(5) Currents 



Direction and rate of currents were estimated by observation. 

 Results of observations at 15 stations show that in the Woleai=Ifalik 

 area both northerly and southerly currents turn westward and mingle, 

 presenting a complex situation. In the Lamotrek-Olimarao area the current 

 appears to set southwest and no trace of ar^ ■easterly current is seen. 

 Velocities of currents were from ^ to 1 knot„ 



On the Handling of the Catch 



The fish were all gutted after they were tc. . and were placed in 

 the ship's refrigerator. They were than prepared for storage by means of 

 a freezer ((American-made Frick ammonia direct expansion type refrigerator 

 (freezing capacity 2 tons)). The fish were brought back to Palau about ID 

 days after they were taken and the processing department then packed the 

 yellowfin in oil. 



After the fish were butchered the raw flesh was examined. It was 

 dark brown in color and at first glance did not look very good. After it 

 was steamed (preparation 4-0 minutes, 2^ hours at 2 pounds) the flesh was 

 not split or broken, but the part next to the skin had a deep yellow 

 gloss, looking as if it had been cooked in oil. In general these fish 

 seemed to have a higher fat content than those from Palau waters. After 

 cooling for 18 hours the fish was examined again at w5iich time it showed a 

 dark red-brown color and had a rather high water content but was firm. 



Some of this material showed "honeycombing" around lesions caused by 

 hooks, but otherwise very little "honeycombing" was seen. 



Results 



On the whole this experimental fishing showed a very poor fishing 

 si'Vaation, perhaps because the wrong time was chosen, or the gear was not 

 r. lt.ed to the fishing grounds, or perhaps for reasons having to do with 

 cue schools and various meteorological and oceanographic factors. 



It is, of course, extremely difficult to determine the value of the 

 tuna fishing grounds of this area on the basis of such a short investiga-» 

 tion, however, a consideration of only the results of these experiments 

 gives a very unfavorable picture and contradicts the commonly heard saying 

 that "around Woleai the water is full of tuna and skipjack." 



Naturally it is not a question of evaluating the fishing grounds of 

 this area summarily on the basis of this one investigation. This study 

 has obtained only a part of the reference data on the fishing grounds of 

 Woleai and Lamotrek, Later continuations of this investigation will 

 clarify the total aspect of the fishing grounds of this area by accumulat- 

 ing data for the study of such basic subjects as the relationship between 

 meteorological and oceanographic factors and the fishing situation, the 

 distribution of the schools, and the courses of migrations, while at the 

 same time testing the suitability of fishing gear and methods. 



18 



