common were large, black, spiny ones up to 12 inches and smooth black ones to eif^ht inches. 

 Brov/n spotted groupers to 1/. inches were abundant, and very common wei-e two kinds of red 

 squirrel fish, one solid red, ^^yripristis murd.jan . sind one with white longitudinal stripes, 

 Holocentrus diadema . Both of these were about eight inches in length. 



On the leeward side of the island, in the section from shore out to the reef, there 

 are many patches of edible sea weeds of the branCiiing type (Gracilaria sp.), about six 

 inches high. 



Giant clams of the species Tridacna elongata were common, but rarely exceeded six 

 inches in length. Small decorative shells used in handicraft were rare, with the 

 exception of Cypraea moneta . 



A nujnber of fish are considered poisonous. Among these are large crevalle ( Caranx sp. ) 

 and most red fishj also all of the fish on the outside reef. On the inside ol the reef it 

 is considered that any black fish (presumably surgeon fish) are poisonous and, of course, 

 all puffers are discarded. The black tipped sand shark, ( Eulamia nelanapterus ) is not eaten. 



B. TINIAN ISLAI^JD (No native population - 1946) 

 (June 8-10) 



From a fishery standpoint, the most striking topographic featui'e of Tinian is the lack 

 of barrier or fringing reefs, particularly along the east or weather side of the island. 

 Here the surf breaks directly against rock cliffs of the island itself and there is no 

 rocky plateau along the shore. ITiis is in part true of the western or lee side of the 

 island, except that the surf is not as high and there are sections where there is a limited 

 fringing reef. 



At the time of our visit there vrere no native families living on Tinian. The fishery 

 was in the harfds of Okinawans, but was not being actively prosecuted because the Okinawans 

 were to be repatriated within 10 days. Since it might serve as a useful pattern else- 

 where, it may be stated that the Okinawans conducted their fishery on a cooperative basis. 

 One group, using a Japanese sampan, fished offshore for bonito and tuna. The other group, 

 using two Okinawan canoes and a beach seine, fished inshore. The catch was sold at prices 

 ranging from five to ten cents a pound, which was sufficient to provide a good source of 

 income to the fishermen and still supply the remainder of the population with the protein 

 food at prices wiiich they could afford. Our only examination showed that the inshore 

 areas were well populated with fish. Llxillet 10 to 12 inches in length, and goat-fish 

 ( iLUlloidichthys . Pseudupeneus ) six to eight inches in length were abundant, although 

 rather wild and diificult to approach. Spiny lobsters, Panulirus marrinatus . were abundant 

 on the reefs at night and can be taken by torching. Tliese lobsters ranged in length from 

 nine to 16 inches and averaged slightly over a pound each. The female lobsters were carry- 

 ing brif;ht orange eggs on their svjimmerets. This species differs from that found along 

 the southeastern United States coast in that the head and thorax portion are much larger 

 in proportion to the total length than is the case with the United States variety. Con- 

 sequently, the central Pacific lobster does not have as much meat in proportion to total 

 length as the United States variety does. 



Thread fish ( Polydactylus sexfilis ) . are surgeon fish ( Hepatua sp.) were abundant. 

 The former ranged in size from 10 to 12 inches, v;hile the latter were approximately eight 

 inches in length. 



The chief characteristic of the inshore area from the fringing reef to the high 

 water line on shore is -the lack of living coral. The bottom is of very fine wnite coral 

 sand, ivith occasional dead corsil heads protruding from the bottom. Such an area is well 

 adapted to the use of throw nets and in some places bc-ach seines can be used. This con- 

 dition is characteristic of the Marianas as compared with the Carolines and Marshalls. 



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