60 



AFTERNOON SESSION 



Mr. Leggett. The meeting of the subcommittee will please come 



hack to order. 



The record will show that we have just reviewed a movie on purse 

 seining which was provided, courtesy. I guess, of the American Tuna 

 Boat Association. 



It was a very pretty movie and certainly showed some ideal meth- 

 ods of setting. 



Hopefully, we can make that the optimum average condition. 



Mr. Tobin, I believe, you are from the longshoremen. 



We are glad to have you here. 



As I understand, you have to get out of here quickly. 



Are you reading the statement of John J. Royal ? 



Mr. Tobin. Yes. 



Mr. Leggett. Your statement will appear in the record as though 

 fully delivered and you can expand on it or do whatever you want. 



[The statement of John J. Royal as presented by Mr. Tobin fol- 

 lows :] 



Statement ok John J. Royal, Fishermen and Allied Wobkbbs' Union of 

 San Pedbo and San Diego, Calif., International Longshoremen's and 



Warehousemen's Union 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this opportunity to submit to you and this 

 Committee some of my views and concerns ahout the current application of the 

 Marine Mammal Protection Act 



My name is John J. Royal. I am the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the 

 Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union of San Pedro and San Diego, California, 

 affiliated with the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union of 

 the West Coast of America, Alaska and Hawaii. (Mr. Harry Bridges being the 

 International President.) The membership of my organization is made up of 

 Coastal Fishermen and High-Seas Tuna Fishermen, who, in order to provide 

 a livelihood for their families and a continuing source of high protein food for 

 the citizens of the United States, fish from Catalina Island to the tip of South 

 America, the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean and on to the shores of Africa. 

 Their return catches of Tuna and other commercial species provide employment 

 for thousands upon thousands of shoreside cannery workers and other allied 

 trade workers, without which fish the U.S. Tuna Fishermen would most likely 

 be placed on the rolls of the unemployed or welfare. On behalf of these people. 

 I most strongly and most vigorously urge you to give us relief under the 

 extension of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 



I have been a part of the U.S. tuna industry for over 30 years now in various 

 capacities, starting out as a working fisherman and for the past 20 years as the 

 bead of the Union, not that this is all important, but only to demonstrate to you. 

 Mr. Chairman, that I have been around sufficiently long to witness the great 

 many changes that have occurred within the U.S. and world's fishing industries 

 and in some way to qualify me to make some observations and more important l.\ 

 some objections. The U.S. Tuna Fishermen, since the end of World War II, have 

 been the vanguard of the juridical position of and for the United States of 

 America. Several years ago when the Marine Mammal Protection Act was 

 passed 1 was told by the members of the Congress, both in the House and in 

 the Senate, that, should this legislation seriously affect the Tuna Industry and 

 particularly the jobs of fishermen I represent, I should come back to you. Well 



I am back, and I am a requesting relief if we are to survive. 



The Tuna Industry provides over 26% of the fish eaten by American families. 



I I is a high protein, nutritions and economical food. Indeed, it can be said thai 

 America ?, r oes to lunch on tuna fish sandwiches. The loss of the U.S. tuna fleet 

 and the jobs that go with it, which will happen if this Congress fails to provide 

 relief, will be a tragedy for every American. 



