291 



Mr. Leogett. He hns not asked that question yet today, but T know 

 he hns asked it in the past. 



Mr. Gehrtnger. Should T address that? 



Mr. Leggett. So plav like I asked it, 



Mr. Gehrtnger. At the present time, our observer program j s 

 strictly a sampling prop-ram to obtain a combination of scientific 

 data and observations with respect to the law. 



We have as I understand it, two observers who are now abroad 

 ships. There are only a few vessels out there now. 



Some of the ships that have not returned are on the wav in. And 

 as T understand it, we have two additional observers prepared to go 

 aboard. 



Now, were we to place observers abroad every ves°el between now 

 and the anticipated time of the conclusion of the fishing season, this 

 would require additional funds and additional ceilings. Our figures 

 are based on what it would cost to take our samples during the re- 

 maining portion of the year. 



Mr. Forsythe. Will the gentleman yield? 



Mr. Leggett. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Forsythe. Is the number proposed under your current plan 

 to cover about 48 percent of the cruises for the rest of this year? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. That is my understanding, yes, sir. 



Mr. Leggett. All right. 



And now the current status of your regulations, would it authorize 

 you to place an observer on every boat on every trip? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. Mr. Chairman, our plan before the court has no 

 provision for that to take place. 



As to the 43-percent coverage, our plan provides for that. 



Mr. Leggett. That is with your plan with the court? 



Mr. Gehringer. Yes. It does not provide for 100-percent observers. 



Mr. Leggett. That is for 43 percent of all of the cruises of the 

 big boats? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. Yes, sir, for the sampling 1 program. Roughly 130 

 to 140 vesels would be involved in the whole sampling program. 



Mr. Leggett. How many observers would that involve? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. For 130 trips it would depend upon whether an 

 observer repeated a trip and the frequency of trips. We have 34 

 observers available now. 



So, depending on the frequency of the trips and departures, and 

 whether one observer could serve on more than one cruise, less than 

 130 observers would be involved. 



Mr. Leggett. Vou say you currently have 34 observers? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. We have 34 observers available. 



Mr. Leggett. And now the $1.1 million is for more observers, is it 

 not? 



Mr. Gehrtnger. It is to provide for observers for the fishing sea- 

 son. We have already had a number of observers and have incurred 

 certain costs which T cannot quote, but we can provide those. 



This would provide for observers for the remainder of the fishing 

 season. 



Mr. Leggett. All right. 



Mr. Forsythe. Mr. Chairman, would you yield further. 



