The water within the reef is generally not clear and there are 

 scattered shoals which r.ake navigation dangerous. Furthermore the deeper 

 places v;ithin the reef are too deep to serve as anchorages. 



Bait Fish Investigation 



The main skipjack bait species are juvenile akai^jrn /^r^ay be Decapterus 

 russell: / and shir.anur-' / Decapterns spp._7. Some sardine-like / iwashi / 

 species also occur, but they are hard to catch. The young of the various 

 speciec ?f Decapter'Jis occur abundantly in the shallows within the lagoon 

 and are taken with driving-in nets. The sardine-like species do not 

 inhabit thr- clear waters among the reefs, but live among the mangroves 

 where the water is calm and the bottom is mud or sand. Although they can 

 be taken \7ith throw nets they are generally difficult to catch and conse- 

 quently are not used as live bait. '.Then salted down they are very good 

 bait for tuna longlines. 



Skipjack Fishery Investigation 



As one of the fisheries most important in the development of the 

 marine resoiurces of this island, the skipjack fishery requires a most 

 thorough investigation. Since the success or failure of this fishery 

 depends on the supply of bait fish, our investigations v/ere mainly con- 

 cerned with the baiting grounds. The results are given in the paragraph 

 on the bait fish investigation. 'Sfeter temperatures and salinities i-^ the 

 vicinity of the isla-.d are suitable frr skipjack, and the fish may be scon 

 and easily taken in the coastal waters at all seasons. Species of 

 Decaotrr'-' S occur abundantly near the islands of U, Tapak, and f/ant, and 

 they are --ct hard to catch. The sardine-like fishes live in the mangrove 

 sv/amps and consequently som.e thought must be given to devising a means 

 of cauturing ther:. 



Trolling In">''estigation 



Purpose 



This investigation was made in order to find the fishing grounds in 

 the waters adjacent to this island and to ascertain the species and 

 abundance of fish occurring there. 



Method 



Ordinary artificial lures were trolled on two lines 50 or 60 fathoms 

 long from each side of the stern of a boat maki-^g 6 or 7 knots. 



Fishing Gear 



,^, / ' • "^ 



The gear was made up of line, cotton-served hemp £ se'-iy ma /. wire, 

 and hooks, and was kept in line baskets. The hooks were made of tinned 

 iron and we^e 4,. 8 inches long and weighed 1.6 ounces. Both round and 

 angular typf^s vrere used. The lures were made of scraped cow-horn. A hole 

 was pierced through the center and a wire was passed through so that the 



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