88 



for the yellowfin fleet, it is Galled the purse seine fleet for the yellow- 

 fin fish; if you don't ever intend to fish for yellowfin, you don't 

 need it. 



So, roughly, 124 took the certificate lust year. 



Of those, abpul 95 large vessels, depend to a significant amount 

 upon yellowfin associated with porpoise. 



At the current time, I think Mr. Felando has already said that all 

 of the vessels have pledged orders for small mesh Webbing, and as 

 the vessels are returning from sea. they are installing small mesh. 



I think right now that we have approximately •">.'! or B4 vessel- 

 that have the webbing already installed. 



As they come in and the webbing is available, the remainder of 

 the fleet will install it. 



Mr. Bontor. To attain the results that this attained, the report 

 lists a number of things that must be done, small mesh webbing and 

 some other things, inflatable rafts, speedboats — at what point do you 

 think the majority of the fleet will reach the point so that hey will 

 be able to obtain results similar to that in this report ? 



Mr. Silva. Tt is a long question. 



Will you ask again, just exactly what you are asking? 



Mr. Felaxdo. How long before the fleet has this! 1 



You might ask him whether on the next trip he will have the 

 same results. 



Mr. Silva. This is difficult to guarantee by anybody. 



The only thing I can point out on the 20 vessels that experi- 

 mented last year. I think 1975. the average, 30 percent of all the 

 sets were made by the fleet, 30 percent with no loss in those sets, 

 that is, sets on porpoise with tuna. 



In 1076, it was 40 percent, or at least close to it, 30 percent or 38 

 percent. 



With these 20 vessels in the experimental trip with new Webbing, 

 it was 65 percent no loss, so it indicates to me that we are on the 

 right track and that we do have another breakthrough. 



Can you add to that ? 



Mr. Jorge. Yes; I think we are. 



I have Worked a lot of nets, but T think this is the best one that T 

 have worked with, this panel. 



I think that is one of the reasons we had such a good success last 

 trip. 



We put a lot of effort into it. 



We changed and modified quite a few times. 



The first trip, this is our second trip, we pot it down to right now. 

 and I feel really comfortable with it and we can reduce the mortality 

 today. 



Mr. Leggett. Tf that panel is mandated under the regulations for 

 early deployment in all seiners that will carry it. how lone will it 

 take to net the ships outfitted with that kind of panel? 



Mr. Jorge. Well. Mr. Chairman, I have two boats, and after my 

 brother took the Elisabeth C. J. with the new panel, then I went out 

 the last trip when we made the movie and he talked so good about 

 it, so T ordered new webbing, and it has been in process. 



In fact, they told me it should be done. 



