extension bill; and of S. 3530, to amend the Fisheries Cooperative Marketing Act? Mr. RICE. That is correct, sir. Senator PAYNE. And must take a neutral position because of a weighing of the situation Mr. RICE. That's right. Senator PAYNE. On the other matter referred to? Mr. RICE. Yes, sir. STATEMENT OF CHARLES E. JACKSON, GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL FISHERIES INSTITUTE, INC., WASHINGTON, D. C. Mr. JACKSON. On S. 3530: It was considered by our board of directors at their annual meeting in San Francisco last April. The board took no definite position on the legislation, but debate clearly indicated the general opinion was it would be unfair to apply the provisions of antitrust laws to one class of citizens and exempt another class; also, that the exemption of fishery cooperatives from antitrust laws would give cooperative members an unfair advantage over fishermen and others who do not belong to cooperatives. Senator PAYNE. In other words, you believe it is fair for the farming element and for labor to be exempt from the antitrust provision, and that there is no reason why the fishermen should likewise be exempted? Mr. JACKSON. No, sir; I don't believe the farmers or labor should be exempt, either. Senator PAYNE. But they are. Mr. JACKSON. I know, but I don't think they should be. Senator PAYNE. Thank you very much. Mr. JACKSON. Thank you. Senator PAYNE. Is there anyone else here who would like to be heard today? (No response.) On Thursday, S. 3229, introduced by Senator Saltonstall and cosponsored by others, will be discussed. We will probably devote a considerable portion of that day to that particular bill, hoping that we can clear it up. Tomorrow we hope to clear up the remaining witnesses on S. 237, S. 2973, S. 3530, and S. 3229. Do we have Mason Case here? He isn't here now. He was a short time ago. If it is no inconvenience to him we will definitely see that he may be heard tomorrow morning in connection with S. 2719. He is also interested in the Saltonstall bill. I will try to have him heard tomorrow on S. 2719, and he will also be available for the other bill. I do think that Senator Saltonstall has made arrangements and would like to have his bill heard on Thursday. Counsel for the committee has just advised me that in a letter addressed to Senator Magnuson, Senator Saltonstall says that he is presenting to the committee a new bill to replace the one which was previously introduced. That will be taken up on Thursday. Senator Saltonstall, I understand, also has an opening statement in connection with the bill that will clarify the changes that he proposes. Let me ask, because I want to try to accommodate as much as we can those who come from any distance and who aren't anxious to wait over here in Washington: Is there anyone else who wishes to be heard at all in connection with these measures that will again be taken up tomorrow morning starting at 10 o'clock, and who would find it more convenient to make their statement now in order that they might not be detained here in Washington. I want to do it if it is possible to do it. (No response.) If not, I assume everybody here is apparently from Washington and happy to be with us. Let me say that I want to thank all of you indeed for the testimony that you have given here this morning. We will now recess these hearings until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning when we will again continue on the legislation that has been under consideration today. Thank you very much indeed. (Thereupon, at 12:23 p. m., the committee was adjourned, to reconvene at 10 a. m. Wednesday, July 16, 1958.) FISHERIES LEGISLATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1958 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met, at 10 a. m., in room G-16, United States Cajitol, Hon. Frederick G. Payne presiding. Senator PAYNE. The committee will come to order. Ladies and gentlemen, we are trying to keep these hearings going as close on time as we can. We will resume hearings on the legislation that is under consideration before the committee. I am advised that there are other members of the committee who will undoubtedly be here within a reasonable period of time. Of course it must be understood that we all have dual duties, 2 or 3 duties to perform on committees. It is just impossible to be in 2 places at 1 and the same time. So you will understand if committee members are late. At this point I would like to place in the record 2 letters that have been received, 1 from Guy A. Morse, of Roque Bluffs, Maine, and another from Sydney H. Davis, of Port Clyde, Maine, in connection with certain phases of the legislation that is under consideration. (The letters follow:) Senator FREDERICK G. PAYNE, Washington, D. C. PORT CLYDE, MAINE, July 14, 1958. DEAR FRIEND: Possibly I made a mistake in mailing my last letter in relation to your bills to the committee. After reading your letter the second time I noticed my error. However, I am highly in favor of your bills, which will tend to help our own fishermen. Allowing so-called lobster tails to be sold as lobsters is something that would shock our forefathers. The principle of it is wrong and most people who eat them in restaurants are being