(2) Kinaji Ground 



Along the northern part of the fishing ground the fishing conditions 

 are dull, and the zone of high catch rates lies between 27 N. and 31 N. 

 The catch rates are highest in the areas east of 136 E. , with values of 3.0 

 to 6.0 indicated. West of 136 E., inmost areas, the rate is below 3.0. 

 The oceanographic conditions do not differ much from those of the preceding 

 months, but the size of the fish is considerably smaller. 



Table 9. --Length composition (%) of albacore landed from the Kinan 

 ground. Mean weight in kan = 8. 27 lbs. 



It will be noted that in this area fish of the 75 to 95 cm. group 

 have penetrated quite far south. It is characteristic that the catch is 

 made up only of medium and small albacore, and that hardly any large 

 albacore are seen. 



2. Grounds South of the Subtropical Convergence 

 (1) Okinotorishima Ground 



At this season there are few vessels operating, so little is known 

 of conditions, but compared with the preceding naonth it is thought that 

 the catch rates are somewhat lower. Particularly around the periphery 

 of the fishing ground, and taking into account conditions in April, the drop 

 is conspicuous. It is thought that the schools have probably moved away 

 somewhere else, but of this we have absolutely no knowledge. There are 

 still, however, catch rates of 3.0 or better indicated in the vicinity of 

 Okinotorishima, and it appears that the albacore in this sea area can by 

 no mecins be ignored. Judging from the size composition on the Kinan 

 fishing ground, the recruitment from that area of schools of large-sized 

 fish is thought to be extremely slight. It is thought that the schools that 

 were in this ground in the preceding month stay there, or else the ground 

 is replenished from some other area. We have no information on the size 

 composition of the fish, but they are thought to be probably large albacore 

 as in the preceding month. 



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