Progress Report on Experimental Skipjack Fishing Near Yap 



Scope of the Study 



There is at present no fishery worthy of note, aside from that for 

 trochus shell, within the jurisdiction of the Yap District of the South 

 Seas Government-General, the only fishing being that carried on by the 

 natives. 



In 1934, when three fishing enterprises were operated there by three 

 Okinawans, it was found that although bait was plentiful few skipjack schools 

 came into the adjacent water s„ The operations did not pay and the entre- 

 preneurs transferred them to other islands. With such a background, a 

 necessity was seen for a study of the skipjack fishery at Yap„ Such a study 

 was made by this station in 1936 and as a result it was recognized that the 

 area does have value as a fishing ground, however, the firm establishment 

 of the skipjack fishery there required further studies of the most detailed 

 nature possible. Consequently the investigations were continued in the 

 present fiscal year in order to clarify the total aspect of the waters 

 around Yap^ 



Essentials of the Investigation 



Research Vessels Zuiho Maru (l83o54. gross tons, Mitsubishi Bikkado 



360 HP airless injection Diesel engine) 

 Hakuo Maru (10 gross tons, Niigata 25 HP semi- 

 Diesel) 

 Area of Investigation Sea areas adjacent to Yap 

 Time of Investigation August 26 to September 25 

 Crews Zuiho Maru captain and 23 men Hakuo Maru 10 men 



The technician in charge was aboard the Zuiho Maru from August 

 26 to September 7, His assistant was aboard from September 11 

 to 25« 

 Fishing Gear Used 



Pole-fishing gear was employed. 



Bait 



The Hak-ao Maru took bait with a stick-held dipnet using a homuraito 

 /^Hcrne light?_7 (600 candlepower) and a Kimura type fishing light. Bait 

 was taken at Yap Harbor and consisted mostly of tarekuchi / pJ'ohably 

 Engraulis heterolobus Ruppell_7 mixed mth a small quantity of akaesa 

 / probably apogonids or caesionidsj^. Two live fish pounds of a cube 

 shape and measuring 12 feet on a side were used. Ordinarily two operations 

 ■vvith the bait net were carried out within 4^ or 5 hours after sunset and the 

 catch was placed in these pounds. The contents of the two pounds were 

 sufficient to fill one of the Zuiho Maru's bait-wells, amounting when 

 measured in the water to 50 to 60 buckets. On moonlit nights little bait 

 could be f::tracted and difficulty was experienced in taking bait. 



