Since the fishing grounds have, ".s ?cs reported in 1938, been shifting 

 farther away each year, at least 20 days arc required for the trip out and 

 back, and it is essential from an economic point of vievj to increase as 

 much as possible the number of days spent on the grounds in order to pay 

 the heavy expenses and show a profit. For this reason the vessel, although 

 it may be of either wooden or steel construction, should be very sea\7orthy 

 and should be a fishing boat especially designed for tuna longline fishing, 

 of at least 14.0 tons and 250 horsepower. Furthermore, in order to cut dovm 

 the days of cruising, a hull typo should be selected v^hich mil be able to 

 put out some speed. If as a result of future investigations the value of 

 the fishing grounds should be increased, the mothership type of operations 

 should be suitable. 



b. Fishing gear 



Longlines are the most suitable gear. Neither this year nor last 

 year were concentrated schools seen ""ithin the svrvey area, and because 

 the fishing grounds are so far distant it is difficult to transport live 

 bait and pole fishing is therefore impossible. If longlines are employed, 

 it should be possible to take big-eyed tuna, marlin, and sharks in addition 

 to albacore. There is no objection to using the same type of longlines as 

 are in use at present by ordinary fishing vessels. The branch lines should 

 be made about 20 fathoms long and constructed so thnt they may be suitably 

 shortened if conditions on the fishing grounds require it. For preservation 

 of the lines coal tar dye is best. 



c. Fishing methods 



The methods in use hitherto arc s'-.tisf^^ctory. 



d. Fishing grounds and seasons 



Judging from the results of the investigations made this y. ar and 

 last year, in the southern part of jireas I and II there are only a fc'j of 

 the winter schools remaining and these arc large fish; our hypothesis is that 

 at this season the fish move north and occur in a fair degree of concentra- 

 tion in cold water zones north of U3° N, 



128 



