Since '.ve were close to the ftopia IslandSj young tunas were seeno The 

 catch consisted of 25 yellowfin (5 shark-eaten) and i spear'"ish„ 

 Third fishing test, May 13 



This fishing ground is located near the Equator at 0°35' N latitude 

 and 13/V^26' ?, longitudeo Of the fishing grounds surveyed, this ground 

 showed the best results (catch ratio of L4cO)» / i,e„ lAoO fish per 100 

 hooks fi3hed_7„ Lines from 50 baskets were set in a southerly direction. 

 The current flowing '.V / N 3/4- N at 1„5 knots ^iras roughly the same as that 

 of the second fishing station and clearfy indicated that this ground lies 

 wii,hin the Southern Equatorial Current „ The water temperatures were 30,5 

 degrees at the surface, 28„5 degrees at the 50"meter layer and 25oO degrees 

 at the 100=!neter layer„ The catch consisted of 37 yellowfin (5 sharks 

 eaten) and 1 skipjack. The fish in general were small in size. 

 Fourth fishing test^ May 14 



This ground is located at 0°11' N latitude and 131^44" E longitude 

 in the equatorial waters west of the third fishing groundo Lines from 

 50 baskets were set in a southeasterly direction. The current velocity 

 was W / N at 1„3 knots (in the Southern Equatorial current). The water 

 temperatiires were 29<>7 degrees at the surface, 26o5 degrees at the 50- 

 meter layer, and 24... 8 degrees at the lOO-meter layer „ The catch con- 

 sisted of 25 yelloWfin and 2 sailfisho 

 Fifth fishing test. May 15 



This fishing ground is located about 1 degree north of the Equator 

 at i®!!" N latitude and 131° 50 « E longitude^ Lines from 50 baskets were 

 set in a v/esterly direction. The current flow was NW at 2.0 knots. The 

 water temperatures were 29.3 degrees at the surface, 260^^ degrees at the 

 50"meter layer, and 24.8 degrees at the 100-meter layer. About one-half 

 of the yellowfin catch consisted of young tuna (15 large yellowfin and 12 

 young yellowfin) which weighed from 2 to 3 kan //l kan ^ 8,27 Ibs^^/" From 

 two or three floating logs seen in the area this school is believed to 

 have been associated with birds and driftwood. 

 Sixth fishing test, My 17 



For the first time we entered the southern latitudes. This ground 

 is ioca-.ed U' south of the Equator at O'^U" S latitude and 129°25' E 

 longituaeo Lines from 50 baskets were set out to the NNW„ This ground 

 is located between the northwest shores of New Guinea and Halmahera 

 Island. Numerous islands are found in the area and the flow of tidal 

 currents is very complex. Numerous sharks infest the area and about 

 one-half of the catch was shark-bitteno (The catch comprised IL yellowfin, 

 13 of them shark-bitten, and 7 sharks,) The fish were generally large. 

 The water temperatures were 29.5 degrees at the surface, 28,8 degrees at 

 the 50-meter layer, and 23»0 degrees at the 100-meter layer. 

 Seventh fishing test, May 18 



This fishing ground is located about 30 miles south of the sixth 

 ground at 0°44c5' S latitude and 129'^3.5" E Icngitnde, Since the fish 

 hold was full, only 30 baskets were used. Lines were set in a southerly 

 direction. The flow of the current was similar to that of the sixth 

 fishing ground. The catch consisted of 5 yellowfin and 1 sailfish. 



(2) Investigation of the vertical distribution of the tuna (yellowfin) 

 (Note) Float lines 12^5 fathoms long and branch lines 12.5 fathoKS long (also 

 cotton-covered wire 4 fathoms long and wire leaders 1,5 fathoms long) were used. 



