previous year their use waa a failure because almost all of them died in 

 the bait tanks while the boat was under way. 



In the second ten days we were forced to use only akadoro. Ife operated 

 outside Tfest Passage north of Konlei, and caught fish on three occasions. 

 The fishing situation appeared fairly lively^ but in the last ten days of 

 the month almost no schools were sighted and fishing was in a sad condi- 

 tion. 



Sea water temperatures were low this month, being about 27.5 degrees 

 C. and occasionally lower than 27 degrees. It is iicrthy of note that fish 

 were taken in this cold water, a phenomenon most unusual on South Sea 

 fishing grounds. 



The best fishing ground was the vicinity of Ngardmau Passage. 



Uarch 



In the first part of the month fishing was very good, and it got bet- 

 ter and better during the middle of the month. The fact that large schools 

 of skipjack were seen in the shore waters close to Palau where we had 

 never encountered them previously is thought to have been due to the 

 appearance both inside and outside the reefs of an abundance of juvenile 

 akamuro . which are most excellent bait. 



During the middle of the month, with bait ( akamuro ) plentiful and (, 

 many schools coming in close to shore, we made good catches, but lllithe last ] 

 ten days the schools gradually became scarcer and the fishing situation 

 became dull, with only one catch made during the period. 



In the first and second ten day periods of this month the sea water 

 temperature was, as during the previous month, about 27.5 degrees C, in 

 spite of which there were many schools of fish. In the last ten days the 

 temperature rose to over 28 degrees C, a condition which was thought to 

 be suitable for fishing, but contrary to our expectations the tendency waa 

 for the schools to disappear. In short, it is thought that the sudden 

 rise in bhe surface temperature made the schools go down to the deeper 

 levels where the temperature was lower. 



Skipjack Fisheiy Investigations 1929 



This was a continuation of the previous year's investigation. 



April 



During the first and second ten day periods of this month the fishing 

 situation was extremely good, but during the last ten days catches de- 

 creased. The fishing grounds were almost all outside West Passage, and 

 covered a broad area which had not been fished the previous year. Fishing 

 was especially successful at this season between West Passage and i^ura- 

 shokoru I. 



18 



