As the table shows, the composition of the catches at Suo and Takao are quite 

 remarkably different. In the total for both ports sailfiah were most abundant, making up slightly 

 over 40 percent of the total catch, while white marlin were slightly under 30 percent, black 

 marlin slightly under 24 percent, and striped marlin slightly under 6 percent of the whole. 



In the various sea areas toward the center of the Pacific the proportion of white 

 msurlin is very small and that of black marlin and striped marlin is higher. It is believed that 

 this shows that the center of the distribution of white marlin is in the extreme western Pacific 

 and in the adjacent waters of the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, and the Celebes Sea. 



Toward the center of the Pacific Oceaji the striped marlin, black marlin, and 

 broadbill swordfish are most commonly taken. The centers of the distribution of these species 

 appear to be determined principally by latitude. 



o 



The following figure shows the catch rates for each section of 2 of latitude between 



140° and 150° E. 



2.0 



1.5 



H 



2 1.0 



X 



o 



< 

 o 



0.5 



• • TOTAL 



o o STRIPED 



<3 BLACK 



^ BROADBILL 



J J J 



»' i 



CD O 



^ ID 



NORTH LATITUDE 



Figure 31 . --Distribution of spearfish catch rates by 

 latitude (0° to 40 N. , 140° to 1 50° E. ) 



As the figure shows, for the spearfishes as a whole the peaks on the catch rate curve 

 appear at 4 to 6 N. , 14 to 16 N. , 24 to 26 N. , and 32 to 36 N. , or at about every 10 of 

 latitude. There is another fairly conspicuous peak at 37 to 40 N. , but all of these more north- 

 erly peaks are composed of broadbill swordfish so it is doubtful whether they represent separate 

 peaks or not. 



156 



