Comparative Voliomes of Pre- and PoBt-V.'ar 

 Landings of Reef Species 



The Philippine reefs have long produced marine products 

 of considerable value to the national economy. Chief among these 

 pre the fishes which include some of tlie most highly prized foods 

 available from local sovirces. 



Table 1 stiows the relative importance of certain coral 

 reef species of fish. Figures are compiled from the returns of 

 commercial fishing boats to the Bureau of fisheries. They repre- 

 sent hauls of motor propelled fishing boats of more than three 

 tons gross and, therefore, do not include catches of boats of 

 lesser size nor those catches made for suiitenance (family use) fish- 

 ing. It should be noted the the followiii^, i'lgures are inaccurate 

 since it is generally recognized that for tnirposes of tax evasion 

 fishermen tend to underestimate their returns. The data indicate 

 thf.t over two and one half million kilograjcs of fish still remain 

 to be cpught each year from Philippine reefs in order to approach 

 nre-war production levels. It is emphasized that these figures do 

 not include the miscellaneous marine products wnich are also often 

 gathered from reefs. In 19^7 these miscellaneous items amo\anted to 

 1,''''9,560 kilograms and in 19^6 to 1,159, 30i^ kilograms and included 

 shells, trepang, sponges, lobsters, and corals. 



Table I 



Catches of Coral Eeef Fishes in Philippine Waters 



Kinds 



1947 

 Kilograms 



19ij-6 

 Kilog:rams 



19^ 

 Kiloi^irams 



Caesios 



Groupers 



Porgies 



Snacpers 



Spadefish, Rudderfish, Runnel 



Surgeon fish , 



Total 



1,010.583 

 251.501 

 259.^30 

 307,618 



33.7^7 

 10,836 



1.933,736 



173.585 

 11^.369 

 95.270 

 103,524 

 188,830 

 675.578 



3,3^.622 



96,7^7 



389.936 



146,032 



8,768 



609.952 



4,592,057 



