The clarity was measured by submerging a white plate 1 foot in 

 diameter in the sea„ Visibility showed an increase at stations east of 

 Station 2y while it decreased to the west of that stationo This may vary 

 depending on the height of the san, the strength of its raySj the presence 

 and height of waves, and other factorSj but it is considered to be 

 roughly the situation described abo"-7e„ 



Disposi tion of the Catch 



The fish taken were held in the Zuiho Mar-a's cold storage, and were 

 dry frozen. On our return to Palau they were canned by the Processing 

 Department of this Station and some were made into dried fish-sticks by 

 the Nanko Fishing Company., In both cases it was less than a week since 

 the fish were taken and consequently they were good and fresh„ The 

 character of the flesh was the same as that of fish taken in Palau waters 

 and showed no particular points of difference „ 



Results 



This investigation extended over 10 days of cperationSj, during the 

 course of which schools were sighted 16 times, fishing was done 11 times, 

 catches were made 7 times, and the fish failed to rise to the bait 4- 

 times. The catch comprised 1,100 skipjack and 151 tana„ This covild by 

 no means be called successful fishingy but it does provide sufficient 

 data to contradict the popular theory that "skipjack schools rarely come 

 into Yap waters," Of course, the results of this experiment do not per- 

 mit us to decide whether or not skipjack occur in this degree of abundance 

 the year round in the waters of Yap, bit considering the fact that last 

 year's investigations (covering the period from June 14 to August 3) 

 showed almost identical results, it appears that the skipjack grounds 

 around this island do have a certain value. In particular the presence 

 of an abundant supplv of bait (mainly tarekuchi £ probably Engraulis 

 he ter globus Ruppell_7) -!"- Yap Bay is a strong point of this fishery, 

 and it is worthy of note that the skipjack taken in the waters around 

 this island are notably laiger than those taken at Palau^ 



