clockwise direction. Furthermore, within this area there are small 

 islands such as Okinodaitoshima and Okinotorishima, as well as eleva- 

 tions of the sea floor, so that hydrographic conditions are quite complex. 



As subsequent charts will show, from Novennber on with the 

 passage of the season this fishing ground gradually extends southward, 

 reaching to the vicinity of 12 N. above the Palau Islands at the end of 

 the fishing season (see supplementary charts 1 and 2**). The fishing 

 ground in November is formed in a circular current, and the catch rates 

 cire over 2, in quite an extensive area. 



Looking at the size composition of the catch, the albacore taken 

 in this area are very large for that species, with hardly any under 4 kan 

 (15 kilog. ), If we try bringing together all recorded measurement data, 

 fish of around 5. 8 kan make up 40 percent, those of around 7.4 kan make 

 up 60 percent, and the average weight is 6. 8 kan / 1 kan =8.27 lbs. / . 



Besides albacore, yellowfin and spearfishes are important elements 

 in the catch in this area. The albacore is by no means the most important 

 but its significance is comparatively great. It appears, however, that 

 changes in albacore fishing conditions from year to year are great, and 

 the catch rate, as shown in the following table, fluctuates widely. 



Table 3. --Annual fluctuations in the albacore catch rate on 

 the Okinotorishinna fishing ground 



** From North Pacific Current Chart No. 6031 -A. /_Tran8lator 's 

 note: These "supplennentary charts" are probably the two small unnumbered 

 charts on page 55 in the Decennber section. / 



25 



