The provisions of the Convention dividing the annual yield of fur seals— the first of their kind in the 

 world— have worked remarkably well for almost 60 years. A number of special factors may have 

 contributed to this success. No private businessmen are involved in fur seal catching; and there is no 

 problem of new entrants because the entire fur seal business is of relatively small economic interest and 

 the cost of entry to nations outside the North Pacific is relatively high.'"^ 



E. Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission'"^ 



1. Objective 



The purpose of this Convention is to "faciUtate maintaining the populations of" yellowfin and 

 skipjack tuna and of other kinds of fish taken by tuna fishing vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean "at a 

 level which will permit maximum sustained catches year after year.""" 



The States Parties to the Convention originally were Costa Rica and the United States, but the 

 Convention extended an invitation to join to alLother States whose nationals participated in the fisheries 

 covered by it."° Since it became effective, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico and Canada have become Parties 

 to the Convention, but Ecuador has served notice of withdrawal. 



2. Administrative Organization and Powers 



The States Parties agree to estabUsh and operate the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, to be 

 composed of national sections, each consisting of from one to four members appointed by each State 

 Party.' ' ' Decisions, resolutions, recommendations and pubhcations of the Commission must be made 

 by unanimous vote, with each national section having one vote.' '^ The Commission elects a Chairman 

 and a Secretary from different national sections, but these offices must rotate so that each State Party 

 will have an opportunity to be represented in these offices.' '^ The Commission is authorized to employ 

 necessary personnel for the performance of its functions and duties.' '" It is also authorized to designate 

 a Director of Investigations to serve at its pleasure and to perform the following tasks subject to the 

 Commission's instruction and approval: 



a. the drafting of programs of investigations and preparation of budget estimates; 



b. authorizing disbursement and accounting of funds for the joint expenses of the Commission; 



c. the appointment and immediate direction of technical and other personnel required for the functions 

 of the Commission; 



d. arrangements for cooperation with other organizations or individuals; 



107 



Chapman, The Theory and Practice of International Fisheries Commissions and Bodies, presented at the 

 Symposium on International Fisheries Problems, Gulf and Carribbean Fisheries Institute, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 

 15, 1967, at 13-14. 



This Convention was signed at Washington, May 31, 1949 and entered into force for the United States March 3, 

 1950, T.I.A.S. No. 2044. 



109 



Convention, Preamble. The area in question has been roughly interpreted to include waters from southern 

 California to northern Chile, a distance of 4,500 miles, and as far eastward as tropical tuna found in coastal waters 

 travel. 



"V, Art. V(3). 



'"/d., Art. 1(1). 



"^W., Art. 1(8). 



"^/d. Art. 1(7). 



'"*M, Art. 1(10). 



VlII-120 



