421 



the coastal use of the fisheries, is making fish sauce which is interest- 

 ingly enough a form of protein concentrate where fish is fermented in 

 large jars for up to 6 months to a year and drawn out as a very piquant 

 liquid, which they add to their food, much as soy sauce. Surprisingly, 

 it makes a very important contribution to their protein, 



Mr. Lennon. Indeed it does. T wonder how we are going to take an 

 infinitesimal part of your total economic aid for the fiscal year 1968, 

 or total of $320,000, and do what you propose to do that you set forth 

 in paragraph 2 on page 2. That is less than one-hundredth of 1 percent, 

 I am siu^e, of your total economic aid to South Vietnam. Having done 

 a little research work recently with respect to the impact on its econ- 

 omy and fishing and its use in Vietnam, I wonder why you folks did 

 not allocate a funding level of more than $320,000 for this purpose to 

 train Vietnamese in modern fishing technology, production and dis- 

 tribution, construction of fishponds, distribution of fishing boats, con- 

 struction of ice plants and processing. 



Construction costs are pretty high over there. You cannot build a 

 fishpond in the United States today, a substantial one, just one big 

 fishpond, for much less tlian that. 



I wonder why there is such an infinitesimal part in the total allo- 

 cation for economic assistance to South Vietnam in fiscal 1968 

 allocated to this important phase of their livelihood, survival nutri- 

 tionally ? 



Mr. Waters. I would agree with you, Mr. Chairman, this seems 

 very insignificant in view of the total Vietnam program. However, 

 this amount is technical assistance in support of these activities. 



Mr. Lennon. I wouldn't call actual construction of fishponds, the 

 building of fish landing facilities and bodies and gear, that is not 

 technical assistance, but you include that in your statement as to what 

 the $320,000 could be expended for. This is not research ; that is facili- 

 ties. 



Mr. Waters. This is providing the technical assistance for these 

 facilities. 



Mr. Lennon. If you could have a news reporter follow you folks 

 around over there to see what you are trying to do to upgrade their 

 standard of living with something they use so greatly, maybe we 

 wouldn't have these demonstrations that we are having around the 

 clock now. 



Mr. Waters. I would agree, Mr. Chairman. 



I would agree that there has been a lack of emphasis on the fisheries 

 side of our aid activities over the years. I think the new impetus 

 brought about by the Marine Council should bring about a change. 



(The following information was supplied in relation to the above:) 



Vietnam Fishing Progkam 



Fishing provides an important source of protein for the Vietnamese diet. Eaten 

 with rice, Vietnam's principle food source, fish accounts for between 7 percent 

 and 10 percent of Vietnamese food expenditures. 



In spite of severe restrictions placed on the fishing industry by security con- 

 ditions in South Vietnam, the annual catch has increased from 165,000 metric 

 tons in 1959 to the current level of approximately 400,000 tons. Offshore fishing 

 has been seriously restricted because of military actions but has improved its 

 yield through adoption of modern techniques advanced by AID and GVN fishery 



