U days in the vicinity of 163^ - 16^°E, 43° - 45°N after which +.y. , .1 

 moved south and operated in the area amnnd 38° - 4.2'"^M, 366" - 169°E. The 

 vessel fished for 12 days and the return voyai_^c was be^un on the 23rd 

 with arrival at Misaki on October 31. The line-haulf.r broke do;.n o:i this 

 voyage also and the lines were hauled by hand so that out of lU d-^ys 

 spent on the r^Tounds 2 days were devoted to rest. On this cruise 4.20 

 albacore v/ere taken. 



U. Conditions on the fishint^ grounds 



First Cruise 



Fishing was done between 16/^° - 168°E and 33° - 35° 30 'N. Surface 

 water temperatures in this area ranged from 18*^ to 20*"' and the difference 

 from the temperatures at the 200-motcr level ranged fron 2.2° to 6.3°. -^'^t 

 the same time last year (first cruise) the difference between the surface 

 temperature and that of the 200-r,oter level r-as 2.1° to 4.3°. This year 

 the temperatures at the lorar levels were generally low. During operations 

 the currents were practically uniformly SE - ESE with velocities of about 

 1 knot. The 7/ater color was favorable and transparencies were 20 - 28 

 meters. 



Second Cruise 



Surface water temperatures on the fishing grounds showed no preat 

 difference from those of the previous year at the samo season, ran[-in(, 

 from 19° to 23°. The difference between the temperatures at the surf'ice 

 and at the 100-meter level vras 9° - 10°. The currents were mainly E to 

 ESE with velocities of about 1 knot. In the vicinity of 165° - 166°E, 

 37° - 38° 30'N there were many linos nf discontinuity, but the surface 

 was generally calm. Driftwood was seen from time to time around 37° 50 'N, 

 168° 20' - 50 'E and there were many schools of dolphin. !Thilo patrolling; 

 the lines large schools of skipjack were occasionally seen. These fish 

 took the bait extremely well and in three attempts at fishin:;' them with 

 salted sardines for chum and artificial lures on the hooks 5,000 fish were 

 taken. 



Third Cruise 



In the operating area between 166° - 171°E and 40° - 44°N the water 

 color :7as generally unfavorable with a whitish tin^e. Surface tempor'tures 

 were 17° to 21° and the currents were gentle. East of 169° there were NNS - 

 ESE currents with velocities of about 1 knot. In the areas in which the 

 vessel operated west of 169° almost no currents were perceptible. 



Fourth Cruise 



In the operating area around 163° - 164°E, 43° - 45°N the water was 

 generally whitish and the currents were extremely gentle with a N - NE 

 direction. 7*'ater temperatures virere 15° - 18° on the surface and 10° - 12° 

 at 50 meters, with differences between the two levels of 4° - 6°. Trans- 

 parencies were from 19 to 22 meters. F:\rthor south around 166 - 169°E, 

 38 - 42°N tlie vwiter color was generally favorable and the currents were 



137 



