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INTRODUCTION 



The first major project assigned to the new exploratory fishing vessel, 

 John N. Cobb (Ellson 1950), operated by the Exploratory Fishing and Gear Devel- 

 opment Section of the Branch of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Sejrvice, was an exploration for the albacore ttina (Thunnus germo ) in waters of 

 the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Following a short shakedown cruise spent fish- 

 ing for shellfish in southeastern Alaska in the early spring of 1950 (Schaefers 

 1951) the vessel was outfitted with several types of tuna fishing gear; and 3k 

 months, from June 12 to September 28, were devoted to exploratory fishing and 

 gear-testing experiments in offshore waters of Oregon, Washington, British 

 Columbia, and Alaska. This woric was a continuation of a project begun in mid- 

 summer of 1949 (Powell and Hildebrand 1950) to study the range of the albacore 

 and to investigate the possibilities of establishing a commercial fishery for 

 tuna off the Alaska coast. 



Because of the almost complete lack of knowledge regarding the life 

 history of the albacore and the interrelation of factors affecting their occur- 

 rence and abundance both inside and outside the range of commercial-fishing 

 operations, it is certain that many years of investigations will be needed be- 

 fore this notably inconsistent fishery may be well vmderstood. This report 

 presents only the results of one year' s work on certain phases of the problan, 

 and it is highly probable that different results will be obtained in subsequent 

 seasons. The material herein is presented in the nature of a progress report 

 and may well raise more questions than are answered. Many of the findings are 

 inconclusive, but the data are presented for their possible interest and value 

 to other investigators, and to assist the commercial fisherman in recognizing 

 and utilizing various methods and devices which may increase his efficiency. 



Background 



Since the first commercial landings of albacore at Oregon and Washington 

 ports in 1937, the fishery has rapidly grown into one of the most important on 

 the northwest coast. Well in excess of a thousand vessels are actively engaged 

 for several months each summer in offshore trolling for the white-meat tuna. 

 Landings in Washington and Oregon reached an aU-time high of 34 million pounds 

 in 1944, but the catch has fluctuated auid decreased to less than 15 million 

 pounds annxially since 1945.^ The major portion of this catch has been taken by 

 surface trollers, with live-bait boats and seiners making successful trips in 

 some years. Length of the season is normally from July to October. 



As early as 1939, Canadian boats began fishing experimentally for 

 albacore off Vancouver Island, and landings at British Columbia ports had reached 

 over a million pounds annually by 1945. Most of these fish, however, were caught 

 off Oregon and Washington; and large catches were not consistently made off the 

 British Columbia coast until 1948. Patrol vessels of the Canadian Department of 

 Fisheries in that year found schools of albacore fair north of the previous ccait- 

 mercial range, and good fishing was had off the Queen Charlotte and Vancouver 

 Islands by Canadian and American vessels. 



l/U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES , ANNUAL REPORT. 



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