deceived. A very fine man by the name of Johnson, who bought a summer estate here last year and who owns a fine winter home in Florida, was eating in a restaurant in the South. He ordered lobsters for himself and wife. However, after he began to eat them he called the waitress and told her she hadn't served him lobsters. When she insisted she had, he asked to see the owner. He came out and Mr. Johnson complained to him. I believe the owner told Mr. Johnson that he bought them for lobsters. Allowing lobsters smaller than the Maine and Massachusetts minimum length to be sold from Canada to our distant States is wrong and meanwhile, is cutting the throats of our New England fishermen. To make it more ethical, many of our lobstermen are finding it hard to carry on. Antitrust laws prohibit our lobstermen from bargaining while dealers pay us what they choose. In other words, we are caught in a squeeze. Surely something should be done so that we, as a group of producers, should have equal rights with others. This would be "The American Way." Now a word or two concerning aid to fishermen. I approve of this if a careful study is to be made in relation to those whom the aid would be extended. 69 There would be many worthy cases. For instance, if a man who operates a fish plant or a boat, has a very fine reputation and meanwhile has hard luck, I believe such people should be helped. Unless something of this nature becomes effective many men and boats will be idle and soon be out of existence. I well recall when my father bought 6 thread, Manila pot warp for 6 and 7 cents per pound. Today it is over 70 cents per pound and it costs over $5 for a winter warp for one lobster trap. Other items are in line. Senator Payne, I realize you are and have been interested in the fishing industry, also in the welfare of our Maine people. Therefore, I trust that every man on your committee will stand by you and the good United States Senator Magnuson, who is also a friend of fishermen, whether on this coast or his own. I remain, Your friend, SYDNEY H. DAVIS. P. S.-The head man of the fish department in a large A. & P. market in Bristol, Tenn., told me his so-called lobster tails were marked "Lobsters" on the containers they were shipped in. I had never seen any before and when I told him they were not lobsters he appeared angry. Meanwhile he stated that the A. & P. wouldn't allow them marked or stamped that way unless they were lobsters. I still informed him they were not lobsters. At the time, the price was $1.05 per pound to our fishermen. That was in June 1952. S. H. D. ROGUE BLUFFS, MAINE, July 12, 1958. SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, GENTLEMEN: It is with interest that I have learned of the public hearings on four bills to aid the fishing industry. I wish it were possible for me to attend the hearings in person, but as I cannot I hope you may glean something of benefit from this letter. Although I am not primarily a fisherman, I have been engaged in both the lobster fishing and weir fishing industries for the past few years. I have learned there is no better way to gain a true knowledge of any enterprise than to get firsthand experience. A lobster fisherman's day starts early, just as the first streaks of dawn give him light enough to distinguish one buoy from another. He must do this because heavy winds usually spring up by noon making it too rough to haul his gear later in the day. He must continually fight the elements in order to protect his investment but a hurricane or gale storm can destroy his entire equipment in a matter of hours. The price of rigging is constantly rising, but the price of his commodity remains the same or lowers from year to year. The weir fishermen's problems are the same; high cost of gear and maintenance and low prices for herring. We have to pay excise tax, sales tax, self-employment tax, income tax, etc., so many taxes that the word "tax" makes us feel like making a reservation on the next satellite leaving for outer space. A few of us last year tried to organize and hold our lobsters so that we might obtain a fair minimum price-the result-a law suit by the Federal Government because of some antitrust law that no one knew anything about. Canadian imports of shellfish and sardines glut our markets and keep our sale price down. Several years ago a hurricane, Diane, I believe, caused untold damage. Rumor was spread that the fishermen might obtain a loan from the Government to replace lost equipment but investigation proved the only way the loan would be granted was to have some Federal agency place a mortgage on everything a fisherman owned; home, fishing equipment, and personal property. This was hardly a helping hand in time of need. So, here you have it; a word picture of the fishermen's dilemma, who must defy the elements, accept the effects of a deflated market because of foreign imports, pay taxes he can ill afford, sell his product for whatever the dealer offers him or face the consequences of lawsuit by the Federal Government. He must estimate his income within a few dollars or be subject to a fine (and I would like to ask if it is humanly possible to guess in advance how many fish or lobsters will be caught in a season). |