “food for 
peace” campaign and in the United Nations “freedom from hunger” 
program. Large units of the expanding human population of the 
world already suffer from the lack of sufficient protein in their diet. 
It is not inconceivable, in view of our expanding population, that 
we will someday also look to the seas for a relatively untapped source 
of high-protein foods, with which to replenish our own food supply 
as well as those of other nations. The sea remains one of our few 
great natural resources which has not been fully utilized. 
