VI. nSHERIES - TROCHUS SHELLS 



Several species of trocJius are found throughout the former mandated area, but the 

 comnercial species, Trochus niloticus . was originally taJcen only in the Palaus and at 

 Yap. Under the direction of the South Seas Government transplantings of tiiis trochus 

 were made froia. the Palaus to a number of other localities. Ihe latest transplantings 

 Were around 1936. llost of these transplantings seem to have been successful since at 

 present the animals are found in commercial abundance at Saipan, Truk, Ponape, Kuop, 

 Jaluit, Ailinglapalap, and Kapingamarangi. 



Trochus are found chiefly on the outside edge of the barrier or fringing reefs at 

 depths to tWD fathoms. It is stated that they prefer areas where seaweed is present, 

 Tlie collection of trochus shells was given over to the natives. Tae Japanese bought 

 them for from 10 to 15 sen (¥.10 - ¥.15) each and the total production was sent back to 

 Japan for the making of pearl buttons. Such statistics as are available seem to show 

 that approximately 125 tons were taken per year. However, since considerable planting 

 was done in 193b, and it requires several years for the trochus to become established, 

 there was no harvesting from Saipan, Ailinglapalap, or Kapingamarangi. In swidition, 

 the exigencies of war prevented harvesting at any point from 1942 to 19'i6. In the 

 latter year only a limited amount of harvesting was done under the direction of the 

 U. S. Commercial Company at Tap, Saipan, the Palaus, Truk, and Ponape. There is every 

 reason to expect that diiring the next few years the production of trochus should amount 

 to as much as 50 percent higher than the tonnage taken by the Japanese prior to the w£ir. 

 However, this will depend to a large extent on the number of shells rejected. (See also 

 VIIC Trochus Shell Fishery of Truk.) 



VII, FISHERIES OF TRUK 



A. INTORIUTION ON PREVAR FISh'ERr 



The following information was secured from Chief Artie Hoses who is Chief of the 

 wtiole Truk Group and oivner of Kuop Atoll. He stated that the Japanese brought in the 

 comiRercial trochus shell from the Palaus and planted them around the reefs at Truk, be- 

 ginning 20 years ago. The most recent planting v.as in 1936. Plantings v/ere apparently 

 fairly widespread and included Kuop Atoll. None was planted at Hall Islands. (Autnor's 

 note: Bie native trochus is a small species with a rough shell and seldom gets over two 

 and a half inches in diauneter. It has no commercial value.) During the war, especially 

 near the end, many trochus shells were taken by the Japanese and by the natives for food. 

 The natives were not allowed to have trochus in their possession before the war as the 

 taking of them was strictly controlled and done by Qkinawan divers for the Japanese. 

 Ihere were a few Japanese divers also. 



The natives fonaerly had five and six man canoes both paddling and sailing . These 

 were taker, away by the Japanese and the natives were forbidden to go outside the passes. 

 Before the war the natives did a little trolling for bonito witli feather jigs outside the 

 reefs, but only for subsistence. They v.'ere not employed by the Japanese to get fish for 

 the industry. The main fishery was carried on by the Japanese and Okinawans, five Japan- 

 ese sampans came into Dublon Island one day with 500 fish each ivhich was considered a good 

 day's fishing. Each sampan carried a ci-ew of 12 men. Sometimes the catch was as lov: as 

 100 to 300 fish per day and occasionally a sampan would get 1,000 fish. The fish averaged 

 five to eight pounds each. The Japanese had a large drying shed on Lublon Island for 

 bonito ( Katsuwonis pelam is ) . No canning or salting was done by the Japanese. They had 

 refrigeration sufficient to hold surplus fish over-night in case of a large catch. Bonito 



75 



