105 



Let me ask you this: 



From what you saw, other than the physical problem of acquisi- 

 tion and deployment of nets similar to what you saw in the Eliza- 

 beth C.J. and the training of crews comparable to what you saw 

 there, do you find any problem in expanding the Elizabeth C. J. pro- 

 cedures to other ships? 



Ms. Pryor. It seems to me that it should be possible for any well 

 equipped ship to do a pretty good job. The problems I would per- 

 ceive would be ships that do not have enough power to securely 

 maneuver these vast nets, especially in rough water. It may be a little 

 harder for some of the smaller ships to do this. 



Frank, what do you think? 



I do not really feel equipped to answer that. 



Mr. Alversost. Let me just say that one of the programs that the 

 Porpoise Rescue Foundation has for 1977, extension program, to 

 assist people in making the switch over to the C.J. system. I think 

 the people that have it in their nets now have problems and are in a 

 learning process. I think we can take advantage of it and I think 

 the transition can be made; and I believe one of the captain's five 

 sets for his vessel — I do know that there have been vessels that have 

 had two and three trips and are still having problems with their 

 gear, and maybe they are unique to that vessel or that net; but I 

 think the transfer can be made over the course of this coming 1977 

 season if we can ever go fishing on porpoise. 



If we do not get any experience on fishing of porpoise, I guess 

 if there is any one viably economically around, then we will in 1978, 

 we will do it then. 



Mr. Leggett. How many ships did have what we call the Bold 

 Contender gear generally deployed upon them? 



Mr. Alverson. As near as I can make out, there are between 33 

 and 35 vessels which have fine mesh systems. I say fine mesh sys- 

 tems because I think they go all the way from a double strip panel, 

 up to nets that have an apron and a chute and then you have the 

 modification which we call the super apron and there may be other 

 variances around. 



Mr. Leggett. Unfortunately, the results that I saw concerning the 

 Bold Contender gear were not exactly the same as the original experi- 

 ment in that the original experiment is 1.2 porpoise per set and the 

 subsequent data, as I recall, did not support that kind of a result. 



Mr. Alverson. Well, I cannot remember at this point in time what 

 the Bold Contender did itself. I do know that in 1976, with our 20- 

 vessel experiment, that the kill rate experienced by those vessels, 

 many of which were operating outside the line where fishing condi- 

 tions were difficult, was less than half of the conventional gear, and 

 I think that is a big jump in the right direction. 



Mr. Leggett. Mr. Oberstar. 



Mr. Oberstar. Based on your experience, do you feel that the in- 

 dustry is in compliance with the law working toward production of 

 porpoise mortality in levels approaching zero? 



Ms. Pryor. The Elizabeth OJ. is. She is really the tip of the ice- 

 berg of several years of effort and motivation of a wider and wider 

 range of fleets. 



