VIII. SAIPAli BEACH SEIIMNG 



(June 1946) 



The seine crew which operates inshore. between the beach and the barrier reef is very 

 expert. There are 12 to 15 aien in the crew. Their seine is in sections approximately 

 200 yards long ui each section, eight feet deep, and of l/i. inch bar, or l/2 inch stretch- 

 ed mesh. Itie cotton twine is somevjhat heavier than #9. The net is set from a 16 foot, 

 narrow beam skiff of the Okinawan type. Three or four fishermen go in the seine boat amd 

 tl-ie net is laid out in a half -circle from shore (Fig. A8) . The fishermen propel the seine 

 boat with bamboo poles and by a single long sculling oar at the stem. The water in this 

 section is not over three feet deep. The net is set only after a school of fish has been 

 observed from shore. As the net is laid out, fishermen follow it into the water and see 

 that it doesn't foul and is tight on the bottom (Fig. A9). liost fishermen wear goggles . 

 and dive down in the water to see that the net is clear. These goggles are of Japanese 

 make and are of wood and plastic construction. If the net is not long enovigh to reach 

 back to shore, some of the seine crew wade out between the end of the net and shore to 

 keep the fish from breaking out along the open side. Sometimes several hundred pounds of 

 fish are taken on one set of the net. In general, however, this type of fishing is very 

 low in production. Several hauls which ve obsei^ed did not bring in more thsai CO or 50 

 pounds of fish, most of which were small goat fish f]X)m four to six inches in length 

 (Fig. 50). These small fish should not be taken, but, due to the shortage of protein 

 food, it seems too much of a hardship on the population to recommend stopping this type 

 of fishing. However, as soon as production from the sarapana is sufficient to supply the 

 daily needs of the native population, it is recommended that the use of seines along 

 shore between Mutcho Point and Susi^ie Point be prohibited during the months of June, July, 

 and August. The results of this regulation, v;hen put into effect, should be observed care- 

 fully and if it does not result in an increased catch of fish - both in number and size - 

 seining along shore should be prohibited in that area throughout the entire year. This 

 regulation should not prevent the catching of fish by means of a throw net. 



Figure 50... jaipan. Beach Ceining Mo. 3. 

 Catch (.-nostly 4-5 inch goat fish). June 194-6. 



7B 



