horn could move freely on it. Some white feathers and red bristles were 

 bound on one end and the lure was wrapped in balloonfish skin. 



Catch 



_'iW.thin the lagoon carangids, cybiids, rarely frigate-mackerel / Auxis 

 sp._/, and miscellaneous reef fish were taken, but few catches were made. 

 Outside the lagoon alon^ the face of the barrier reef tuna, dog-toothed 

 tuna / Gymno sarda nuda /. carangids, skipjack, cybiids, and reef fish were 

 taken. Cybiids predominated in the catch. More carangids were taken in 

 comparatively shallow places, and more tunas in deeper water. 



This fishery is greatly affected by weather and tide. Fishing is 

 generally good at dawn, at dusk, in cloudy and rainy weather, and before 

 and after storms, but it is not good in clear weather or when the sea is 

 very calm.. Fishing is better when the tide is rising than at low tide. 



Tuna Fishery Investigation 



In the past the natives of this island have not engaged in fishing 

 outside of the barrier reef. T^na for local co'? sumption has been supplied 

 all year round by the natives of Mokil I., who troll for tuna from sailing 

 canoes during the trade wind season, and by the natives of Greenwich I., 

 who take then with pole and line during the calm season. /f^TN. The Mokil 

 Is. are abou.t 90 milos from Ponape. Greern'rich or Kapingamarangi is a>-out 

 4.00 miles to the southwest of Ponape, _/ 



Purpose 



This investigation was m.ade in order to supply the data necessary for 

 establishing a tuna fishery. 



Methcd 



Experimental fishing i\dth longlines was done on the grounds which had 

 been previously discovered by trolling. 



Fishing Gear 



Boshu-type longlines, six hooks, twenty baskets 

 Research vessel - No, 2 Hakuo Maru 



Fishing Grounds 



The i-'vestigation was of short duration and it would be difficult to 

 pass a definitive judgment as to whether these should be called good fish- 

 ing grounds with respect to the concentration and abundance of fish. The 

 whole circumference of the island appears to be about the same, but the 

 waters off Sectors 1, 3, and L, seem to be particularly good fishing 

 grounds. 



28 



