o o 



Table 56. --Fishing conditions by months (20 to 25 N. 



140° to 150° E.) 



The overall catch rate for all species reaches its mciximum for the year in January 

 with slightly under 4. 5. The principal element in the catch is the spearfishes. There is a second 

 peak when the catch rate increases from June to August. Here, too, the principal component of 

 the catch is spearfishes. Yellowfin are most abundant in November and December, and their 

 catch rate again increases in June to August. The bigeye tuna increase and decrease in roughly 

 the sajme manner as the yellowfin, with their highest catch rate in January. No very regular 

 change* in fishing conditions for albacore can be seen, but there are rather high catch rates in 

 January, June, and September. Spearfishes are most abundant in December and January with 

 fairly high catch rates also shown for the period from May through August. 



Table 57 shows the situation for the area of 25 to 30 N. The overall total catch 

 rale is at its majdmum in January with slightly less them 11 percent. The greater part of the 

 catch is albacore, other species being extremely scarce. From May through July the catch 

 rates increase, with a catch rate of 4.57 in May. The principal species at this tinne are spear- 

 fishes, the other species being extraordinarily scarce. Some black tuna are taken in May and 

 June. At other seasons there is a record of only one of this species in February. Yellowfin in- 

 crease somewhat from May through August and from October through December, with the peaks 

 in the catch rates in July and November. Bigeye tuna show roughly the came pattern of increase 

 and decrease as the yellowfin, but the peak in the catch rates appearing in the summer is not very 

 pronounced. Albacore are abundant from January through March, particularly in January, when 

 the catch rate goes above 10.0. In the summer they are taken only very rarely. The principal 

 fishing season for the spearfishes is from April through July. 



Comparing tables 56 and 57, although there are differences in the values for the 

 catch rates, the trends of increase and decrease are in good agreement. However, the conspic- 

 uous increase in the spearfishes shown for January in table 56 does not appear in table 57. 



Comparing the area of 25 to 30 N. , 



130 to 140 E. shown in table 52 with the area 



shown in table 57, the patterns of changes in fishing conditions from month to month for each 

 species, excepting the black tuna, are in extrennely good agreement. The black tuna for the area 

 shown in table 52 has a high catch rate from December through March. At this season in the area 

 shown in table 57 almost none of this species are taken. It is thought worthy of note that from 

 April through June, from the waters of the Okinawan archipelago on the west eastward to this 

 sea area, black tuna are taken everywhere. 



91 



