fishing- ar.:l for trolliig, but also to investigate the supply of these fish 

 for consur.ption as fresh, salted, or dried fish. 



Method 



Thp -esearch vessel with 20 V^ndlcs of net aboard proceeded to the 

 fishing ground and mited for nightfall. The net -flas set outside of the 

 lagoon across the current mth one end of the net close to the reef and 

 the r-^st of it stretched stri:ight out to sea. The last three bundles of 

 net -jere s«t in a semi-circle. As the net drifted v.dth the current a 

 boat patrolled it fro;:; time to tiT.e rsnoving the fish which had become 

 caught in it. 



Fishing Grounds 



These fish can be seen flying over the sarface of the sea both in- 

 side B'A outside of the reef at all tines of the year. Schools of juve- 

 nile fish are particularly abundant around the entrances to chan-.els and 

 at indentations in the coast. 



A thorough investigation could not be made because of the danger of 

 night onerations on fishing grounds so near to the reef, but it appeared 

 that Sectors 1, 6, and 7 ar-i good grounds. The currents are swift, however, 

 and abnormal currents in and ont of th.e channels occasionally tangle the 

 nets. 



Fishin.-, Season 



The fish are seen throughout the year, but the seasons of comparative 

 abundance and scarcity have not yet been ascertained. It appears, however, 

 that A-.ril and Key are the peak of the season. It appears that drift net 

 ooerations -/ould be difficult or almost impossible during the trade vdnd 

 season. Tlie fish are taken in large nurbers at moonrise and moonset of 

 the nev/ moon (3rd to 7th day) and the full moon (l5th to 13th day) of each 

 month, and at other times the catch is snail. 



Note 



These fish are taken in large numbers by the natives of the outlying 

 islands an.' are an important item in their diet. They go out with torches 

 in canoes at night to' fishing grounds nerr the reef and catch the fish in 

 scoop nets. They som.etiTnes catch sever.^l hundred fish in one night. 



Reef Fish and Shallov/ ^ater 3et-line Investigation 



?';roose 



Tests vvere made using simple methods to provide data for general 

 refe'"f:nce. 



Fishin^: Gear 



The type of set-line -ised for catching flounders in Tokyo Bay rias 



31 



