weighing less than k pounds ^ Skipjack occur in the eastern Pacific from 

 Vancouver Island to the coast of South America, hut are rare north of Point 

 Conception, They are also found in Hawaii and Japan where they are the most 

 important tuna talten. They also occur in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea. 



Since skipjack and yellowf in are taken in largely the same areas hy the 

 same "boats and type of gear, there is, to a large extent, a single fishery for 

 the two species. However, there is one difference tetween them. The catch of 

 yellowf in is confined to the coastal shelf and outlying hanks and islands, while 

 skipjack may "be taken at considerahle distances from amy shore or tanko Skip- 

 jack are taken principally with hook and line using live "bait, piirse seines 

 and trolling gear. Early in 1953 a price of $280 per ton was esta'blished in 

 the Pacific coast jynft. for skipjack. 



Yellowf in (Neothunnus macropterus) 



Yellowfin is the principal tuna taken "by California fishermen. They 

 occur in the eastern Pacific from Point Conception south to Chile, and also 

 in Hawaii and the central Pacific to Japan. They also are found in the 

 Atlantic, "but apparently less a'bundantly than in the Pacific. Yellowfin may 

 "be distinguished "by the rather lon^ pectoral fin reaching, or almost reachi;^^, 

 the front of the anal fin, "but not past it, as in al"bacore. The name is de- 

 rived from a golden yellow iridescent tand found along the side of newly- 

 caught fish. Yellowfin may reach weights of from 300 to ifOO pounds, "but fish 

 of this size are rare. California limits the sale of yellowfin in the com- 

 mercial catch to a minimum of 7^ pounds. The average size landed ranges from 

 30 to kO pounds c 



The northern limit of yellowfin is off piathern California, where the 

 fish are normally taken in August and Septem'uero To the south the season 

 lengthens and in semi-tropical and tropical waters, they can "be taken through- 

 out the year. Yellowfin are tsiken principally with hook and line using live 

 "bait, purse seines and trolling gear. Early in 1953 a price $320 per ton was 

 esta"blished in the Pacific Goast -Area for these fish. 



Eonito [[Sarda chiliensis (Pacific) - Sarda sarda (Atlantic)J 



The "bonitos are related to "both the mackerels and the ttinas. In California 

 where the major portion of the domestic catch is made, "bonito are often taken 

 "by tvina fishermen and canned, tuna-style. However, Federal regulations pro- 

 hi"bit labeling the pack "tuna"« Instead, the la'bels must "bear the designation 

 ""bonito". The flesh of "bonito is somewliat darker and more strongly flavored 



