63 



However, if developments in this directions do not go together and 

 we take certain action that is not in concert with international agree- 

 ments, then we might be hurting the U.S. tuna industry while, at the 

 same time, not solving the problem, but we will just have foreign 

 tunaboats violating each and every objective or method that we pre- 

 scribe for the U.S. based tuna industry. 



In this regard, I want to mention that the tuna industry is tre- 

 mendously important for Puerto Rico. 



It employs over 6,682 canning workers in our Island, and with the 

 large unemployment problem which we have there, which is over 20 

 percent, any measure that would not be balanced in the sense that at 

 the same time we protect the marine mammals and the porpoise, we 

 also protect the industry, might be harmful to our economy. 



There is an annual payroll in Puerto Eico of $34.6 million to our 

 workers down here that are associated with the tuna canning indus- 

 try in Puerto Rico. 



Together with my full statement and these remarks, I would like to 

 bring this matter to the attention of the subcommittee, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Leggett. Very good. 



We are well aware of the significance of the tuna industry and. as 

 you indicate, 40 percent of the tuna production comes out of your 

 canneries. 



I guess a lot of the fish canned comes from the boats that originate 

 in Puerto Rico and also some of the boats that come, perhaps, from 

 Southern California. 



Commissioner Corrada. Right. 



Mr. Leggett. We are well aware of your horrendous unemployment 

 and anything that aggravates that, of course, is a problem. 



As I have indicated, I think it is the view of the committee that we 

 can achieve full employment of the tuna industry and also full sur- 

 vival of the mammal industry. 



Sometimes the two appear to be at odds. 



Commissioner Corrada. Mr. Chairman, I commend 7y T ou and your 

 subcommittee for your endeavor and objectives, and I hope that a 

 balanced formula can be obtained so that both objectives which are 

 important to us will materialize. 



Mr. Leggett. This committee wants to help Puerto Rico in any way 

 it possibly can. We are very concerned with your welfare. 



Commissioner Corrada. Thank j^ou very much, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Leggett. We do not want to offer you Statehood ; you may not 

 want it. 



Commissioner Corrada. Well, I hope that in the near future we will 

 be prepared for that and as many other Members of Congress have 

 said : When you are ready, we are ready, and I hope we will become 

 ready soon enough. 



Mr. Leggett. As you can sec, if you are a State like California, 

 with respect to tuna, it will not help you much. 



Commissioner Corrada. Right. 



Mr. Leggett. Do any members have any questions? 



It was nice to have you before the committee. 



Please feel free to join us at the table if you like. 



