COVER: This photo is also the cover photo of a book just published by the Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries --"The Fisheries of North America," an appraisal of the 

 fishing industries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States and of many aspects of 

 the world's fisheries. Experts in government, private industry, and international 

 organizations contributed to it. The book contains the proceedings of the North 

 American Fisheries Conference held in Washington, D. C, April 30-May 5, 1965. 



Contributors view the sea as a source of food that now is only partially used. 

 A few species are sought intensively, while many others are ignored. The experts 

 believe the sea can give up much greater harvests than it does now --without exhaust- 

 ing its resources; it can be a lifeline to the future for the world's hungry millions. 



The growing science of oceanography to explore the sea and its riches is dis- 

 cussed in one chapter and a special 7 -page photo section illumines the subject. 

 There are photos of submarines used to learn the sea's secrets, balloons to spot 

 fish, and electronic gear to collect data on currents, temperature, atmospheric 

 pressure- -and to reveal the location and quantity of fish. All these devices are be- 

 ing used to make fish catches more predictable and the fishing industry more efficient. 



In addition to discussing North American fisheries, the book reports that today 

 the volume of fish and fishery products traded internationally is about as large as 

 the international trade in meat. Two of every five tons of fish caught are exported. 

 For some nations, fishing is a vital industry. As world demand for fish increases, 

 it complicates the problem of conserving some species. Because the fisheries of 

 the world belong to mankind, some observers believe there is a need for an inter- 

 national organization to protect the sea's resources and the rights of all nations to 

 them. The role of the Fisheries Department of the United Nations' Food and Agri- 

 culture Organization is outlined. 



The American contributors provide a comprehensive analysis of the domestic 

 fishing industry --from finding fish to marketing new fishery products. They record 

 the changing picture in the United States, where only 10-15 years ago the bulk of 

 fish products was marketed in stores along the coasts and today every supermarket 

 has a seafood department. The important role of the States in making fishing laws 

 and effects of these laws on the industry are discussed. 



The book contains a summary by Donald L. McKernan, Director of the Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries. 



"The Fisheries of North America," 80 pages, illustrated, costs 65 cents and may 

 be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 

 Washington, D. C. 20402. 



