Table 25. --Fishing conditions in the South China Sea 



In most of the data there are no records of fishing conditions by species, so the tunas 

 and spearfishes have unavoidably been lun-iped together in this table. The overadl catch rate is, 

 as shown in the table, 4. 58. This value is somewhat below that for the Sulu Sea, and somewhat 

 better than that for the Celebes Sea. Consequently, taking distance into consideration, for 

 vessels based at Takao of these three sea areas the South China Sea is thought to have the great- 

 est value as a fishing ground. It should be thoroughly noted, however, that in this observation 

 no account whatever is taken of seasonal changes in the fishing situation. 



As very few data are available for the season of southwesterly winds, it is difficult 

 to compare fishing conditions in this season with those during the northeasterlies. However, in 

 recent years the spearfish catch has been rather large from May to August, Seasonal changes 

 in the density of occurrence of the various species will be discussed later in the section headed 

 " Distribution of the Tunas as Shown by Catch Rates. " 



In the eairly days of its development, the tuna longline fishery based at Takao used as 

 bait the ginkagami (poito in Formosan), Mene maculata. For this reason the abundance or 

 scarcity of the ginkagami directly controlled the operation of the tuna longline fishery. However, 

 beginning around the end of the Taisho Era (1924) the sabahi , Chanos chanos , gradually came into 

 use and in this way the greatest weakness of the fishery, that is, the bait supply, was taken care 

 of. As is generally known, the sabahi is a fish which is cultured in ponds in southern Formosa. 

 As this fish is cultivated over a broad area not only in Formosa but in the Philippines, Celebes, 

 and Java, it is thought to have an important significance as bait for this fishery in the southern 

 areas, where tuna longline bait is generally scarce. It may be possible to solve the bait problem 

 of the tuna longline fishery based in the various southern areas by utilizing this fish. Tuna long- 

 line fishermen may, by a multiple operation, be able to carry on at the same time the culture of 

 the sabahi aind thus make an even more advantageous solution of their bait problems. 



As was stated earlier, there are a number of shortcomings from the standpoint of 

 weather because of the passage of typhoons and the strength of the seasonal northeast winds, but 

 the South China Sea can probably be said to be a superior fishing ground. The value of this sea 

 area as a fishing ground would be enhanced particularly if it were possible to get a land base 

 somewhere around its shores. 



5. Waters around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (0 to 1 5 S. , 130 to 170 E.) 



That part of the Banda Sea extending from New Guinea to 130 E. longitude has already 

 been discussed in the section on the Banda and Flores seas auid therefore will be omitted here. 



From Januciry to March, when northwesterly winds prevail, the waters off the north 

 coast of New Guinea have a rather conspicuous current flowing from northwest to southeast. 

 This current impinges upon the; island of New Britain, after which it does not appear to maintain 

 a fixed direction of flow. On the east side of New Britain there is a current flowing roughly from 

 northwest to southeast, and in the southern portion of the Solomon Islands there is a current 

 flowing generally southward. Another current flows generally northward along the west side of 



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