During the periods in which we have made investigations hitherto it 

 has been rather difficult to distinguish any definite seasons, but the 

 weather throughout the year shows the following general divisions. 



lo Period of seasonal winds 



The northeast trades blow strongly from November to March of the 

 following yearo The sea on the east side is rough and it is difficult for 

 fishing boats to operate, however„ the west side is in the lee of the 

 island and the waters near the barrier reef are calm;, making operation 

 easyo 



2o Season of calms 



The period from May to October is called the season of calms » 

 Southwest winds blow but they are light and calm seas make navigation 

 easyo However^ the weather is extremely hot during this season,, 



3o Rainy season 



Statistics show that the period from June to August is the 

 season of greatest rainfall o The rainy season is accompanied by occasional 

 sudden storms^ and boat operation is difficult o During this season many 

 schools appear in the upper layers and they take the bait comparatively 

 well o 



4o Dry season 



The period of continuous sunny weather is called the dry seasono 

 vVeather records show that days of clear weather and calm seas prevail from 

 March to Mayo At this time boat operation is easy and bait is plentiful , 

 making it a season of good catch ratios o All of the migrations of the 

 schools appear to be for the purpose of spawning or finding foodo The 

 spawning grounds of the skipjack are assumed to be in warm waters^ and 

 Judging from the condition of their reproductive organs,, it appears that 

 they come into Palau waters both to spawn and to hunt foodo Consequently 

 a tendency is seen for more skipjack schools to come into areas where 

 bait fish are plentiful o 



Observations 



The following is a brief account of the experience of the fishermen 

 who havej, as a result of this skipjack fishery investigation^ recognized 

 the promising character of this fishery and begun to exploit ito 



At Palau at present the Taiy"© Fishing Company^ Kamezo Uehara^, and 

 Katsutaro Tamagusuku are engaged in skipjack fishing o Teijir"o Itagaki 

 and two other persons are manufacturing dried skipjack sticks,, 



The Taiy"© Fishing Company mainly buys fish which the natives at 

 Sonsorol Island take by trolling from canoes and manufactures fish stick 

 from ito 



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