166 



Mr. Leggett. That might be 130 observers, or something less than 

 that « 



Dr. White. Some observers would make more than one trip, Mr. 

 Chairman. 



Mr. Leooett. Does that account for 43 percent of the vessel fishing 

 time, or just 43 percent 



Dr. White. It is 43 percent of the anticipated trips. 



Mr. Leooett. Forty-three percent of the trips will have — that is 

 of all boats over 400 tons, they will have observers? 



Dr. White. That is correct. 



Mr. Leggett. So it would be less than 43 percent of the overall 

 trips? 



Dr. White. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Leooett. You set a target limit as far as— if my colleagues 

 indulge me, I will dominate this for a minute to get this going. If 

 you want to interrupt me, just do it. 



Mr. Leggett. As far as the numbers of porpoise to be taken, you 

 originally recommended some 40,000 of which 29,000 would be the 

 domestic share. 



We heard considerable testimony on this. The administrative law 

 judge recognized that, in fact, we had not taken 72,000 or 78,000 last 

 year, but in fact had taken something over 80 or 00.000. and, as a 

 result, he recommended that there be a 00.000 something limitation, 

 96,100. And your recommendation is, 59,050, which would be an im- 

 provement over the 72,000 which you recommended in your target 

 last year, which was not achieved. 



Dr. White. 78.000. 



Mr. Leggett. I assume that your recommendations in this respect 

 are based upon anticipation of acquisition of nets and gear and train- 

 ing and performance as near as possible, in as many cases as possible, 

 approaching the Elisabeth O. J. Scientific Cruise experience? 



Dr. White. We believe that with the technology the industry has 

 and can put to sea in the upcoming year, they should be able to 

 reduce the porpoise mortality to this level. 



Mr. Leggett. All right, that is assuming, of course, that to date the 

 American fleet has taken none, correct? 



Dr. White. We have to assume the American fleet has taken none. 



Mr. Leggett. Have you received any reports that they have taken 

 any? 



Dr. White. No. 



Mr. Leggett. So they get the presumption of innocence in that 

 respect. OK. 



So that is the numbers situation and, very frankly, from what T 



hear around, the numbers are liveable. Can vou train this number of 



observers in the time frame you have available if the Congress acts? 



Dr. White. We anticipate it will be possible to put that many 



observers on. 



Mr. Leggett. Your regulations, we have been told, with the various 

 checks and balances on them, unless there is a court order modifying 

 them, will not be effective until some time during the end of April. 

 Will you address that and give us the variables? 



