F. PALA.U ISLAI'IDS (Population 6018 - 19A6) 



1. Peleliu 



(July 6) 



Lack of tiije prevented a survey of the fisheries in this section. On the east side 

 of the island the fringing reef is close inshore, while on the west side itis in some places 

 several hundred yards offshore. There is a considerable area suitable for fishing. Because 

 of the shortage of throw nets and other types of gear, the natives obtain most of their 

 fishery products by spearing and diving. Shell fish are taken mainly by women and children 

 by picking them up by hand on the reefs at low tide. 



Peleliu cannot be considered of any importance as a base for offshore fishing Operations, 

 both because of lack of vater, and port facilities are not sufficient for the handling of 

 large vessels. As long as the island is devoted chiefly to a military establishment and 

 large numbers of natives' are employed on military projects, there can be only limited sub- 

 sistence fishing. It is not considered necessary to make a thorough study of the fishery 

 resources in the Peleliu area. 



2, Koror 



(July 8-25) 



Kcror was the most important Japanese fishing base for offshore operations and the site 

 of their marine experiment station (Fig. 22), which operated from 1933 until the war began. 

 Four Japanese co.ipanies were engaged in the growing of culture pearls and a number of pearl 

 shell luggers used this as a base of operations for their fishing in the Arafera Sea. 

 Large quantities of trochus shells for perarl buttons, and dried sea cucumbers (trepang or 

 beche-de-raer — Fig. 31), were exported to Japan. Decking facilities were constructed for 

 loading and unloading large freighters, and utilities such as water and electricity were 

 provided for the population of 25,000, Marine railways and repair yards were capable of 

 handling ships up to a hundred feet. A paved causeway to Arakabesan Island and a bridge 

 to Malakal Island v/ere capable of carrying heavy vehicular trarific. All of these instal- 

 lations were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair by bombing and strafing (Fig.23), 

 Regardless of the damage to buildings and installations ashor«, Koror must still be con- 

 sidered the most important site for rehabilitation of the fisheries of the former mandated 

 area. 



One resource not duplicated elsewhere is the large number of native fishermen who are 

 accustomed to diving and spear fishing outside the reefs and who are anxious to undertake 

 at least a limited amount of offshore fishing, especially for bonito. Although they had a 

 comparatively small part in the former Japanese operations, they are essentially skilled 

 fishermen and it is believed that it would not take more than six months of expert training 

 in order to make them capable of taking ccmplete charge of the fishing operations. It would 

 be necessary to bring in technical personnel — probably from Japan or Okinawa — to give train- 

 ing, both in actual fishing methods and in preparation of the dried bonito sticks which 

 would be the main source of income. 



At the time of the survey, even subsistence fishing was on a restricted scale. During 

 the v/ar the natives were prevented frcm fishing on the outer reefs and as a further security 

 neasure the Japanese destroyed as many of the native canoes as they could find. Present 

 estimates are that prior to the war the natives had in the Palaus approximately 1,500 sail- 

 ing and paddling outrigger canoes (Fig. 26), At the present time there are less than a 

 hundred. 



Since the barrier reef is from three to ten miles offshore, most of the natives find 

 it necessary to fish only on the fringing reef close to shore (Fig, 25). Their main reliance 

 is on shell fish. Crabs, especially the large Samoan crab ( Scylla serrata ) and spiny 



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