east and west at around 8 N. to 12 N. Some albacore are also taken 

 mixed with the bigeye. On the whole, catch rates are low, but occa- 

 sionally high catch rates are recorded. As we have extremely little 

 data from investigations of the sizes of albacore in this region, we 

 have no way of knowing the general situation. The average weight of 

 30 specimens from_the area of 8 N. to 12 N. , 170 E. to 180 , was 

 6.87 kan /56.8 lbs./, which is little different from the average weight 

 of 6. 7 kan "of 16 specimens from 8°N. to 12°N., 170°W. to 160 W. 



In these waters of the South Seas, or southof the Subtropical 

 Convergence, the albacore are generally broadly but sparsely distributed. 

 Their size in general is extremely large. These facts are thought to have 

 a great significance ecologically, but we have hardly any concrete infor- 

 mation. We believe, however, that the source of replenishment and 

 manner of replenishment of these schools of large fish offers an inter- 

 esting theme for research. /Translator's note: The following two_ 

 unnumbered figures are inserted here in the original. See page 2_5/. 



Supplementary chart Unnumbered/. -- Supplementary chart /unnumbered/. -- 



Fishing grounds and vector currents Fishing grounds and vector currents 



in the Okinotorishima area in in the Okinotorishima area in 



November December 



55 



