Table 3 — Prices of Fresh Bonito, Dockside 



Cents per pound 



port 12M i22Z l24i 



SAIPAN 02.5 01.25 03.25 

 YAP 03.5 1/ ' 1/ 

 PALAU 03 01.25 02.5 

 TRUK 02.5 01.25 02.5 

 PONAPE 02.5 01.25 02.5 

 JALUIT 02^ 01.25 07.5 



1/ Not available. 



Table 4, from South Seas Government figures for 1941, shows the 

 production from the more important marine fisheries at centers in 

 the mandated islands. In the case of white pearl shells (from the 

 gold-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima. Jameson), it is believed 

 that most of the catch was made in the Arafura Sea, none having 

 been found native to the mandated area. 



In using the table, note that bonito and tuna sticks are proc- 

 essed from the fresh fish, consequently the vertical column totals 

 for weight are incorrect. Also, the figures for shark fin production 

 in the Palaus are confusing. It is obvious that 42,858 kg of sharks 

 would not yield anything like 22,028 kg of fins. Quite possibly fins 

 were removed from captured sharks, and the carcasses discarded. 

 This, however, is mere speculation. It is likely that a digit was 

 left out of the value for sharks in the Palaus. In any event, the 

 figures from Table 4 are the only ones available for the last pre-war 

 year, and are sufficiently variable to be included in this report. 



No figures could be found on the extent of the canning industry. 

 The only information is that the Palau cannery at Koror, with a 

 capacity of 500 cases a day, was completed in 1939, and operated 

 at capacity for a short time in 1940. It packed tuna in oil, and 

 was the only cannery in the mandated islands operating on a commercial 

 scale. 



History of the Japanese Bonito Fishery in the ex-mandat e . -The 

 length of tiiiie required to establish a new fishery is well illustrated 

 by Japanese experience in attempting to exploit the bonito resources. 

 Although they were in control from 1914 on, it was not until the mid- 

 dle twenties that enough information had been gathered to indicate 

 the possibility of a large fishery. Their first attempts were in 

 the vicinity of Saipan, but because of the shortage of live bait, the 

 results were not encouraging. Further search showed that a much greater 

 supply of bait existed in the Palaus, and special attention was given 

 to this area. 



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