be retained for human consumption without seriously 

 depleting the stocks, thus further contributing to local 

 economics. 



Officers and Organization of Work 



Officers of the Symposium 



Cochairmen: 



Richard S. Shomura 

 F. Williams 

 Sectional Officers: 

 Section 1. Species Identification 



Chairman: William J. Richards 

 Rapporteur: Izumi Nakamura 

 Section 2. Life History 



Chairman: C. Richard Robins 

 Rapporteur: Eugene L. Nakamura 

 Section 3. Distribution 



Chairman: Nigel Merrett 

 Rapporteur: Witek Klawe 

 Section 4. Fisheries 



Chairman: Shoji Ueyanagi 

 Rapporteur: James S. Beckett 

 Special Session: 



Mercury in Billfishes 

 Chairman: Peter S. Fithian 

 Rapporteur: John Baxter 

 Panel Members: James S. Beckett 



Albert C. Kolbye, Jr. 

 Richard E. Marland 

 Richard S. Shomura 

 Cynthia D. Shultz 

 Special Session: 



Sportsmen - Scientists 

 Symposium Summary: Frank J. Hester 

 Panel Discussion 

 Chairman: Dudley C. Lewis 

 Rapporteur: Peter S. Fithian 

 Sportsmen: Peter Goadby 

 George Parker 

 Richard H. Stroud 

 Scientists: William L. Craig 

 C. Richard Robins 

 James L. Squire 

 Secretariat: 



Robert Bonifacio 

 Robert T. B. Iversen 

 Marjorie C. Siu 



Organization of Work. — Following the overview 

 papers on commercial and sport fishing activities for 

 billfishes given at the opening session, the Sym- 

 posium was organized into four sections and two 

 special sessions. The sections covered the fields of 1) 

 Species Identification, 2) Life History, 3) Distribu- 

 tion, and 4) Fisheries. There were 6 papers con- 

 tributed in Section 1, 13 in Section 2, 10 in Section 3, 

 and 7 in Section 4. A discussion period concluded the 

 presentation of the papers in each section. The first of 



the special sessions was devoted to consideration of 

 the problems related to the mercury level in fishes and 

 consisted of both formal presentations and a question- 

 and-answer period open to the public. The second of 

 the special sessions was a forum for the exchange of 

 views between sport fishermen and scientists held at 

 the end of the Symposium. It commenced with a sum- 

 mary of the scientific sessions of the Symposium, 

 followed by informal presentations on various billfish 

 topics by a mixed panel of sportsmen and scientists. A 

 subsequent extensive discussion period was open to 

 all. 



Sectional Reports 



Species Identification. — At this session six papers 

 were presented covering various aspects of the iden- 

 tification of billfishes from young stages through 

 adults, including the fossil record of these fishes. The 

 fossil record is rather scant, with most of the material 

 consisting of fossilized bills. Additional research in 

 this area of study will add greatly to our knowledge of 

 the phylogenetic relationships of these animals. 



The identity of adults is quite well understood at 

 this time with the exception of the so-called "hatchet 

 marlin" which occurs in the Atlantic and possibly the 

 Pacific Ocean. Evidence was presented that Tetrap- 

 turus georgei is a valid species in the Atlantic Ocean. 

 The question of whether or not the blue marlins and 

 the sailfishes in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans 

 are distinct species, subspecies, or subpopulations is 

 still unresolved, as is the presence of black marlin in 

 the Atlantic Ocean. Research in the sea area off the 

 tip of South Africa should resolve some of these 

 problems. 



Three papers on the identity of the young stages of 

 billfishes emphasized the need for further research, 

 especially the study of variations in morphology. Data 

 were also presented on additional characters which 

 are useful in the separation of the young of Indo- 

 Pacific species. Fruitful avenues for future research 

 were suggested. These included a need for additional 

 material, particularly small juveniles, and a need to 

 rear these animals in the laboratory. The young stages 

 of swordfish are quite well understood and present no 

 problems. 



In conclusion, the absence of information on the 

 anatomy of all life stages and of the eggs of 

 istiophorids was commented upon. Further it was 

 stressed that the scientific nomenclature and the 

 common names for these species should remain 

 stabilized and not be allowed to fall into disarray. 



Life History. — Thirteen papers were presented in 

 the session on life history. Four papers dealt with the 

 general biology of billfishes: the Atlantic blue marlin 

 around Jamaica (not included in Part 2); the Atlantic 

 sailfish off south Florida; billfishes in the eastern 

 tropical Pacific Ocean; and swordfish in the northwest 

 Atlantic Ocean. Another paper discussed present and 



