and December. As there are almost no data for the summer, the significsince and character of 

 the area as a fishing ground in sunnnner are not yet known, however, judging by a certain amount 

 of data it appears that the area can hardly be considered a very good ground. 



(c) 170° to 180° E. longitude 



The data from surveys of this area are summarized in table 94. 



Table 94. — Fishing conditions from 170 to 180 E. 

 (30° to 35° N. ) 



The overall average catch rate is slightly more than 8.0. Albacore are most 

 numerous, making up slightly less than 93 percent of the total catch, followed by bigeye tuna. 

 Spearfishes are scarce with a catch rate of less than 0.2. Black tuna and yellowfin are extremely 

 scarce, almost vestigial, the catch of yellowfin being particularly small. The following table 

 shows fishing conditions within this sea area for sections of 2 of longitude. 



Table 95. -- Fishing conditions by 2 sections (30 to 35 

 N. , 170° to 180° E.) 



In a very general way, the table seenns to show sonnewhat of a tendency for black tuna 

 to be more abundant to the westward and scarcer to the eastward. The same tendency was also 

 Been in the area of 160 to 170 E. No differences between sections can be detected in the 

 yellowfin catch. Between 170 auid 176 E. the bigeye tuna catch rates are high in the west and 

 low in the east, and the highest catch rate for this species is between 176 and 178 E. , with re- 

 nnarkably low vadues in the extreme eastern part of the area. The albacore show a clear tend- 

 ency toward higher values in the west and lower values in the east, with a maximum catch rate of 

 10.32 in the extreme western part. The highest speairfish catch rates are between 176 amd 178 

 E., but in generail the local differences in fishing conditions for these fishes are not clear. Table 

 96 shows fishing conditions by nnonths. There are few data for February, but black tuna have 

 been taken only fronn November to January. Yellowfin are recorded for May, June, and 



124 



