Of the population, native and Japanese, to be fed largely from 

 local sources as the mar progressed, we have no exact record, though 

 Japanese were undoubtedly more numerous than the 1935-37 census shows, 

 Garrisons of Japanese soldiers and/or sailors were sent in later. 

 Japanese civilians in 1935-37 numbered 52,620 in the mandate, and 

 there were 51,135 natives, excluding Guamanians. 



Table 6 — Population, ilain Islands, Japanese Mandated Area, 1935-37 



i/ 



Japanese 

 39,327 

 20,280 

 14,108 



4, sa 



12,783 



7,825 



2,478 



1,978 



392 



510 



428 



52,620 



Island Group 



Natives 



Totals 



MARIANAS y 

 Saipan 

 Tinian 

 Rota 



CAROLINES 

 Palaus 

 Ponape 

 Truk 

 lap 



MARSHALLS 

 Jaluit 



4,345 

 3,282 



25 



764 



36,737 



5,747 



5,601 



10,344 



3,713 



10,103 



1,98? 



43,672 



49,520 



10,613 



TOTALS 



51,185 



103,805 



1/ From South Seas Statistical Yearbook. 



2/ Excluding Guam, Native population 19,455 in 1935. 



The first year of war (1942), being for the most part replete with 

 Japanese vistories, had little effect on the fishing industry. From 

 1943 on, however, shortages became increasingly stringent in every cate- 

 gory except labor. Until the heavy bombings of Japanese industry in 

 1945, most scarcities were due to lack of shipping rather than to pro- 

 duction or supply. This was especially true of netting, engines and 

 parts, and fishing implements including hooks. Among the most crippling 

 shortages was fuel, including gasoline, diesel and lubricating oil. 

 In the main, fish production continued at relatively normal levels until 

 the United States Fleets began their series of paralyzing air strikes. 

 These began by destroying plants, docks and utilities, but as shore 

 targets became fewer, pilots turned their attention to vessels, finally 

 sinking all but a handful of small craft. By the end of the war, no 

 usable shore facilities remained at Koror (Palaus), Truk, Ponape, Kusiae 

 or Jaluit. All fishing craft at Saipan were sunk prior to our landings 

 there. Less than five were afloat at the other Japanese fishing bases. 



Evidence of the effectiveness of air warfare is best seen at Truk, 

 where no invasion was attempted. The pre-war retail price of whole 

 fresh bonito weighing 6 to 8 pounds was 3 or 4 ?en per fish. Toward 

 the end of the war the price per fish rose to 100 'Sen. At this stage, 



26 



