illustrates the attitude of the Turkish fishing industry, has not been 

 entirely forgotten because of the inadequate fishing and transportation 

 facilities available. 



The introduction of cotton yarn during the 19th and present 

 century instead of hemp which was previously employed made possible the 

 use of larger nets as the former product is lighter. Consequently, nets 

 made of this commodity are more easily handled, particularly in bad weather 

 or in places where there are swift currents. This change constitutes the 

 most important improvement which has occurred along with the use of motor 

 boats for towing rowboats to the fishing grounds. 



Principal Species of Migratory Fish 



The most important species of fish caught in Turkey are the 

 migratory species, the pelamid, bonito, mackerel, bluefin tuna, anchovy, 

 pilchard, Spanish mackerel, and swordfish (Figure 2). The importance of 

 these fish from the economic point of view is in the fact that, in addi- 

 tion to their being consumed in the Turkish territory, they are also 

 exported fresh, salted, smoked or canned. In addition to the species 

 listed above, Turkish waters produce an infinite variety of fish which 

 are all consumed locally. 



As mentioned above, it is the Istanbul region (Bosphorus and 

 Sea of Marmara) which constitutes the most important fishing area in 

 Turkey. On the basis of estimates, it can safely be assumed that 70 

 percent of the total amount of fish produced in this country is obtained 

 from waters in this region. 



Pelamid and bonito 



The pelamid spawns during the months of June and July, and by 

 September or October it acquires a weight of 500 to 700 grams. Migration 

 of pelamid from the places of spawning in the Black Sea to the northeast 

 coast of the Sea of Marmara starts towards the beginning of September with 

 fish moving in the south and southwest direction. Passage of schools of 

 pelamid through the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, west coast, usually 

 continues to early December. During this period the fish is fat and 

 pleasant to the taste, while in the spring when the fish is migrating 

 towards the spawning region it is lean and suitable only for salting and 

 canning. The same applies to the skipjack or large bonito. In the case 

 of the bonito, migration from the Black Sea begins towards the middle of 

 October and continues for a period of approximately one month. As a 

 matter of interest it may be mentioned that pelamids and bonito never mix 

 and that schools of each kind keep apart, the pelamid having a preference 

 for deeper waters. 



Mode of Fishing 



The pelamid and bonito are fished by fixed nets or trap6 and by 

 purse seines. Fishing with purse seines is much more productive than 

 fishing with either fixed nets or fish traps. It is effective in the 



