Nevertheless, the present division of the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service into a Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries and Bureau of Sport Fisheries and 

 Wildlife is unsatisfactory in concept and opera- 

 tion in the marine environment. The two Bureaus 

 are inevitably involved in activities relating to the 

 same species, and it would be too much to expect 

 that a perfectly smooth division of responsibilities 

 could be achieved. 



It would seem only logical that all marine and 

 anadromous fish, regardless of sport or commercial 

 utilization, should be handled by a single agency. 

 Alternatively, all Fish and Wildlife Service fishery 

 activities might be consolidated in the BCF. The 

 Fish and Wildlife Service could then be of greater 

 assistance to the various States in development and 

 dissemination of accurate information relating to 

 actual, potential, or imaginary conflicts between 

 sport fishermen and other users of the same 

 resources; it could lend its financial support to 

 biological and technological studies aimed at re- 

 ducing or eliminating conflicts of this sort. A 

 unified agency would be more effective in this 

 work than any type of coordinating device. 



There is urgent need for applied research in the 

 economic evaluation of recreational fishing. The 

 general principles involved have been delineated in 

 a number of pubhcations (Crutchfield, 1966, 

 provides a current discussion of these issues). No 

 analytical framework, however satisfactory, can 

 provide general answers for practical situations. 

 These call for appHed studies in each area where 

 conflict exists or is anticipated. 



The panel cannot emphasize too strongly the 

 need for this type of program within the States 

 themselves, since the Federal agency can do Uttle 

 more than facilitate. There are countless examples 

 of discriminatory legislation, instituted by one 

 group at the expense of the other, based on little 

 or no scientific evidence that would stand careful 

 analysis. Once such legislation is enacted, it be- 

 comes extremely difficult to remove it, since the 

 vested interests that develop behind it are in a 

 position to exert strong pressure against further 

 change. There are far too many cases in which 

 commercially valuable species are being wasted 

 because of unwarranted angler opposition to com- 

 mercial fishing. There is an equally large number 

 of others in which commercial fishing makes 

 serious inroads into populations that would be 

 much more valuable as the base of a recreational 



industry. Both biological and economic assessment 

 techniques have now reached standards that per- 

 mit far better solutions to problems of conflict 

 than these "meat-axe" techniques have brought. 



Accurate statistics on total catch and fishing 

 effort, place, and mode of capture are just as 

 essential to effective resource management for 

 sport fishing as for commercial. From such basic 

 statistics it can be determined whether manage- 

 ment is necessary, appropriate conservation meas- 

 ures can be designed, and their effectiveness can be 

 evaluated. Such statistics must be compiled by 

 small geographic areas and by small units of time. 



Sport fish statistics are not nearly accurate 

 enough to be useful for management purposes. 

 Several methods to obtain adequate statistics have 

 been discussed during the past several years which, 

 if properly carried out, could provide the informa- 

 tion desired. 



1. Fish Licensing-Reporting System 



—All marine anglers licensed 



—Each required to report (on forms provided) 

 weekly or monthly on fishing activities and success 



—Estimates for non-reporters made from follow-up 

 sample. 



Such a system would be resented by many 

 sport fishermen, particularly at first, but might be 

 "sold" to them with proper public relations and 

 education. Adequate staff for followup work 

 would be necessary. A provision that non-reporters 

 would not receive a license the following year 

 would help enforce the reporting system. 



2. Sampling System 



—All marine anglers Ucensed 



—A random sample of anglers' names drawn from 

 licenses 



—These anglers contacted by telephone weekly or 

 monthly to determine fishing activities and success 



—Total figures for whole fishery calculated from 

 sample. 



Either of these systems will call for a major 

 effort by trained personnel, but could produce 



VII-36 



