net which is used for taking takabe (see net 

 description). 



Shira was not taken in the deeper waters 

 which takabe frequented but in shallower water 

 as it does not swim deep; it remains near the 

 surface at all times. 



Izumi reports that there is more shira pres- 

 ent inTruk than in Palau but that because of its 

 weakness only 20 buckets could be carried on a 

 boat as compared to 50 buckets of takabe. Shira 

 was also always handled with buckets when 

 transferring it from the bait net to the fishing 

 boat while takabe was moved with scoop nets 

 because of its greater strength. 



FAMILY NAME 

 SCIENTIFIC NAME 



TRUKESE NAME 

 PALAUAN NAME 

 OKINAWAN NAME 

 ENGLISH NAME 



Ather inidae 



Al lanetta ovalaua 



Pranesus pingui s (Lacepede) 



Nou 



Teber 



Yajanguwa 



Si 1 vers i de 



Two species within this genus resemble each 

 other, Allanetta ovalaua and A. woodwardi . The 

 former does not have the wide, hard head that 

 is typical of A. woodwardi . A. ovalaua can be 

 used as bait while A. woodwardi , the "hard 

 head," is a poor baitfish. 



Both species are strong and can be carried 

 easily on board a fishing vessel. The Okina- 

 wans call A. ovalaua "yajanguwa" and will use 

 it as bait when other species are not available. 

 A. woodwardi is called "harara" or "shibura" 

 and is not used. It occurs throughout the year 

 and lives near mangroves and beaches in calm, 

 sheltered water. It schools with the Trukese 

 sardine, Herklotsichthys melanura , in shallow 

 water and can be taken with a Hawaiian type 

 day bait net. 



Both species are attracted to night lights in 

 limited numbers but are seldom caught in com- 

 mercial quantities in this manner. 



A closeup of akaesa around a coral head in 40 ft 

 of water between To I and Fala-Beguets Islands. 





3^i?!* 



