FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



43 



TUNA 



Heavy exploitation of the tuna resources marked this biennium. The 

 general expansion of the tuna industry was on a cautious note, however, 

 as prices to the fishermen declined somewhat in January of 1950. After 

 reaching $340 for yellowfin and $320 for skipjack, the price dropped to 

 $310 and $290 respectively Amounts paid for other species were reduced 

 proportionately This was caused by the large holdings of canned tuna at 

 the end of 1949. Apparently the fast expanding industry had at least 

 temporarily supplied the market demand for tuna. Some of the smaller 

 canneries fell victim to this situation and w<u'e caught with no workinu' 

 capital to continue operations until thcur case pack carry-over w^as sold. 

 Larger units in the industi-y with the advantage of national advertising 

 had little difficulty. 



Other items contributed to the anxiety of the industry, such as: 

 relaxation of the Japanese fishing restrictions which permitted ex])ansion 

 to practically the full area which that nation formerly exploited; shi])- 

 ments of tuna and tuna-like fishes from Australia, South America aiul 

 the Central Pacific, besides those from Ja]ian; talk of canneries being 

 built on tlie coast of the (Julf of Mexico; and threatened restriction of 

 bait fishing by Mexico and Central American countries. This was more 

 than a threat in Panama where our vessels were not allowed to take bait 

 for some months. 



The stocks of tuna held good, although long trips to Central America 

 and the (Jalapagos Islands were necessary as tunas on the banks closer 

 to California failed to supply a large quantity of fish. 



The size of the tuna bait fieet increased from 136 vessels and an 

 aggregate of 27,526 gross tons in li)46 to 225 vessels and approximately 

 45,540 gross tons in 1950. in addition to the purse seiners that fish tuna 

 during the spring and summer months, there were about 20 purse seine 

 vessels that jmrsued the tuna for the entire period. 



Throughout the biennium the skipjack and albacore landings in- 

 creased; yellowfin showed a slight decliiK^ in 194!) and the bluefin fishery 



Figure 7. California landing.s of albacore, bluefin, skipjack and yellowfin, 1940-49 



