Table 16. --Fishing situation by seasons (waters of 

 Timor and the Lesser Sunda Islands) 



Note: Southeasterly winds -- April to September 

 Northwesterly winds-- October to March 



There are very few data available for the season of northwesterly winds so a comparison is 

 difficult, but within the scope of the data the fishing is better during the southeasterlies . 



During the season of northwesterly winds the catch rates are at their highest around 

 November, falling off rather sharply from December on. However, as stated earlier, this view 

 is based on scanty data amd therefore it is difficult to determine whether or not this is actually 

 the case without further amplifying the data. If there is such a change in the fishing situation, 

 its cause may be thought to be the change in the currents which acconnpanies the change of 

 season. As we have no data, we know nothing of the changes in the fishing situation after the 

 first part of December. 



The yellowfin is the most numerous species in the catch, making up somewhat less 

 than 90 percent of all tunas and spearfishes. The size of the fish appears to be generally larger, 

 most of them weighing about 48 to 55 kilograms. Of course, fish of 20 to 40 kilogranns are also 

 taken, but they are proportionately few, axid the average weight appears to be between 48 and 50 

 kilograms. Next to the yellowfin the spearfishes are most numerous, and bigeye tuna are 

 scarce. The catch rates for the species are markedly lower than those of the coastal waters of 

 Sumatra. However, it must be noted that these observations are based on investigations covering 

 an extremely short period of time. The catch rate for sharks is about 1. 5, a usual value for the 

 tropics. 



As regards the size of the yellowfin and the frequency of occurrence of bigeye tuna 

 and spearfishes this area more closely resembles the adjacent Banda Sea and Flores Sea Jirea 

 to the north than the various sea areas adjoining it on the west. In other words, the size and 

 connposition of the catch appear to be close to those found in the Banda Sea area. It is inferred 

 that this sort of phenomenon provides a hint as to the migratory route of the schools which 

 migrate into this area, however, there are no data available which would show this relationship 

 between them concretely. Consequently, it might be thought that this was a mere chance agree- 

 ment, but a consideration of the pattern of ocean currents mjikes the foregoing inference seem 

 reasonable. The following table provides a comparison of fishing conditions, catch composition, 

 eind the size of yellowfin tuna in this sea area and in the various areas of the Indian Ocejin region, 

 the Banda Sea, and the Flores Sea. 



This area is sometimes visited by rough weather during the season of southeasterly 

 winds, but in general throughout the year it is calm and it is believed that there is hardly ever 

 ciny weather such as would interfere with operations. The nnigrational patterns of the schools are 

 not as yet understood, but within the scope of the investigations which have been made it is 

 probable that this can be called an excellent fishing ground. 



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