Figure 5« — Average operational record for 

 eight Class k bait boats (201-300 tons 

 capacity) each having same skipper over 

 period 1951-1958 compared with average 

 record of all bait boats of this capacity. 



the order of 15 percent per trip. As a 

 consequence, although they spent no more 

 time at sea, they completed greater number 

 of trips. 



Effects of Imp roved Equipment 



Vessel and gear improvements and other 

 auxiliary aids, like knowledge, are ef- 

 fective in minimizing the duration of fish- 

 ing trips. The record of vessels launched 

 by the National Steel and Shipbuilding 

 Corporation during the last four years 

 points out the increased efficienty gained 

 by operating modern vessels. While it is 

 true that the owners and crews of these 

 particular vessels have enjoyed other ad- 

 vantages, no one will question that these 

 vessels are superior to older craft of the 

 same capacity. 



I have, for the most part, used ex- 

 amples from the bait boat fleet to illus- 

 trate the effective contribution of 

 information and knowledge to shorter 

 fishing trips and we have also referred to 

 bait boats in speaking of the contribution 

 made by modern vessels. Since technologi- 

 cal advancements have been particularly 

 noteworthy in the purse seine fleet during 

 the past three years, this seems a good 

 place to emphasize the contributions that 

 can be made by, gear improvements and aux- 

 iliary aids. In this discussion, we will 

 draw heavily on an article to be published 

 in the June 1959 issue of Pacific Fisherman 



Table 6. — Average operational record for eight Class 1+ bait boats (201-300 tons capacity) 

 compared with the average for all bait boats of this capacity 1951-1958. 



1951 



1952 



1953 



1954 



1955 



1956 195~ 



T95B" 



Average record of eight boats 



Days at sea 

 Number of trips 

 Percent of time at sea 

 Average trip in days 



Average record of all boats 



Number of boats 

 Days at sea 

 Number of trips 

 Percent of time at sea 

 Average trip in days 



Source: Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 



54 



