the gear can be fished at various depths. Its main disadvantage 

 is probably the amount of man-power needed to handle it. There 

 are definite possibilities for impro-vlng the gear to nake it 

 easier to handle and more efficient in operation. If it can be 

 shown that this method of fishing can be profitably carried out 

 by American fishermen and vessels ^ new offshore fishing areas can 

 be opened, which may be an answer to part of the present problems 

 faced by the tuna industry. 



Over-all Considerations 



In exploring means of improvement in vessel design-, mach- 

 inery, and use of fishing gear, constant attention has been given 

 to improvements which would result in reduction in size of fish- 

 ing crews. The manpower element is of paramount importance be- 

 cause of its major bearing on the actual cost of production of 

 the raw material. Under present circumstances, howsver, it is 

 believed that the tuna fleet is composed of craft on wnich little 

 improvement can be made to increase present efficiency in produc- 

 tion. Probably no great change toward more effectiveness per 

 unit of crew effort ;ind resulting curtailment of provluction cost 

 will come until some revolutionary means of catching tuna can be 

 applied in a practical manner, 



THE BffORTANCE OF BAIT, ITS COST, AM D OUTIDOK FOR 

 niPROVELT.NTS IN MAKING BAIT 



The catching of bait is important and costly in the opera- 

 tion of the domestic tuna fleet. There are two methods of demon- 

 strating the importance and necessity of bait to the tuna industry. 

 One is to evaluate the production of raw tuna by United States ves- 

 sels, both as to weight and value, by use of the live-bait method 

 of fishing as contrasted with similar production and value by use 

 of other fishing methods. The second is to show the time, the 

 trouble, and the expense United States vessels must undergo to se- 

 cure bait. The importance and necessity of bait will be consider- 

 ed and analyzed from both of these standpoints. In addition, 

 prospects of improvement in the process of making bait will be 

 considered. 



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