are similar in appearsmce to yellowfin, the catch is included with that of the 

 latter species. Other species of tuna occur tax from areas presently fished 

 by United States fishermen. Reference is made to some of them at appi-opriate 

 places in this report. 



Bonito fSarda chiliensis (Pacific) - Sarda sarda (Atlaiitic)l, which, like 

 tuna, are memhers of the mackerel family, and the yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis) , 

 a memher of the jack family, are canned tuna-style. The pack is considered a 

 ttinal ike rather than a tuna product. However, Federal regulations require that 

 the cans he labeled "honito" and "yellowtail", respectively, rather than tuna. 

 In this report data on consumption, production, etc., of bonito and yellowtail, 

 will be discussed with those of the tunas. 



Throughout this report when reference is made to tuna and t-unalike fishes 

 it will cover the aforementioned seven species of fish. They are shovm in 

 outline form in figure 1, 



Additional background information about the five species of tuna and 

 the two tunalike species with which the domestic tuna industry is directly 

 concerned follows: 



Albacore (Germo alalunga) 



Albacore, also called longfin tuna, has lighter meat than the other 

 species, and is the only one which, when canned, the Food and Drug Admin- 

 istration permits to be labeled "white-meat" tuna. Albacore are a dark 

 steel blue on the upper portions of the body, shading into d-ull silver be- 

 low, smd may be distinguished from other species of tirna by the great length 

 of the pectoreCL fins, which extend beyond the front of the anal fin. Alba- 

 core occur from Alaska to central lower California, and through the temperate 

 Pacific to Hawaii smd Japan. While individual fish may reach a maximum 

 weight of 80 pounds, those taken commercially usually weigh less than kO 

 potmds axid the average ranges from 12 to 25 pounds. 



Eegulations of the California Department of Fish and Game permit the 

 taking of albacore at anytime. However, none weighing less than 9 pounds 

 may be sold in the State, There are no size or seasonal restrictions on 

 the taking of albacore in Oregon or Washington. 



Albacore usually appear on the Pacific coast in the spring or early 

 Slammer, sind disappear in the late fall or winter. Most of the catch is 

 teJcen from July to October, inclusive. Albacore are the only tuna taken off 

 each of the Pacific Coast States. They have also been taken off British 



