In both the latter groups there is a tremendous growing population of brain, mushroom, 

 staghorn, and other branching corals. Around most of Tinian there is a bluff from 10 to 

 4.0 feet high, rising abruptly along the shore, and consequently there are no mangrove 

 swamps. Small decorative shells which might be used for handicraft are rare. 



Along the outer edge of the reef there is a large population of fish among which the 

 most common are parrot fish ( Callyodon Sp.), mullet, goat-fish ( Mulloidichthys and Pseudu- 

 penaus ) . and crevalle ( Caranx sp.) to three feet in length; octopi are occasionally to be 

 found, and yellow sea cucumbers are abundant. Schools of anchovies ( Anchoviella purpureus ) , 

 used as live bait for bonito, are abundant under the bluffs. Small flying fish from three 

 to six inches in length are very abundant also. 



All of our observations indicate that Tinian would prove to be a very good site for 

 an extensive bonito fishing fleet. Probably as many as 10 or 12 fisliing vessels could be 

 accommodated there, 



C. ROTA ISLAND (Population +800 - 19^) 

 (June 29-July 2) 



The fringing reefs around Rota are mostly only a few yards offshore (Fig. 35). Con- 

 sequently, there is a comparatively small inshore area from which fish may easily be taker. 

 The Japsmese operated one saapan, which brought in fresh bonito to feed the garrison, 

 Japanese civilian, and native population. Any surplus was dried. The natives were employ- 

 ed on the sugar plantations and were not allowed to go outside the reef, so that there is 

 none experienced in offshore fishing. Only two fishermen expressed any desire to fish out- 

 side the reef and their operations wei'e confined to hand-lining just outside the breakers. 

 Since there is no local interest in developing an offshore fishery, it would be impractical 

 to attempt to do so. Nevertheless, the 800 natives on Rota are not now able to obtain a 

 sufficient quantity of protein food, and the most practical form of assistance would be to 

 supply the fishiiig gear which they were accxistomed to use under the Japanese. According 

 to a report froiii the native commissioners of the two villages, their most urgent need is 

 twine from which they can knit throw nets. They formerly had one to a family, but at 

 present there are only eight left altogether, Ihese nets were approximately 10 feet in 

 diameter. An ample supply of twine for making throw nets should be kept on the island. 

 Canoes or other small boats are not essential as few woulduse them, nor are hooks or 

 lines especially needed. In the absense of throw nets, the natives do a small amount 

 of spear fishing with goggles on the reefs, and women and children collect shell fish — 

 mostly trochus, cat-eye, and spiny lobsters — from the reef. Outside of these the natives 

 have a few chickens, and sometimes coconut crabs and fruit bats. Occasionally a deer is 

 taken. According to the native commissioners, they were accustomed to having fish at 

 least once a day and estimated that they used approximately a pound of fish per person. 

 However, due to the lack of cast nets and nonavailability of fresh fish from the offshore 

 fisherj--, they obtained fish only two or three times a week. The fish is mostly prepared 

 by roasting, boiling with vinegar, or eaten raw, 



A favorite method of cooking fish throughout the Mariamas is to fry them in coconut 

 oil. This was also done on Rota, but at the present time, the destruction of coconut 

 trees has been so great that no oil is produced locally and none has been imported. 



Sea cucumbers are not eaten and shark meat also is not used by the native population, 



Barringtonia nuts are occasionally ground into a paste and used as a fish poison. 

 Derris root, also, is sometimes used, although rarely. 



During May and June large schools of a small silvery fish, tvfo to three inches long, 

 called manahag . believed to be young herring, are taken in large quantities by throw nets 

 and are salted down for future use. These large schools appear annually, both at Rota 

 and Guam, and stay only a few weeks. 



55 



