Hawaiian live-bait fishery the sampan i3 used almost exclusively. 

 Fishing on these vessels can be done in moderately rough seas without 

 difficulty„ These sampans are small compared to the tuna clippers 

 and stay out for only a few days at the mo3t„ They have the speed 

 and maneuverability to cope with the "wild" central Pacific tuna, 

 but because of their small carrying capacity and limited cruising 

 range, they are suitable only when operating near their home baseo 

 If fishing is to be done in such distant areas as the Phoenix or 

 Line islands, problems of fueling and carrying a paying load of fish 

 have to be solvedo This may be accomplished either by building 

 boats with the performance characteristics of sampans but self- 

 contained logistically , or through the use of motherships or bases 

 on the islands, 



CONCLUSIONS 



lo Observations on the reactions, characteristics, and availability 

 of the different species of bait fish indicate that the best all- 

 around baits are the iao (silverside) and the aholehole (mountain 

 bas3)o They are both available at the leeward Hawaiian Islands 

 in fair to large quantities, behave favorably when used as chum, 

 and can stand long-distance transportationo Small mullet are 

 also valuable bait fish. They can stand long-distance trans- 

 portation, attract tuna when they are in good condition, and are 

 one of the most common fish in the Line and Phoenix islands. 

 The nehu (Hawaiian anchovy) and piha (small round herring), 

 which are very good tuna bait, are both too delicate to endure 

 long-distance transportation, and to date have not been found in 

 sufficient quantities either at the Line or Phoenix islands. 

 The goatfish and mollies both were observed to behave in a man- 

 ner not conducive to good live-=bait fishing, 



2, The present results indicate that the best baiting ground in the 

 central Pacific is at the main Hawaiian Islands, where the com- 

 mercial fleet appears to be utilizing the bait stocks nearly to 

 the limit. The best area for future expansion of the baiting 

 grounds appears to be the leeward islands of the Hawaiian group, 

 especially Midway Island, French Frigate Shoals may be another 

 good baiting site, but to date bait has been caught there only 

 in erratically varying quantities. The Phoenix eind Line islands, 

 the area showing the most promise with regard to the yellowfin 

 catch, have less bait than the leeward Hawaiian Islands, Possibly 

 with the development of gear and techniques for baiting in very 

 shallow water and with complete surveys of the various lagoons, 

 particularly those of Christmas and Fanning islands, ample sup-' 

 plies of bait vd.ll be found for a limited fleet of small vessel So 

 It must be realized that the leeward Hawaiian, Line, and Phoenix 

 areas are as yet relatively unexploited and the amount of fishing 

 pressure that the bait stocks can stand is not known, 



18 



