292 



Mr. Leggett. Yes. 



Mr. Forsythe. That naturally would result in about three to four 

 times the percent of trips covered in this coming fishing season than 

 vou covered in the last season? 



Mr. Gehringer. That is correct, on a sample basis, yes, sir. 



Mr. Leggett. OK. 



And that comes out 



Mr. Gehringer. Excuse me, Mr. Forsythe, not four times, but it is 

 an increase over the previous coverage of about two and a half 

 times. 



Mr. Forsythe. You had about 10 to 15 percent covered last year. 



Mr. Gehringer. We are shortening the period of the sample. 



Mr. Lbggett. Now, 34 observers goes into $1.1 million, about 

 $32,000 per each — is that the cost of your observers? 



Mr. Gehringer. That is an estimate of about 8,500 per trip. 



Mr. Leggett. So if they take three trips or four trips, they make 

 32,000 some bucks? 



Mr. Gehringer. Right. We are talking roughly 135 total trips at 

 about $8,500 for observer costs per trip. But all the cost is not sal- 

 aries, sir. That figure is the cost of the program. 



Mr. Leggett. I understand that is maintenance and like that. 



Mr. Gehringer. Yes; it represents the total cost of the program. 



Mr. Leggett. All right. 



Outside of the numbers that you preliminarily disagreed with, but 

 now you think you might possiblv agree with them at one point, do 

 you have any other objections with the legislation? 



Mr. Gehringer. No, sir. 



Mr. Leggett. All right. 



Mr. Forsythe. 



Mr. Forsythe. If we were to pass this authorization and were able 

 to persuade the Appropriations Committee to follow our guidance, it 

 would be a welcome measure. 



Mr. Gehringer. An additional authorization would create no prob- 

 lem in that we would be able to request appropriations for a 100- 

 percent-observer program without seeking additional authorization 

 from this committee. However, additional appropriations are not 

 required at this time above the current requested amount. If a 100- 

 percent-observer program becomes necessary, we will seek the re- 

 quired funds at that time. 



Mr. Forsythe. I think that is all the questions I have, Mr. Chair- 

 man. Thank you. 



Mr. Leggett. Let me ask this question before we get to Mr. 

 McCloskey. 



Will the expanded observer program concentrate on those tuna 

 vessels that have had the most difficulty reducing their take on 

 porpoise ? 



Mr. McCloskey at the last hearing referred to some information 

 that he had, I think, three or four vessels were responsible for very 

 large percentage of the take of porpoise last year. Our latest infor- 

 mation indicates that 5 vessels, including the City of San Diego and 

 the Marietta, were responsible for 45 percent of the porpoise mortal- 

 ity in 1976. 



