No tags were returned during the season, and there v;ere indications that 

 they were not staying on the fish. The boat Signe S. , while fishing west of Grays 

 Harbor on July 19, reported by radio that an albacore had been caught which showed 

 signs of having been tagged. Previous hook marks were visible. Later in Astoria, 

 Oregon, a biologist of the Oregon Fish Commission examined the same fish and the 

 following report was received: "... There actually was no tag, just the indication 

 that one had torn off.... The fish had very raw spots where the discs had been 

 extending into the flesh." The letter also stated that there was no visible sign 

 of the ta^ pin having been pulled through the fin and that possibly the discs had 

 worked loose. There were two other reports during the summer from fishing vessels 

 stating that they had caught fish which bore tag marks. From this evidence, it 

 appears that at least some of the albacore survived the tagging process; an im- 

 portant problem now being the development of a suitable tag that will stay on the 

 fish during its rapid swimming movements. 



In order to observe the effects of catching, handling, and tagging, several 

 albacore were placed in the bait tanlc to observe their reactions after hook re- 



movauL. The small bait tank, 6 feet 

 wide by 8 feet long by U feet deep, 

 did not allow much room for the al- 

 bacore to maneuver, and the majority 

 of fish placed in the tank died in 

 a short while. Collisions vri.th the 

 walls of the tank and loss of scales 

 from scraping on the metal sides were 

 considered the two main factors re- 

 sponsible for death. A few albacore, 

 however, were held alive successfully 

 for 12 hours or more, and 1 fish re- 

 mained active for nearly 19 hours. 



Water Temperatures 



FIGURE 27 - AN ALBACORE SWIMMING IN THE BAIT 

 TANK OF THE COBB . SOME WERE KEPT ALIVE UP 

 TO I 9 HOURS. 



Oceanographic data were collected daily 

 in an effort to gain information con- 

 cerning possible relationships that may exist between albacore and their environ- 

 ment, A knowledge of chemical and physical conditions in the ecological habitat 

 of the fish would be of definite advantage in predicting their progressive migration 

 patterns. Special emphasis on prevailing oceanographic conditions was placed in 

 areas where fishing was considered good. 



A continuous record of variations in near-surface temperatures was re- 

 corded from a remote-control dial thermometer mounted in the pilot house and acti- 

 vated by water entering the main ergine intake. This intake was at a depth approxi- 

 mately 8 feet below the surface and, therefore, gave temperatures which at times 

 varied from actual surface recordings. Usually this temperature difference was 

 slight; however, on several occasions temperatures recorded from the remote-control 

 thermometer were 2° to 3° F. lower. It is possible that temperatures taken slightly 

 below the surface would be a better indication of "tuna water" than surface read- 

 ings, as they are less subject to fluctuations resulting from daily solar warming. 

 Readings from the remote thermometer were used chiefly to note any rapid fluctua- 

 tions in temperature while the vessel was underway, a mercury thermometer having 

 an accuracy of ♦ 0.1° F. was used to record actual surface temperatures. This 

 thermometer was protected in a metal sheath and the bulb extended into a small 

 cylindrical-shaped cup at the base which filled with water when lowered over the 

 rail (see fig. 28) and was also used for collection of surface water samples. 



35 



