July 1951 



C(aiMERCIAL FISHERIES HK7IEM 



43 



IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING CONSIDERATIONS, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 

 IS DESIROUS OF KNOWING WHETHER IT IS THE VIEW OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT THAT 

 PRIME MINISTER YOSHIDA's LETTER OF FEBRUARY 7 TO AMBASSADOR DULLES MAY BE RE- 

 GARDED AS EXTENDING TO PELAGIC FUR SEALING. 



THE REPLY OF THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER TO THE UNITED STATES MEMORANDUM FOLLOWS: 



"the JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE INTERPRETATION OF PRIME 

 MINISTER YOSHIDA's LETTER OF FEBRUARY 7, 1951 AS EXTENDING TO PELAGIC FUR SEAL- 

 ING. THAT IS TO SAY, PENDING THE CONCLUSION OF A NEW CONVENTION ON THE SUBJECT 

 AFTER THE COMING INTO FORCE OF A PEACE TREATY, THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WILL, 

 IMPLYING NO WAIVER OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS, VOLUNTARILY PROHIBIT HER NA- 

 TIONALS AND VESSELS FROM CARRYING ON PELAGIC FUR SEALING IN THE WATERS IN QUES- 

 TION, AND IS MOREOVER PREPARED TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD THE CONCLUSION 

 OF A NEW CONVENTION, 



"the JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, ACCORDING TO THE DOMESTIC LAW OF 1912 CONCERNING 

 CONTROL OF SEA OTTER AND FUR SEAL HUNTING, IS ISSUING AT PRESENT NO PERMIT FOR 

 PELAGIC SEALING OPERATIONS EITHER IN JAPANESE TERRITORIAL WATERS OR ON HIGH SEAS. 



"the JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AVAILS ITSELF OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS ITS 

 HOPE THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON A NEW CONVENTION WILL BE STARTED AT THE EARLIEST POS- 

 SIBLE DATE, ALSO THAT PENDING THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONVENTION AFTER THE SIGNING 

 OF A PEACE TREATY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE GOOD 

 ENOUGH TO,,SEE THAT AN EQUITABLE SHARE AS UNDER THE 1911 CONVENTION IS ALLOTTED 

 TO JAPAN. 



Malaya (Including Singapore) 



1950 REPORT ON FISHERIES ; Production ; Fisheries production in the Federation 

 of Malaya and Singapore for the twelve-month period ending October I95O amounted to 

 181,655 long tons (see table 1), valued at 14189,500,000 (US$62, 133,260) .according 

 to a May 8 report from the American Consul at Penang. 



Of this total, the 167,042 long tons, valued at 14169,247,000 (US$55, 492, 706) , 

 caught in the Federation increased the I95O catch by I5 percent over the previous 

 year. Salt-water species accounted for 135,746 long tons and fresh-water species 

 25,270 long tons. 



Table 1 - Federation of Malaya and Singapore Fisheries Production. 1949-5(J^ 



Item 



Quantity 



Nov,1949-0et.l9; 



Value 



177,179 



8,854 

 3.^7 



usi 



58,093,451 

 2,903,050 

 1.136.760 



Qaantitiy 



Nov .1948-Oct .1949 

 ty Values/ 



Salt-water fish .,, 

 Fresh-water fish .. 

 Fish for fertilizer 

 Total 



Long Tons 



135,746 

 25,270 

 20.639 



181,6^ ? 



189.500 



Long Tons 



62.133.260' 



118,860 

 22,610 

 18.250 



159.720 



123,793 

 4,505 



2.9^7 



12L251 



usf 



53,193,852 

 1,935,799 

 1.270.623 



56.400.274 



I/lNCLUDES SUBSISTENCE FISHING OR FISH CAUGHT FOR FAMILY CONSUMPTION 



2/VALUES CONVERTED TO U.S. DOLLARS ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS: 1 STRAITS SETTLEMENTS DOLLAR (m$) 

 EQUALS IN 1949 - 42.97 U.S. CENTS, AND IN 1950 - 32.788 U.S. CENTS. 



The increased salt-water fish production was due primarily to mechanization of 

 the fishing fleet. Fresh-water fish production increased due to a program of fry 

 distribution to new rice (padi) fields and to pond owners. A new pond in Penang is 

 reported to have produced over two tons of fish per acre per year and also a com- 

 mercial quantity of water yams grown on the surface for use as pig fodder. 



