296 



In the meantime, I would hope that we could keep the rest of this 

 legislation as uncomplicated as possible. I do believe, though, that 

 we should have an adequate amount authorized in the bill for a full 

 observer program should it determine at a later time that we are 

 able to miplement that program for either the current fiscal year or 



later. 



So the question would be, if $1.1 million will satisfy 43 percent of 

 the projected number of trips remaining in fiscal year 1977, which 

 would be different than calendar year 1977, would $2.5 million be an 

 adequate number to cover 100 percent of the trips for the balance of 



1977? 

 Mr. Gehringer. I would be happy to furnish that information. I 



honestly do not know. 



[The following was received for the record.] 



Projected Costs of Observer Program 



There is some uncertainty at this time regarding the number of fishing trips 

 in 1977 because of the large number of vessels now in port. If we assume that 

 they will all return to full fishing activities in April, and a 100 percent ob- 

 server program is instituted, the total cost of the observer program for FY 

 1977 would not exceed $2.5 million. 



Mr. Leggett. The answer to that would be probably yes ? 



Mr. Gehringer. Yes. 



Mr. Leggett. OK. 



Now, let us see, Mr. Akaka, do you have any questions? 



Mr. Akaka. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



The amount of money that is being appropriated, what percentage 

 of observers will that provide for the fleet that will be fishing? 



Mr. Gehringer. Of the remaining trips that we anticipate for this 

 calendar year the percentage is 43 percent. 



Mr. Akaka. Do you — is it necessary to provide more than that ? 



Mr. Gehringer. Our sampling program is designed to get infor- 

 mation on what is happening. Of course, the larger your sample, 

 the better information you have. 



However, we feel that 43 percent is a good number for the sam- 

 pling purposes. Now, to determine what goes on in every vessel, 

 of course, it is not, but for a sample, it is. 



Mr. Akaka. Congressman McCloskey asked the question about 

 training, and the answer was that they train for 3 weeks. 



Mr. Gehringer. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Akaka. Are these people who have not had experience with 

 the sea, or with fishing, or are these people — or are there require- 

 ments that they must have knowledge of the sea? 



Mr. Gehringer. These are mostly college students, graduate stu- 

 dents, who may or may not have had experience. 



Mr. Akaka. So it is not a requirement ? 



Mr. Gehringer. No, sir. 



Mr. Akaka. I am just worried about that, whether the 3 weeks of 

 training of a person who maybe has not had any fishing experience 

 doing an adequate job. I just question that. 



Mr. McCloskey. Will the gentleman yield? 



Mr. Akaka. Yes, sir. 



