204 



Spinner spin while jumping, but it was distinctive markings, at 

 least the adult has. and it has a forward cant to its dorsal fin, 

 whereas other porpoises have a backward cant to the dorsal fin. 



Furthermore, the geographical ranges of the White-Bellied Spin- 

 ner and the Eastern Spinner, while they do overlap in the middle, are 

 basically different. The population of Eastern Spinners is an in shore 

 population geographically; whereas the White-Bellied Spinner is by 

 and large offshore. It is true that immatures of the two species of 

 spinners might conceivably be confused. We have taken that into con- 

 sideration with the 7 percent error factor. But it is not true that 

 an Eastern Spinner is a difficult species to identify. 



1 think that probably concludes the remarks that I wanted to make, 

 except that I am sorry that Mr. McCloskey is gone, because I wanted 

 to express our agreement with what I caught from the drift of his 

 questions of Dr. White this morning was his conviction that 100 

 percent observers is ultimately something that is going to be required 

 to solve this problem. We, too, do not understand why the industry 

 cannot be made to pay for these observers and pass along the cost 

 to that segment of the population which is most likely to benefit, 

 which is to say. the consumers of tuna. 



The industry is the economic mechanism best able to spread the 

 cost to the proper element of societv, those people who benefit from 

 the taking. We aren't trying to saddle the industry with non recover- 

 able expenses. There is a more rational way of spreading this cost 

 across the society. I think that is all I have to say, unless you have 

 some questions. 



Mr. Leggett. I think your statements are very helpful, Bill. When 

 does the CYRA area close? I guess when the quota is estimated to 

 be taken? 



Mr. Butler. Yes ; and in recent years, it has been by and large in 

 March. This year, in comparison with last year, the fleets taken as a 

 Avhole are doing less well. There are apparently less fish available, at 

 least judging by the evidence the industry gave 2 weeks ago. It is 

 therefore likely that the CYRA quota will be declared closed the first 

 week in April this year. 



Boats that are in port at the time when the quota is declared closed, 

 either the third or fourth week in March or the first week in April, 

 are eligible for one more "free" trip in the CYRA if they choose 

 to take it. 



Mr. Leggett. Do they have to be in port for a full month? 



Mr. Butler. No ; but they have to be in port, as I understand it — 

 there are people here far more informed than I am on this — they 

 have to be in port only at the time it is declared. So therefore, I think 

 it is somewhat of a guessing game, but an informed guessing game, 

 to have your boats in or near ports so they can make a dash home 

 to qualify for a free trip. 



Mr. Leggett. In fairness, if it is not going to close until April, to 

 allege that they are now in port for the free trip is probably a little 

 overstated. 



Mr. Butler. I said, "albeit a few^ weeks earlier." But they were 

 coming in anyway. To estimate that this 4- or 5-week period of fish- 

 ing was lost is not accurate. Some of the period of time has to be 



