Marshall Islands, the variability is quite a bit greater. The catch rates 

 are higher in sections where there are islands and shoals, and this is 

 thought to have a close relationship to this condition. Because of (1) the 

 small size of the fish and (2) the great variability of the catch rates, these 

 fish are thought to be of a somewhat different character from the albacore 

 of the mid-latitude waters. 



We do not have much data for equatorial waters east of 140 E. , 

 so there are many points that are unclear about this area. Between 

 140°E, and 150 E. the catch rates are in general somewhat higher than 

 in the preceding month. It may be thought that the albacore schools south 

 of Palau may have extended their eastern edge into this sea area. There 

 appear to be no albacore catches worthy of attention east of the line of 

 150°E. longitude, but there are still scattered catches there. At to 

 4°N. , 140°E. to 160 E., the size composition is as shown in table 16, 

 with the average weight less than 6 kan /50 lbs._/, leading to the belief 

 that these albacore may be of the same character as those taken south 

 of Palau. 



Table 17. --Albacore size composition (actual 

 numbers of fish) at 0°-4°N. , 140°-l60°E. 



FEBRUARY 

 General 



The most conspicuous tendency at this season is for all of the 

 fishing grounds simultaneously to diminish in extent. In the South Sea 

 areas the signs of a falling off in abundance are strongly nnarked, and 

 we can no longer see any areas with catch rates above 1.0. However, 

 in the Kinan Sea Area the catch rates are generally higher than in the 

 preceding months, and the western portion of the grounds extends farther 

 until it reaches the vicinity of the Satsunan Islands. The Okinotorishima 

 fishing ground shows a conspicuous expansion to the southwest, reaching 

 into the sea areas east of Luzon, but the number of vessels operating 

 there has diminished. As a result, the principal fishing grounds now 

 extend east and west in a single line continuously from the Kinan ground 

 to the North Pacific ground. However, the landings from these fishing 

 grounds continue, as in the preceding months, to be very high, and this 

 month corresponds to the latter part of the peak season. 



79 



