Table 2. --February albacore 

 catch rates by longitude and 

 year 



In the case of skipjack, big 

 catches are made on cycles of alter- 

 nate years and 4 years, but in the 

 case of albacore, considering just 

 the period of 1949 to 1952, no such 

 phenomenon is apparent. 



Looking at the position of the 

 intermediate zone (table 3), in 1949 

 it was at its farthest offshore, being 

 located east of 146 E. , whereas in 

 1951 it was closest to the coast. 



to 145°E., 



shows very high catch rates (particularly for small- amd mediunn-sized 

 albacore), in 1951 the catch rates were extrennely low because of the 

 intermediate zone's closing in very near to the coast. In 1950 and 1952 

 it was located somewhat farther west than in 1949. 



Note: Data at 160°-170°E. for 

 1951 are from only one station. 



Although in average years the area of 30 N. to 35 N. , 140 E 



Table 3. --February albacore catch rates, averaged for squares of 

 1 degree of latitude and longitude, by years, in the North Pacific 



83 



