It was reported to use that a sword fish (probably marlin), weighing approximately 

 24.0 pounds, was taken by still fishing on a hand line the week before. The dead bait 

 used for this was a whole fish, weighing about two pounds. The fish was caught in 

 approximately eight fathoms. 



The natives are very short of hooks and lines, as they have had no communication 

 with any sources of supply since February, 1946. They no longer make their hooks or lines 

 according to their traditional customs and are completely dependent on manufactured supplies 

 for their fishing. During our stay at Kusaie, we had a native fishing crew set a beach 

 seine, and from a haul — which it took them about an hour and a half to make — they caught 

 only a few small striped surgeon fish, approximately eight inches long. Their net original- 

 ly surrounded several dozen large mullet, but all jumped out. We also spent several hours 

 trolling outside the reef and found barracuda veiy abundant. Of those caught, the largest 

 was 53 inches long and weighed 22 pounds. We also lost tackle twice on fish so large, that 

 they broke the line. Dxiring our trolling we continually had overboard both a polished brass 

 spoon (size #7) and a irtiite Japanese feather type jig, which were operating side by side. 

 Vfe found here, as everywhere else, that more strikes were obtained- on the spoon than on the 

 feather . 



Since the natives do not have sailing canoes, nor amy powered motor vessels, they are 

 at a disadvantage in attempting to troll. The native fishermen at Kusaie are very intelli- 

 gent and progressive and would very much like to obtain small powered fishing boats, around 

 30 to 40 feet in length, with small diesel engines simllair to the Japanese semi-diesel 

 which power all Japanese sampans. These would be suitable for trolling, and it is believed 

 that a considerable quantity of fish could be taken by the natives without outside assistance- 

 except that there are at present no refrigeration facilities at Kusaie, and excess catch over 

 and above what could be consumed by the population within twenty-four hours could not be pre- 

 served. Methods of salting could be developed in lieu of refrigeration, but storage would 

 still be a problem. Salt of the proper kind would have to be shipped in. 



B, PONAPE ISUND (Population 5662-1946) 

 (August 8-13) 



Ponape was the third most important Japanese fishing center with shore facilities, 

 including refrigeration. All of these have been con^letely destroyed. At the present time 

 there are two Japauiese sampans, 35 to 40 feet long, still in operation. These axe powered 

 with the Japanese single cylinder, semi-diesel engine which must be started with a blow 

 torch. 



Being a high island, Ponape has an ample supply of hardwopd trees for the construction 

 of canoes and there does not appear: to be a great shortage of these craft at the present 

 time. A number of new ones are being built. The cost of a 12-foot canoe is around $12.00. 



The chief methods of fishing used by the natives are; spears, hand lines, nets, small 

 hand nets used by women, and the hand picking of small shell fish along the reefs. 



Sea cucumbers are abundant around Ponape and a small sample was processed into trepan g 

 to determine whether or not it was of the quality desired for export to China amd Japan, 



The Japainese had introduced trochus shells along the outer reefs and these are now 

 abundant, as they were notharvested during the war years. About 10,000 had been brought in 

 to U. S. CommerciaLl Coii^)any headquarters- for sale by various natives and most of them were 

 over live inches in diauneter at the base. These are mostly old shells and many of them 

 were badly corroded. Approximately 50 percent of the shells brought in were rejected by 

 U. S. C. C. It is believed that befoj-e these shells are finally rejected and disposed of 

 samples should be forwarded to United States and Japanese shell dealers to determine whether 



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