water with the outside, and it appears possible that a considerable amount 

 of the organic matter present off the reef area is produced on and inside 

 •the reef. The region directly be^'ond the reef is another ecological sub- 

 division, distinct in character from the oceanic water at greater distances 

 from the shore. How far the near-shore effects reach is unknown. Simi- 

 larly, it is not known if the off-shore waters are uniform or if variable 

 conditions related to external influences such as variable winds or 

 upwelling are commonly encountered. A brief outline of the programme 

 contemplated at the Hawaii Marine Laboratory is outlined in Pacific 

 Science (Hiatt, 1948, 67). 



The Hawaiian Tuna Packers Corporation is entering the field of 

 fundamental oceanographic research where results are likely to lead to 

 immediate applications beneficial to the industry. Scheduled for installa- 

 tion on their research vessel in the very near future is a submarine 

 detector unit and oscilloscope with which they plan to study the sounds 

 made by skin friction of pelagic fish. This apparatus will record 

 vibrations up to 100,000 cycles, and it is hoped that sufficient differentia- 

 tion can be observed between the several species of tuna and other tuna- 

 like fish so that the detection of individual species by the oscilloscope 

 record will be possible. The practical applications of such a device are 

 obvious where at least four species of tuna occur, some of which are much 

 more desirable than others. 



A second project of great significance involves the use of sonic means 

 to herd fish either b}' repelling or attracting them. Considerable data on 

 the response of fresh-water fish to sounds of various frequencies are 

 available, but to my knowledge little or nothing is known about this 

 phase of behaviour of pelagic species. . 



Interaction of Biological Processes and Their Controlling Factors. — 

 Experience of the last few years has demonstrated conclusively that 

 fundamental oceanic biology, concerned with the interaction of biological 

 processes and the m^ultiple controlling factors involved in the production, 

 distribution, and fluctuation of marine populations requires the combined 

 efforts of a group of experienced investigators participating in a carefully 

 co-ordinated programme of basic research. A programme of this nature 

 forms the essential liasion between physical oceanography and fisheries 

 biology, but distinct in scope and in personnel requirements. Results 

 of such studies provide the basis for regional productivity, a subject 

 grossly misunderstood in tropical and subtropical oceanic waters. 



An investigation of the production of food by plankton in Hawaiian 

 waters was initiated this year by oceanographers at the University 

 of Hawaii in co-operation with fishery biologists at the Universit}^ and the 

 Division of Fish and Game. Further co-operation and considerable 

 expansion of the programme is anticipated when the staff of the Pacific 

 Oceanic Fishery Investigation is established at the University. The over- 

 all objective of the study is to analyse the production of food, by plankton, 

 for higher animals in both the neritic and oceanic provinces of the sea 

 adjacent to Hawaii as related to the complete environment. First, an 

 investigation of the zoo-plankton production involving both qualitative 

 and quantitative studies will be made, with the latter aspect resolved 

 in terms of organic material per unit volume of water. The study will 

 embrace the food chains consisting of microplankton, macroplankton, 

 and the food of fish as related to geographic, seasonal, and bathymetric 



174 



