Cuba turns down Hemingway fishing log request but promises to work with US scientist on access

John Hemingway, left, takes photos of the Nobel Prize medal received 60 years ago his grandfather Ernest Hemingway, while his brother Patrick holds the medal during a visit to the home of late American author in Finca Vigia, Cuba, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014. Cuba's National Cultural Heritage Council said Thursday that marine scientists on a tour with the author's grandsons wouldn't be able to see the authors fishing logs but will work to let researchers see them eventually. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) (The Associated Press)

Patrick Hemingway, right, visits the former home of his grandfather Ernest Hemingway in Finca Vigia, Cuba, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014. Cuba's National Cultural Heritage Council said Thursday that marine scientists on a tour with the author's grandsons wouldn't be able to see the authors fishing logs but will work to let researchers see them eventually. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) (The Associated Press)

HAVANA – Cuba says U.S. scientists won't get immediate access to potentially invaluable fishing logs kept by Ernest Hemingway but authorities will work to let researchers see them eventually.

Cuba's National Cultural Heritage Council said Thursday that marine scientists on a tour with the author's grandsons wouldn't be able to see the logs before the group returns to the U.S. on Saturday.

Scientist David Die says he's optimistic about eventually being able to see the logs, which may contain enough details about the Nobel laureate's decades of game fishing off Cuba that they help measure how much sport-fish populations have declined due to overfishing.

Sport fishermen's records typically contain details of the numbers of fish caught and their size and are some of the only resources for scientists measuring such declines.