613 
Current developments with respect to the American merchant 
marine are a cause for concern. U.S. overseas trade is growing at 
such a rapid rate that the percentage of U.S. overseas trade carried 
in U.S. flag vessels has shrunk to only 5.1 percent of the total volume 
- transported (or 17.5 percent in terms of value). In view of worldwide 
political developments, it is necessary for the United States to maintain 
a merchant marine large enough and strong enough to keep competi- 
tion healthy, to prevent runaway rates, and insure that reliability of 
service which is vital to the U.S. economy and national security. 
SOVIET AND U.S. MARINE FISHERIES 
During the past 25 years, Soviet fishermen have been very successful 
in marine fisheries. They have increased their harvest of ocean fish 
at an average rate of approximately 18 percent per year. In 1950, 
the Soviet Union harvested 1.8 million tons of fish; in 1974, it har- 
vested 9.6 million tons. Of the total catch approximately 90 percent 
was caught off the coasts of foreign countries. The Soviet Union 
was a net importer of fish until 1959. Since then it has been a 
net exporter of fish. In 1974, for example, the U.S.S.R. earned $140 
million from foreign sales of fish. 
During the same period, the U.S. fisheries have been stagnant. The 
total U.S. harvest of ocean fish was 2.4 million tons in 1950 and 
2.6 million tons in 1974. Of the total U.S. catch, about 10 percent 
was caught in foreign waters. At the same time, American consump- 
tion of fish has increased substantially. As a result, U.S. imports of 
fish have grown from 1.6 billion pounds in 1966 to 2.5 billion pounds 
in 1974. In 1950, imported fish accounted for 25 percent of U‘S. 
consumption. In 1974, such imports amounted to 63 percent of total 
U.S. consumption. The cost of fish importation was $1.5 billion on 
the 1974 US. international balance of trade. This record is not related 
to the availability of coastal resources. In fact, the coastal fishery 
resources of the United States are larger than those of the Soviet 
Union. 
The Soviet Union has made a remarkable comeback since the 
Second World War, when much of its fishing fleet was destroyed. 
By 1975, it had 4,400 active high-seas fishing vessels, and it was 
still expanding its fishing fleet. The United States, which did not 
suffer any serious losses in its fishing fleet during World War II, 
has an old fleet. Except for the tuna fleet, most of the 1,019 USS. 
fishing vessels of over 100 GRT are very old (as of 1975). 
The Soviet Union, in the early 1950’s decided, at a high-level of 
government, that it should seek to increase the animal protein intake 
of its citizens by a rapid expansion in the supply of fish. The decision 
was based in part on the failure to increase agricultural production 
sufficiently to be able to supply such animal protein requirements 
by meat production. 
The Soviet fishing fleet, like the merchant marine fleet, also serves 
a noneconomic purpose. The civilian fleet has increased the Soviet 
‘““‘presence’”’ in the world’s oceans. Although the civilian fleet has not 
been integrated with the Soviet Navy, a number of military advisors 
or consultants are attached to the higher planning organs of the 
civilian fleets and a number of ocean-going personnel and school 
