bluefin of the Pacific west coast). Tunas have been taken locally 

 for centuries^ but the catches by Filipinos have been small because 

 vessels are unable to operate in the offshore waters where the tunas 

 are most plentiful. 



Before World *Var II the Japanese extended their tuna fisheries 

 southward, and obtained good catches in Philippine waters. Not only 

 did vessels operate directly from Japan proper j, Formosa, and the 

 Ryukyu Islands, but the first Japanese-controlled land~based operation 

 was established at Zaraboanga in 1935o This Japanese-Philippine company, 

 knowQ as the Sea Foods Corporation, operated four fishing vessels, re- 

 frigerated storage, and a cannery. Canned tuna was prepared miainly 

 for export to the United States, Table 2U shows the pre-World iVar II 

 exports of canned tuna, the entire amount of which was believed prepar- 

 ed by the Zamboanga plant, 



TABLE 24o - PHILIPPINES; EXPORT OF CANNED TUNA, 1935-1940 



YEAR TO THE TO OTHER ~~ TOTAL ~ 



UNITED STATES COUNTRIES 



POUNDS POUNDS POUNDS 



167,580 

 116,865 

 138,915 

 855,540 

 1,122,345 

 1,254.645 



In 1936 a small Japanese tuna fishery was also established at 

 Davao, primarily to catch skipjack for preparation into katsuobushi ; 

 similar plants were opened at Bangui and Aparri, These Japanese opera- 

 tions were neither extensive nor large, and vessels fished nearby waters. 

 The plant at Zamboanga was destroyed during World War II 5 the other 

 operations were also terminated by the departure of the Japanese at the 

 end of the war. Apart frcsa Japanese efforts, only one other attempt to 

 establish a commercial fishery for tunas in the Philippines has been 

 recordedo The Philippine Packing Corporation, which operated a fruit 

 cannery, conducted exploratory fishing in 1934, 



Post-fforld War II production of tuna by the Filipinos has been 

 small. In 1946, 335,160 pounds were landed; in 1947 landings were 

 705,600 pounds. This tuna production was far below potential output, 



127 



