One of the main objectives of the 1949 exploration by the Fish and 

 Wildlife vessel Oregon was to determine if albacore reached Alaskan waters in 

 commercial quantities. For years, rumors of schools of tuna being sighted in 

 the Gulf of Alaska have been persistently repeated, and stray tuna have been 

 reported caught from Salisbury Sound to Kodiak, Commercial landings of albacore 

 were made at Ketchikan in 1948, but were for the most part made up of fish taken 

 off the Queen Charlotte Islands. The Oregon caught a few scattered cilbacore up 

 to 300 miles off Dixon Entrance, but no concentrations of the fish were found in 

 Alaskan waters. Exploration as far north as Sitka revealed water temperatures 

 in the Gulf of Alaska to be generally colder than those in which albacore are 

 usually taken. A series of southeast storms beginning in the middle of September 

 seriously curtailed fishing operations for that year. 



Ob.lectives and Plan 



Very little is known concerning the habits and migration patterns of 

 albacore in the northeastern Pacific. The fish do not appear at the same time 

 or place each summer, and the catch fluctuates from year to year, A small amount 

 of information was gsiined from the 1949 survey, including the knowledge that 

 scattered tuna may be found as far north as southeastern Alaska. The 1950 ex- 

 ploration was conceived as an extended operation to last the entire season and 

 cover a large expanse of the fishery. Main objectives were: 



1, To obtain information on the availability of albacore in offshore 

 waters as a clue to their route of migration into the commercial fishing 

 area. 



2, To test various types of gear including surface-trolled jigs, gill 

 nets, and long lines as to their effectiveness in catching albacore. 



3, To further investigate the possibilities of establishing an albacore 

 fishery in Alaskan waters. 



4, To record observations on the relationship of water temperatures, 

 currents, and marine life to the occurrence of albacore. 



5, To assist the commercial fishing fleet by broadcasting daily radio 

 information on location of albacore, water temperatures, and weather 

 conditions. 



In addition, provision was made for routine collection of related data 

 such as lengths and weights of albacore, food analysis, and general hydrographic 

 conditions. Experimental tagging of albacore was also planned as a possible aid 

 in tracing the migration pattern of the fish. 



In an average year, albacore have been first taken in the latter part 

 of Jime or early July at various places off the Oregon coast. In planning the 

 early scouting phase of this survey, water temperature was considered as being 

 the main ecological factor which might influence or indicate the appearance of 

 tuna off the northwest coast. Examination of existing surface-water temperature 

 records showed that the 57.5'' F« isotherm (see fig. 2) should be found to reach 

 as far north as Cape Blanco, Ore., at a distance of 400 to 500 miles offshore by 

 the middle of June. The plan was to fish along the edge of this warm-water zone 

 as it progressed northward and shoreward, and if albacore were caught an attempt 



