If I recall rightly, I believe it was in November, 1931, that I nas requested 

 by Mr. Takuo Mimura of the Fisheries College to forward him a large number of 

 skipjack eggs sp that he could study these. At that time I iras also interested in 

 this subject so I collected the eggs, but I was unable to send Mr. Mimura any of 

 my samples which .were left behind when I left the Experimental Station in May of 

 1932 to return to Japan, From my investigations of the waters around Palau, I be- 

 lieve that the spawning season of skipjack is in i.arch, April and fc'<ay, but I have 

 no proof. There seems to be no set period which can be referred to as the spawning 

 season in tropic seas where atmospheric and water temperatures are high a)id do not 

 vary with the season. It is therefore possible that skipjack spawn throughout the 

 year. 



At present, I am studying the ecology of skipjack taken at Katsuura in Chlba 

 Prefecture. I occasionally see eggs in the so-called "early" skipjack which are 

 caught in May and Jtme near the Zunan Islands and off the coast of outer BSahQ, 

 but the gonads of these skipjack are generally not well-developed. Each year from 

 about August to October, a great many so-called "descending" skipjack which are 

 much larger than those caught in early summer are taken in coastal waters from 

 Inubo Point to outer Boshu, Although caufht in the same season, the flavor of 

 these fish is far superior to those taken in the Sanriku areas. A large number of 

 "descending" skipjack carry well -developed efgs and ovaries of some fish are red- 

 dish in color and slender while others are slightly hard so that it is difficult 

 to tell whether these skipjack have already spawned or whether they are in the 

 process of spawning. Further studies are being- continued. 



laarukawa ; The "descending" skipjack are probably those which have already spawned. 

 It seems that tropical waters such as those around Palau are still the best places 

 from which to gather material. 



Hatai ; I understand that skipjack in weakened condition are found close to shore 

 from August to September in the Jaluit area and that these fish are hand-caught by 

 the natives. I have also heard that on some occasions the waters teem with these 

 fish. 



tiarukawa ; Mr. Kawakami, I shall now ask you to speak to us on the Palau area. 



Kawakami ; I spent about four years in Palau, studying the skipjack and tuna. It 

 was recently mentioned that the great amount of skipjack is taken in March and 

 April; I believe that the figures vary with the year. The greatest catch seems 

 to occur from February to July. The schools of skipjack in this area seem to be 

 of three types. During the normal season schools are divided into those with fish 

 weighing about 300 momme (2. A? lbs.), 500-600 momme (ii.1-4.9 lbs.), and 1 kan 

 (8.27 lbs.). In April and tiay, the schools consist largely of very small fish 

 which are believed to migrate south. Observations made between the latter part of 

 Kerch and early April when fishing boats go out continuously, revealed the skipjack 

 catch around Palau to be small at tnis season. In the Tokobel and Helen areas, 

 however, large schools of skipjack are present and after a half a month or so, the 

 schools tend to increase in the Palau region. Skipjack are first caught in western 

 Palau and a month later the fishery shifts to the eastern coast. The eastern side 

 is leeward of the Fiquatorial Cdunter-current and the skipjack remain here for a 

 long time. In September, after the Equatorial Counter^current degenerates, skip'' 

 jack again tend to shift to the west. Skipjack normally decrease in number during 

 the period between the change from the rainy to dry season which is in July or 

 August, In July and August, an oily tjqpe.of skipjack called aburagatsuo is found 

 in the catth. The quality of skipjack sticks known as aburabushi is pooro Repro- 

 ductive organs of skipjack ceufht in iV.ay and June were full, but they appeared to 



