FOREVraRD 



This survey of the fisheries of the former Japanese mandated islands of the 

 Pacific Ocean was a part of the general economic siirvey iindertaken by the Pacific 

 Ocean Division of the United States CoLinercial Co.'i^jany, Reconstruction Finance 

 Corporation, at the requfest of the Navy Department. 



Shortly after the close of hostilities in the Pacific, the Navy recognized 

 that its responsibility for administering the I^rianas, Carolines, and L'.arshalls , 

 extended beyond the mere establishment of law and order, or even the physical 

 rehabilitation of v.ar-tom areas. By and large, the ticronesians v.'ere not enemy 

 aliens, but rather innocent bystanders who had suffered heavy losses in life and 

 property through no fault of their own. For the most part, they v.'ere eager to 

 adopt the American way of life, including radios, movies, motor boats and 

 vehicles. 



Viewed in the cold light of economic realism, it is obvious that the majority 

 of these rosy dreams are impossible of fulfillment, Vne hard fact is that in the 

 end, their relative prosperity depends on the movement of their own materials or 

 products to world markets, with an accompanying return flow of goods and manu- 

 factured articles. Otherwise, we must assume that the native population will be 

 kept in much the same status as the bison of Yey.owstone Park. 



The foremost question then is what natural resources exist for heme consump- 

 tion and for export. It was to answer this question, so long shrouded in secrecy 

 by the Japanese, that the Economic Survey was undertaken. 



Originally", it was intended that all reports of sxirvey specialists would be 

 published in a single coordinated series, with a general introduction to provide 

 the background material for all.. That plan having been abandoned, it was 

 necessary to add" some general information to the Fisheries report. Also, it has 

 not been possible to incorporate in tliis report the data on local fisheries of 

 Truk, Ponape, and the Marshall Islands, collected by economists assigned to those 

 areas. 



In order that the results of the fisheries survey might be made available to 

 the public at the earliest moment, a condensed version was published by the Fish 

 and vrildlife Service under the title "Fishery Resources of Micronesia", Fishery 

 Xeaflet No. 239, tlay, 19^7. The present paper now supersedes Jishery Leaflet 239, 

 and contains all of the data on which the condensed version was based. 



It is a pleasure to acknowledge indebtedness for many services rendered by 

 personnel of the U. S. Coianeroial Company, Economic Surve'y,-and Naval IJilitary 

 Government in Washington and the field, and by the Director and staff of the 

 Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu. 



last, but not least, the author wishes to congratulate himself for having as 

 assistant, Ujr. Anthony Aki, of Honolulu, master swimmer, diver, and throw-net 

 fisherman, wlio not only did ain excellent job of field collecting, but also 

 accon^jlished wonders with limited galley equipment. 



