as dangerous. Other species, especially the snappers, groupers and pompanos, 

 are poisonous in one place but harmless elsewhere. Even the virulence 

 of the poison varies from place to place and with season of the year. 

 As far as could be determined, there are no poisonous species in the 

 Palaus. Elsewhere, it is good judgment to follow recommendations of 

 the native people, who from long experience, have come to know the 

 harmful local varieties. The only other generalization is that surface 

 feeding fish, taken by trolling offshore, are not known to be harmful. 

 The poison evidently originates in the food of reef and lagoon fish. 



SUMMARY 



Local stocks of fish are adequate for subsistence of the Micronesian 

 native population, using their traditional fishing methods. This is 

 assuming that they receive ample quantities of hooks, twine, netting and 

 other fishing supplies. 



Tunas, especially the yellow-fin, Neothunnus macropterus . skipjack, 

 Euthynnus or Katsuwonus pelamls , albacore, Thunnua germo. and little 

 tunny, Euthynnus alleteratus . are abundant enough to warrant the expec- 

 tation of a fishery yielding in the neighborhood of 200,000,000 pounds 

 annually if the problem of live bait supply can be solved. 



Because of the destruction of Japanese shore facilities, a large 

 initial investment would be required to establish a fishery. The most 

 favorable locations would be at Koror in the Palaus, Truk, Ponape and 

 Saipan. These are recommended because they have reasonably good con- 

 ditions with respect to living, communication and labor supply, and 

 there are known supplies of live-bait. 



Factory ships would have the important advantage of mobility but 

 might find considerable difficulty in solving supply problems, particu- 

 larly for fuel and fresh water * 



Other exportable products of the area include trepangj trochus, 

 black -lip pearl oyster and tortoise shells; cultured pearls; sponges 

 and decorative shells including giant clams. 



46 22328 



