744 
Dr. Curisry. I was not aware of that. I think it may still apply if 
certain kinds of species and stocks can be found. 
Mr. Kerirn. What is your employment? I noted here that you are a 
consultant and member of many organizations, but what is the source 
of your income? 
Dr. Curisty. It is Resources for the Future, Inc., which is a tax- 
exempt, nonprofit corporation in Washington undertaking research on 
the social science aspects of natural resource policies and issues. 
Mr. Kerry. Who funds that? 
Dr. Curisty. This is funded entirely by the Ford Foundation. 
Mr. Kerrn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Lennon. Thank you, Mr. Keith. 
Mr. Downing? 
_ Mr. Downine. This is a most interesting statement, Dr. Christy. 
Let’s see if I understand it. Do you say that fishing resources are being 
depleted ? 
Dr. Curisry. Yes, in part. This is not the major brunt of my state- 
ment but, under the condition of open access, depletion becomes 
inevitable as well. 
That is, there is no control on the number of fishermen and the 
incentive of every fisherman naturally is to catch as large an amount 
as he can. This is perfectly economic for the individual fisherman. 
Mr. Downtne. Are our resources actually being depleted now ? 
Dr. Curisry. In some situations the depletion of U.S. stocks is quite 
clear. The catch of many of our stocks currently is lower than it has 
been in the past, and there are opportunities for increasing the catch, 
generally by reducing the amount of fishing effort. This may sound 
like a paradox, but this is the way it would operate. 
Mr. Downtne. Do you advocate imposing controls by limiting the 
number of people who fish ? 
Dr. Curtsry. Limiting the number of vessels and fishermen that 
participate. 
Mr. Downtine. As a practical matter, how would you go about doing 
that ? 
Dr. Curisty. The best study on this that I have seen is the one by 
Crutchfield done on behalf of the State legislature of Washington 
with respect to the Puget Sound salmon fishery. 
This recommended that all those presently fishing for salmon on 
Puget Sound receive licenses; that as attrition takes place because 
fishermen want to leave the industry or because they die off, or one 
reason or another, that as this takes place the number of licenses 
would naturally be reduced. 
They would let this occur until the ‘point where they have the most 
efficient number of licenses in the industry. Then at that time they 
would maintain that number by offering new licenses as some of the 
old ones go out. 
Mr. Downrne. I see. It would be something like a hunting license. 
Dr. Curisry. Well, no, because most hunting licenses can be ob- 
tained by anyone without restriction on the number of hunters. 
Mr. Downine. You would have restricted numbers of licenses? 
Dr. Currisry. Yes. If, for example, it would be appropriate to have, 
using this purely as an illustration, 100 licenses in the Puget Sound 
salmon fishery and there are now 150, which would be somewhat on 
