4 
The Soviet merchant fleet is designed for both commercial and 
military cargo and is capable of serving areas which lack port facilities 
and cargo handling equipment. 
The Soviet merchant fleet consists primarily of general cargo vessels 
that can handle virtually any type of cargo. In contrast, the Western 
maritime fleets, particularly the U.S. merchant marine, is made up 
of specialized ships for handling a specific type of cargo. By building 
its merchant fleet to handle general cargo, the Soviet Union has 
the capability of converting its merchant marine to military auxiliaries 
when necessary. 
The current Soviet 5-year plan for the merchant fleet is designed 
to procure the largest roll-on/roll-off and seabee fleet in the world. 
These vessels are uniquely suited for transporting cargo to regions 
lacking port facilities and specialized cargo handling equipment. In 
addition, roll on/roll of and seabee cargo ships are highly adaptable 
for the transport of arms and materials to support onshore military 
operations. 
U.S.-U.S.S.R. FISHING CAPABILITIES 
The Soviet distant-water fishing fleet is among the most modern 
and efficient in the the world. 
During the past 25 years the Soviet fishing fleet has increased 
its catch at an average annual rate of approximately 18 percent. 
During the period 1950 through 1975 the annual harvest increased 
from 1.8 million tons to 9.6 million tons—one half of which is caught 
off the coast of other countries. From a net importer of fish until 
1969, the U.S.S.R. has become a net exporter of fish with foreign 
sales approaching $140 million in 1974. 
In contrast, the U.S. catch has remained virutally unchanged during 
the same period—2.4 to 2.6 million tons—although American fish 
imports increased from 1.1 billion pounds in 1950 to 4.1 billion 
pounds in 1974. This resulted in a drain of $1.5 billion in the 1974 
balance of trade. 
The impressive gains made by the Soviet fishing fleet are even 
more remarkable in light of the total destruction it suffered during 
the Second World War; yet by 1975 the Soviet Union had commis- 
sioned 4,400 high seas fishing vessels. The United States, on the 
other hand, had no serious losses of fishing vessels during the war, 
yet our fleet consisted of only 1,019 vessels over 100 tons in 1975, 
and with the exception of the tuna fleet, most of the U.S. fishing 
vessels are old, less efficient boats. 
The Soviet Union considers fish as a major component of their 
nutritional program. As a consequence, the U.S.S.R. has exploited 
the coastal fisheries of other countries, including the United States. 
With 17 countries, including the United States, having either declared 
or implemented a 200-mile fishery jurisdiction, the Soviet distant water. 
fishing fleet may find its activities significantly restricted in the future. 
MARINE SCIENCE 
While it is difficult to evaluate the quality of soviet oceanographic 
research, the U.S.S.R. has strengthened its marine science and 
technology programs by significantly increasing its scientific engineer- 
ing manpower and research capability. 
