needed to catch a given weight of albacore is half that needed to 

 catch the same wei^t of yellowfin and skipjack, (These estimates 

 were derived frcm conversations with albacore fishermen in the harbor 

 of San Diego o) On these assumptions, the bait-catch ratio for the 

 entire albacore landings wjuld be 1 poixnd of bait to 60 pounds of 

 albacorco 



The availability of bait and the amount used undoubtedly varies 

 from year to year depending on fishing conditions » In considering 

 the estimated bait consumption for 1950t) it should be kept in mind 

 that a record tuna catch was produced in that year and that production 

 by the United States fleet has decUned irtsuceesdipg years. 



Types of Bait and HVhere Found 



The volume of bait indicated is composed of several species of 

 bait fishes, -which are found in various geographic locations o The 

 principal bait varieties commonly used are as follcwss 



Anchovetas ( Cetengraulis mysticetus ) . This bait is preferred 

 by tuna fishermen for long hauls because of its hardiness and ability 

 to withstand crowding in the bait tanks. It will live in all water 

 temperatures encountered in the clipper fleet tuna fishing range, and 

 mil live 2 or 3 months if care is taken to avoid abrupt temperature 

 changes, Anchovetas are found along the Lcwei' Oalifornia coast, the 

 Grilf of California frcni the vicinity of Guaymas southward along the 

 coast of Mexico, the Gulf of Fonseca, and the Gulf of Panama, They 

 also occur on the Columbia coast, vrtiere they are not extensively 

 utilized and reportedly are of inferior survival qualityo In 1950 

 and 1951 they were taken in the Gulf of Guayaquil, but Ecuador has 

 now closed this area to foreign boats. 



California sardines ( Sardinops caerulea ) . These are superior 

 to anchovetas from the standpoint of attracting and chumming tuna, 

 but will not crowd as well as anchovetas in the bait tanks, Cali- 

 fornia sardines are unsuitable for southem trips as they wLll not 

 survive the warmer water. In the winter they may be transported to 

 the Galapagos region by steering an outside course in colder water. 

 They are never satisfactory to transport to Central or South America. 

 They are found along the coast of Californ:.a from the vicinity of 

 San Pedro to the California-Mexico boundary and in Mexican waters on 

 thelDwar California coast and in the G\ilf of California. 



220 



