69 



It is clear that there is no such thing as instant knowledge or in- 

 stant science — in fisheries or elsewhere. 



Progress and improvement — ability and determination are the 

 things that count. The industry record shows that all these elements 

 are present and provide the means to the best possible solution in the 

 real world. 



We need the help of this committee to restore some sanity to a 

 nightmarish situation. 



That concludes my statement. 



Mr, Leggett. Thank you very much, Mr. Gary. 



Your complete statement will be included in the record. 



[The full statement of Harold Gary follows :] 



Statement of Harold Cary ox Behalf of the American Tunaboat Association 



i. the problem 



We fish yellowfin tuna associated with porpoise schools. It is the presence 

 of these creatures which make the fishery and its expansion possible. Without 

 the porpoise populations the fishery would collapse for all engaged in it. 



It is mandatory that we solve the problem of maintaining these populations. 

 It is necessary that we solve it internationally. 



The United States purse seine fleet which is the key to the presence of tuna 

 processors in this country cannot solve or be used to solve it alone. The United 

 States fleet will continue to endeavor to solve it alone so long as it is able to 

 operate. 



If the United States fleet is destroyed, no solution results. The United States 

 fleet is out of business. No porpoises are saved. No research of scale is possible. 



Fishermen and environmentalists have the same goal — to preserve porpoise 

 stocks. Fishermen have it because there livelihood depends upon it. Environ- 

 mentalists have it because they believe it to be in the common interest. 



The problem is that fishermen believe that the problem can be solved 

 progressively by continuing research and improvement in fishing techniques. 

 Environmentalists believe it can be solved immediately or rapidly through 

 multiple restrictions placed upon the United States fleet. 



II. THE INDUSTRY 



The archives are full of data on the fishery and its importance in United 

 States fisheries and the importance of tuna processing. This will not be repeated 

 here. 



The fishery represents most of California's landed fish value, nearly all of 

 that of Puerto Rico and some of that American Samoa. There are landings in 

 other areas. 



Canned tuna overwhelmingly leads United States canned fish volume and 

 value. 



Thousands of persons are dependent upon it for employment in catching and 

 processing tuna and by-products as well as in the entire range of activities 

 from vessel building to final sale of canned tuna and by-products. 



III. PRESENT SITUATION 



Uncertainty and confusion are the dominant conditions in the industry. We 

 have faced many problems before. This time it is fair to say we do not know 

 where we are going. 



National Marine Fisheries Service has prepared an Impact Analysis of 

 Proposed Rules which measures the distress in dismal detail. This is a view 

 of where are headed. 



A measure of uncertainty and confusion is found in the IS legal and 

 administrative proceedings concerning porpoises in which the industry is or has 

 been engaged in the last year. These are by no means ended. One of the most 



