commercial fishing operations; and (3) to test various fishing meth- 

 ods and equipment slndi to determine the moSt efficient methods for capturLng 

 tuna in commercial quantities. 



The 1951 program was successful, resulting in a total catch of 

 ISOjOOO pounds of bluefin and further demonstrating that tuna in com- 

 mercial quantities inhabit these waters during the summer months. In 

 1952 the exploration was continued, employing long lines and gill nets 

 as the principal fishing equipment. Results obtained were inconclu- 

 sive from a commercial fishing standpoint. The Japanese -style long 

 lines produced excellent individual catches of tuna over a wide area 

 in the Gulf of Maine, but results were inconsistent and the total 

 catch was not large. Many more sharks were caught than tuna. Prelim- 

 inary reports indicate that the 19$2 season was one of the poorest on 

 record from a production standpoint, only 218,000 pounds of tuna being 

 taken in the Cape Cod traps as compared to 800,000 pounds in 1951- This 

 indicates the fluctuating nature of the tuna run in the region, which 

 will be a factor in future development. 



Froni existing evidence, it appears that bluefin are closely asso- 

 ciated with the Gulf Stream. This current flows approximately 300 

 miles off the New England coast, southeast of the important fishing 

 grounds from Georges Bank to the Grand Banks. Lying outside of the 

 regular fishing grounds, these waters are seldom visited by the ccxnnser- 

 cial fishing fleet, and it is quite possible that bluefin stocks are 

 in abundance in this offshore area for a part of the year, at least, 

 and are available for exploitation. 



Live bait tuna fishing or "poling", practiced by Pacific coast 

 tuna clippers, has never been tried on the Atlantic coast. Good catches 

 of mediiam-sized bluefin have been made in recent years by trawl fish- 

 ermen in the Gulf of Maine using hand lines and fresh herring and 

 mackerel for bait. Catches were incidental to regular fishing opera- 

 tions. In 1951 over 140,000 pounds of bluefin were caught on hand 

 lines by otter-trawl fishermen and marketed in Gloucester and Boston. 

 Chum made from ground herring has been used succes'^fully in attracting 

 and holding bluefin schools alongside fishing craft. 



For a number of years, little tuna have been taken in fair amounts 

 in ocean pound nets in late summer and early fall off the coasts of 

 New York and New Jersey. No organized commercial fishery for the spec- 

 ies has ever been maintained, and it has usually been takeni along with 

 other species of fish. Landings have also been made at irregular 

 intervals all aloi^g the Atlantic coast south of Cape Cod by trolling 



246 



