MARINE SCIENCE 161 
We are not equipped to intensify our research without a major increase in 
oceanographic vessels and of funds for oceanographic programs. Whereas the 
Russians and the Japanese have large fleets of fishing vessels operating in the 
Bering Sea and have a number of research vessels assigned to work continu- 
ously with these fleets, the United States has only one high seas fisheries re- 
search vessel which is assigned year around to the northeast Pacific. This 
vessel, the John N. Cobb, is relatively small and is primarily engaged in ex- 
ploratory fishing. It is limited in its range and is not capable of carrying on 
all of the work that is necessary. Other vessels which have been chartered for 
special research jobs, especially in connection with the work of the U.S. section 
of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission are modified fishing 
vessels. Such adapted vessels are not satisfactory for research in oceanography 
and experience has proved that they are no more satisfactory for research in 
fisheries biology. 
A major question that should be considered is whether or not the recent 
accelerated growth of the Russian fishing fleets indicates a move to control the 
marine fisheries of the world. It is not essential for the Russian fishing fleets 
to make a profit, so that they can build very large boats with the most modern 
and expensive equipment and still compete with any other nation. If this 
control is their objective, other countries such as Japan which are largely 
dependent upon fish could well be forced to reassess their world relationships. 
In our administration of fisheries, we have maintained that they are a com- 
mon property resource so that fish are not subject to ownership except when 
reduced to possession. With the failure of the last Conference on the Law of 
the Sea to define “international fisheries ownership” any better than this, or to 
reach agreement on territorial limits, the only hope of protecting any of the 
marine stocks now lies in the development of treaties between nations. However, 
without general agreement among nations concerning responsibility for maintain- 
ing the productivity of the world’s fish populations, any nation which is not a 
party to a conservation treaty would not be bound by its provisions. Our marine 
fisheries therefore have no real protection against the operations of any country 
that might wish to exploit them either for its own benefit or for political 
purposes. 
Fishing, therefore, represents an enterprise of high risk which must promise 
a quick return on capital investment to be attractive, especially to the individual 
investors who now dominate American fisheries. Such an industry is especially 
sensitive to competition when it appears in the form of greater resources in 
capital which permit development of expensive innovations in techniques, or as 
a low-cost labor which permits lower production costs regardless of efficiency. 
The Russian fisheries are backed by their national treasury which is now pro- 
viding the most modern equipment for harvesting fish and whatever funds are 
required for research. The Japanese fishermen operate at a small fraction of the 
wages demanded by U.S. fishermen and through large fishing companies which 
maintain stability by a wide diversity of interests. Of U.S. fisheries, only the 
Pacific tuna fishery presently maintains a competitive advantage over foreign 
rivals through the recent and rapid adoption of the power block and nylon purse 
seiner. Whether this advantage will survive adoption of equally efficient gear by 
other nations is uncertain. There is no question that technological problems 
raised by this new method of fishing tuna will have to be solved to prevent loss 
of competitive advantage through excessive spoilage of product. 
The lack of new investment in most of our fisheries is reflected in outmoded 
vessels, retention of old methods of fishing as well as in a retarded technology 
of handling and processing.. The inertia which has grown out of economic com- 
petition with what appears to be more favored foreign fisheries, well supported 
by their governments, has been increased by complicated restrictive laws in 
many fisheries, designed by conservation agencies to meet the needs of conser- 
vation while attempting to recognize, at the same time, the right of every man 
to share in any fishery, ie., to maintain the concept of a “common property 
resource.” 
Covering over 70 percent of the surface of the globe, the tremendous potential 
of the oceans as a source of food, as a source of minerals and as a means of 
worldwide communication cannot be ignored by the United States. Nor ean the 
Federal Government leave responsibility of development of the required knowl- 
edge concerning the oceans to individual States with their limited ranges of juris- 
diction, interests, and resources. 
