At the time of our survey, refrigeration was not required in the dock area. All except a 

 small portion of the catch was merely weighed, washed, and distributed to the native 

 population in the round. This is a satisfactory arrangement as long as the demand exceeds 

 the supply, since all of the fish immediately go into the consumers' hands and are eaten 

 within twenty-four hours. However, refrigeration facilities should be made readily avail- 

 able to hsmdle any excess of production over immediate consumption. 



All of our infonnation leads to the conclusion that the fishery could be considerably 

 increased and that both the supply of bonito and bait fish will stand a considerably larger 

 production. It should be possible, using the present experienced crev;s as teachers, to 

 interest a larger number of the natives in becoming expert fishermen, with the hope that 

 eventually possibly as many as ten fishing sampans could operate from the docks at Saipan. 

 Since the increased proauction would not be required to feed the local population, it 

 would be the aim of this expansion to prepare dried bonito for export to Japan or China. 

 Since the method of processing is in^xsrtant in preparing a type of product desired by the 

 Japanese and Chinese, it would be the best policy to bring in from Japan one or more persons 

 experienced in the preparation of dried bonito to teach the natives the Japanese process, 

 the need for technical assistance would probably not extend over a longer period than six 

 months . 



The in^Dortance of the bonito fishery, not only at Saipan but at other places through- 

 out the former mandated area, warrants a fall description of the method of fishing, since 

 it will become a pattern for future operations. The sequence of operations is taken from 

 an actual daj^ of fishing. 



Departure from the dock was at ^:00 a.m. and by 5:^5 the vessel was standing close 

 inshore along the cliffs of Tinian to search for live bait. As soon as it was light 

 enough to see, the vessel moved slowly along the cliffs and a diver was sent over about 

 every 100 feet until one of them located a school of the small anchovies (Anchoviella 

 purpureus ) , used for bait. The sampan then took up a position about 100 yards from the 

 school of bait fish and was quickly anchored by bow and stern parallel to shore and less 

 than 100 feet frcm the cliff. Then two or three lines with a hook at the end were carried 

 asnore by swimmers and fastened to the rocks at water level to hold the ship from drifting 

 away from shore, they were now ready to set the bait net, which is approximately 30 by bO 

 feet and made of very heavy bobbinet. This net is stretched between the ship and cliffs 

 with one short edge inshore and the other on the ship (Fig. 38). Ihe ^ort edge which is 

 carried ashore is held at the surface by a large bundle of bamboo, which acts as a float. 

 the leading edge of the net which is toward the school of fish is then weighted down at 

 or near the bottom. "The trailing edge away from the fish is held at the surface. Ten or 

 twelve fishermen then go over the side and form a semi-circle around the school of fish 

 and by swimming slowly, drive the school into the net (Fig. 39). As soon as the school 

 is within the leading edge of the net, this edge is brought up to the surface, foiming a 

 trap. Some of the net is then drawn aboard the ship and some is wrapped around the bamboo 

 float on the shore end until the school of fish is in a small pocket alongside the ship 

 (Fig. 40), Frcm this pocket they are bailed into the two large bait tanks located amid- 

 ships (Fig. /J.). The bait tanks are formed by two watertight bulkheads, which make a 

 watertight compartment in the center of the ship. This compartment is further subdivided 

 to form two tanks (Fig. ^2) . In this section two-inch holes are bored through the bottom 

 of the hull in the way of the tanks to provide salt water circulation. This circulation 

 is dependent on the motion of the vessel and is only sufficient to keep the bait alive 

 during severail hours. It is not enough to keep the bait alive over-night. 



On the trip in questidn, approximately an hour was required to catch. a s m a l l school 

 of bait fish. The ship then moved offshore and the captain began looking for flocks of 

 sea gulls feeding at the surface, which are used as indicators of schools of bonito below, 

 ■ffhen a school was located, the captain brought the ship across the head of the school and 

 approDcimately 100 yards away. The engines were then stopped and small quantities of live 



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