Report of Results of Pevolopmcnt of Albacore 

 Fishing Grounds 



Chiba Prefecture Fisheries Experiment Station, Katsuura Branch 



1. Vessel - Fusa Maru 



2. Type of operation - albacore fishing ground exploration 



3. Outline of operations 



First Cruise 



Preparations for the Fusa Maru to take part in the operations to 

 develop the albacore fiching grounds were begun May 7 and conplcted Kay 10, 

 The vessel sailed from Katsuura for the first survey of the fishing grounds, 

 combining this operation vdth occanographic observations to be taken 300 

 miles southeast of Nojimasaki, 'ith the completion of these observations at 

 8:00 P.M. on May 12 the vessel proceeded directly to the assigned fishing 

 grounds. Fishing ^ras begun on May 21 end 12 fishing operations had been 

 carried out by June 1 when the vessel startrd the return voyage. On Juno 

 12 the vessel arrived at Katsuura and landed its fish. During this period 

 24.3 albacore were taken, and the total value of landings vas IJ 1,2/^6.^,0. 

 This year's first survey area was bctv;een 32° and 35°, while the area 

 covered in the first cruise last year was between 28° and 31° N, The 

 surface v;ater temperatur'^s on last year's fishing grounds ranged from a 

 minimum of 2QP to a maximum of 23°, while this year's temperatures were 

 from 17.7° to 20.^°. 



Second Cruise 



After the completion of the first cruise work vns done on the fishing 

 gear and general repairs were made. On June 25 the vessel departed 

 Katsuura for the second cruise. Experimental fishing v/ns begun on July 5 

 and 14 stations rtero fished before the vessel started on its return voyage 

 on July 19. On July 31 the vessel arrived at Katsuura, where the catch was 

 landed August 1. Tlie species and number of fish caught were as shov.ri in 

 the summary table of operations; 50 albacore were taken and the value of all 

 fish landed was ¥ 1,655.86. The survey area covered in this voyage did not 

 differ greatly from that surveyed in the second cruise l-"'.st year, hov/over, 

 last yr ar the investigations proceeded from south to north vMlc this year 

 the fishing stations were run in the opposite direction. 



Third Cruise 



After compl;:tion of the regular periodic ocoanographic observations 

 the vessel sailed from Katsuura on September 3 for its third cruise. 

 Fishing operations wore begun on September lU and 1^ stations were fished 

 by September 28 when the vessel began its return voyage. On October 10 

 the vessel arrived at Katsuura "nd landed its catch. The species and num- 

 bers of fish taken vrere as shown in the summary table of operations; 162 

 albacore were caught and the total value of all the fish landed was 

 ¥ l,92ii..4.6. The area of operations on this cruise w.\s north of 4.0°N, and 

 many big-eyed tuna and striped marlin were taken in v,n.tors where the surface 

 temperatures were around 21°. The albacore taken in these areas were large 



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