A lo5-ton tuna clipper (7l^re 14) carrl«i ■ome 350 sets of long line which ore 

 pat out In one continuous, connected line, aauallT- hefore •▼enlng. The halt used aajr 'be 

 •alted sardine, anchovy, shark neat, sauiy, or fljrlng fish. Tor fishing In the southern 

 regions salted nackerel, sardine, or cuttlefish was brought from Japan. Small amounts of 

 fresh flying fish, taken near Salpan, were occasionally used. 



8. Pole tmd Line 



The main gear for tuna fishing since olden times hac undouhtedly been the pole 

 and line (eaozurl )^ and It has been used primarily by the Japanese for taking the skipjack. 

 Since the skipjack provides roughly two-thlrda of the annual catch of all tunae in Japanese 

 waters, many special techniques have been developed to exploit the pole and line fishing to 

 the fullest extent. The Japsmeee have also endeavored to increase the catch of skipjack hy 

 experimenting with surface long lines, drift nets, and purse seines designed specifically 

 to take this species. However, the amount of skipjack caught with these gear have never 

 been large enough to make commercial operations feasible, and pole. and line angling Is the 

 sole method now used. 



The skipjack fishing hoate (Figure 1.*^), charaoterlced by deck-hlj^ pla.tforsQs over- 

 hanging the sides of the vessel, live bait tanks, and water spraying !q>paratas, have changed 

 from small wooden boats sculled by four fishermen to modem 136-ton wooden or eteel vessels 

 manned hy 50 to 60 fishermen. The hoats are equipped with radio for receiving and sending 

 Inforaatloa ooncernlog the presen<;e of schools of fish. 



Live halt Is essential In skipjack fishing, for this reason an auxiliary flsheiy 

 has heen developedt the sole purpose of which Is to provide small fish of eaitable site as 

 bait for the skipjack fishermen. Sardines or anchovies about 10 centimeters in length, are 

 most commonly used, althou^ small mackerel or horse mackerel, when obtainable, are also 

 utilized. 71eh of this size are found in many localities along the Pacific coast of Ji^an, 

 thus insuring an adequate supply of bait for the skipjack fishermen. However, the main 

 center for the bait fisheries Is In Sagami Bay, where sardines and anchovies of proper sice 

 can be taken throughout almost the entire year. 



The sardines or anchovies, once obtained by purse seine or laopara aet( are trans- 

 ferred at the elte of capture to a live bait container (ikesu) which is then moved to shal- 

 low water. The containers formerly were constructed of bamboo but are now made of netting, 

 which is suspended from a wooden framework. Palm hemp, Trochycorpus excelea . Is the most 

 desirable material for the net. The bait Is confined for a week without food. The hardy 

 leftovers are then taken aboard the skipjack boat to be used during the fishing operations. 

 When fishing, some live bait is scattered over the water to draw the skipjacks close to the 

 boat. BarblesB hooks (Figure 20) baited with live sardines or anchovies are first used to 

 catch the skipjack. If the fish bite well, the use of live bait is discontinued In order 

 to conserve the eardlnes or anchovies, and the hooks are replaced with Jigs. 



Albacore and small yellowfln and big-eyed tunas are sometimes taken by pole and 

 line when they come to the surface while chasing schools of small fish. The amount caught 

 In this manner is significant, but small compared with the huge amount of skipjack obtained. 



Since live eardlnes and anchovies are the most important of the species used for 

 bait, the methods by which they can best be kept alive In a container have been studied 

 by several Investigators (Klnura, 1933 and 1935; Takayama, et al, 1933). The studies on 

 confinement indicate that the sardine Is more resistant than the anchovy to injury and 

 Irritation, but less resistant to asphyxiation. The anchovy, however. Is preferred during 

 hot weather, since it is more tolerant of high temperatures. 



Although live bait Is plentiful in J^anese waters it is difficult to obtain an 

 adequate supply for skipjack fishing in the tropical regions. Sardines, young barracuda, 

 horse mackerel, and atherinld fishes ^re used with good results when obtainable in suffi- 

 cient amounts. These email fish are not found in clear water where they would be pray to 

 larger fish, but are generally caught in mangrove swamps close to the Islands. 



p-6301 



