Report of Results- of Albo.corc Fishing 

 Ground Development 



Tokyo District Fisheries Experiment Station, Oshima Branch 



1, Name of vessel - Musashi Mnru 



2, Type of operation - Albacore fishing ground exploration 



3, Outline of operations 



Repairs to the hull were begun early in April, All haste was made, 

 but because of the current situation the v;ork took an unexpectedly long 

 time. Preparations for fishing were at last begun nn May 5, ind in the 

 159 days before everything was secured on October 10 four cruises wore 

 made. Beginning on May 5 the fishing gear was assembled, dried, and dyed. 

 On May 10 bait and ice were taken aboard and the compass error vras measured. 

 On M-y 11 the vessel departed Misaki for its first cruise. 



First Cruise 



The vessel sailed seven days and nights after leaving Misaki and 

 arrived on May 18 on the fishing grounds of Iccea III where it immediately 

 began fishing operations. The position of the first ground fished was 

 30°N, 165° 4-6 'E, but no albacore were taken there so the vessel proceeded 

 on a course to the northeast searching for suitable u/atcr temperatures. 



Later at 35° 37 'N, 172'^ 09 'E eight albacore were taken, after which 

 the vessel continued to seek suitable vater temperatures. On ?fciy 23 in an 

 area with a surface temper ~ture of 17° a school accompanied by countless 

 birds was seen, and since the fish bit on the trolling lines, longline 

 operations were immediately begun, "^^hilc patrolling the lines albacore were 

 seen swimming near the surface. They ?;cre chummed in tr-. the boat vdth 

 salted sardines and 112 fish were taken with poles. Viben the lines were 

 hauled in there were 12^. fish on them, making a total of 236 fish. It is 

 thought that if live sardines had been available several thousand albacore 

 could have been taken at once, and it is extremely regrettable that no live 

 bait was carried. 



Later operations produced no albacnre and after 11 days of fishing the 

 vessel turned back, reaching Habu Harbor on June 8. The vessel arrived 

 baok at Misaki on June 9, sold its catch, and then began to repair fishing 

 gear. 



Second Cruise 



With the gear all in order and bait and ice loaded aboard, the vessel 

 sailed from Misaki on June 15 and after putting in at Habu Harbnr proceeded 

 straight to the fishinj^ grounds. The fishing grounds in .brea III were 

 reached on June 23 ^nd thereafter fishing continued for 11 days. There was 

 generally little change in temperature on the fishing grounds. Operations 

 were halted on July 7 and the vessel began its return voyage. After 

 stcamin,^ for seven days and nights, the vessel reached Misaki on July lA 

 7*iere it landed and sold its catch. 



US 



