Dividing the waters

The fish haven't been biting for the nation's fishing industry in recent years. The U.S. catch was only slightly higher in the mid-70's than a decade earlier—compared with a 27-percent increase for the world fishing fleet—and imports account­ ed for 71 percent of total U.S. con­ sumption last year. While Japan, the Soviet Union and other countries have developed modern, efficient fishing fleets, the U.S. fleet (except for the tuna sector) has lagged in the technology race. Moreover, productivity in the U.S. industry has lagged behind what has been achieved in the production of its two closest substitutes—meat and poultry.