all of these for which her nationals bid. Twenty-seven of the 
other lots were withdrawn by the Soviets and lots which had been in 
operation for three years were leased for a five-year period. The 
exchange rate was to continue under the 1932 agreement as 32*5 sen per 
ruble. In all, Japan obtained control in 1939 of 359 fishing lots of 
which more than 260 of these were stabilized for five years. The 
Soviets had more than 400 lots in that year. 
The status quo was preserved by an annual modus vlvendi in the 
following four years — 1940 through 1943. In 1944 the five year leases 
of lots auctioned under the arrangement of 1939 expired and on March 30, 
1944 a new agreement was reached which extended Japanese fishing activ¬ 
ities until December 31, 1948^ This agreement did not contain any new 
basic features, being really an extension of the expired agreement. It 
provided, however, for a 30 percent increase in rents of lots over those 
of 1928 (a 20 percent increase over 1943 rents), raised rates for the 
v 
operation of canneries, made certain changes in the prohibited areas 
and abolished certain limitations to which Soviet citizens were subject 
under the convention of 1928. 
Japanese-American Salmon Fishing Controversy 
One phase of Japan's intensive prosecution of the world's fisheries 
was the "invasion" of Alaskan salmon fisheries in 1936 - 1938. 5 j The 
resulting clash with American interests caused considerable discussion 
Tj Japan's attempt to enter the Bristol Bay salmon fishery was part 
of its general fishery expansion. Canned salmon was largely an export 
product and the British market, which took the major part of Japanese 
ea^ort of this product, preferred red salmon for which Alaska's Bristol 
Bay is the world's main source of supply. Japan was largely dependent 
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