SURVEY OF THE FISHERIES OF THE FORMER JAPANESE MANDATED ISLANDS FISHERY LEAFLET 2 7 3 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FORMER JAPANESE MANDATED ISLANDS FISHERY LEAFLET 2 7 3 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR '^4m-^-j:!:^^^m •^~^.i'j '^^.z Si,--"'..- ■^'Sf--«^'*aA-Si? fy.Tf:''- FOREVraRD This survey of the fisheries of the former Japanese mandated islands of the Pacific Ocean was a part of the general economic siirvey iindertaken by the Pacific Ocean Division of the United States CoLinercial Co.'i^jany, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, at the requfest of the Navy Department. Shortly after the close of hostilities in the Pacific, the Navy recognized that its responsibility for administering the I^rianas, Carolines, and L'.arshalls , extended beyond the mere establishment of law and order, or even the physical rehabilitation of v.ar-tom areas. By and large, the ticronesians v.'ere not enemy aliens, but rather innocent bystanders who had suffered heavy losses in life and property through no fault of their own. For the most part, they v.'ere eager to adopt the American way of life, including radios, movies, motor boats and vehicles. Viewed in the cold light of economic realism, it is obvious that the majority of these rosy dreams are impossible of fulfillment, Vne hard fact is that in the end, their relative prosperity depends on the movement of their own materials or products to world markets, with an accompanying return flow of goods and manu- factured articles. Otherwise, we must assume that the native population will be kept in much the same status as the bison of Yey.owstone Park. The foremost question then is what natural resources exist for heme consump- tion and for export. It was to answer this question, so long shrouded in secrecy by the Japanese, that the Economic Survey was undertaken. Originally", it was intended that all reports of sxirvey specialists would be published in a single coordinated series, with a general introduction to provide the background material for all.. That plan having been abandoned, it was necessary to add" some general information to the Fisheries report. Also, it has not been possible to incorporate in tliis report the data on local fisheries of Truk, Ponape, and the Marshall Islands, collected by economists assigned to those areas. In order that the results of the fisheries survey might be made available to the public at the earliest moment, a condensed version was published by the Fish and vrildlife Service under the title "Fishery Resources of Micronesia", Fishery Xeaflet No. 239, tlay, 19^7. The present paper now supersedes Jishery Leaflet 239, and contains all of the data on which the condensed version was based. It is a pleasure to acknowledge indebtedness for many services rendered by personnel of the U. S. Coianeroial Company, Economic Surve'y,-and Naval IJilitary Government in Washington and the field, and by the Director and staff of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu. last, but not least, the author wishes to congratulate himself for having as assistant, Ujr. Anthony Aki, of Honolulu, master swimmer, diver, and throw-net fisherman, wlio not only did ain excellent job of field collecting, but also accon^jlished wonders with limited galley equipment. TABLE OF CONTEIilTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 A. General Description of the Area 1 B. Scope and Methods of the Survey 2 Part I FIELD SUKVETS BY ISLAND GROUPS 5 I. THE ;.:arskall islands RALIK CHAIN 5 A. Eniwetok Atoll 5 3. Kwajalein 7 C. Ailinglaplap 7 D. Jaluit Atoll 10 RATAK CHAIN 13 A. Likiep 13 B. Majuro Atoll 13 II. THE CAROLINE ISLANDS 18 A. Kusaie Island 18 B. Ponape Island 20 0. Nukuoro Atoll 24 D. Kapingamarangi Atoll 25 E. Truk Islands .30 F. Palau Islands 39 1. Peleliu 39 2. Koror ' 39 3. Kayangel Islands 4-8 HI. THE imOAM. ISUNDS 50 A. Saipan Island 50 B. Tinian Island 52 C. Rota Island 55 D. Guam Island 56 Part II DESCRIPTION OF TOE FISHERIES 58 INTRODUCE ON ' 58 I. BONITO INDUSTRY ' 59 A. Statistics of the Bonito Fishery 59 B . The Japanese Bonito Fishery 64 C. Native Bonito Fishery on Saipan 64 D. Preparation of Dried Bonito Stick- Japanese Method 69 11 Page II. 1HE JAPANESE TUNA KISHERY 70 III. SPONGE CDLTOEE 70 A. Native Sponges 70 B. Japanese Sponge Culture at Ailinglaplap 71 IV. PEARL SHELLS 72 A. Distribution of Pearl Shells 72 B. Japanese Pearl Culture at Ebon 73 ^V. SEA CUCUMBERS (TREPAHG) 73 VI. TROCHUS SHKIIS 75 VII. FISHERIES OF TRUK 75 A. Information on Pre-war Fishery ?5 B . Trepang Fishery at Truk 76 C. Trochus Shell Fishery at Truk 76 VIII. SAIPAN BEACH SEINING 78 IX. SEA TURTLES 79 X. POISON FISH ' 79 Part III SUMMARY AND RECOifllENDATIONS 82 A. SUMMARI 82 1. General Summary 82 2. Information on Fishing Supplies 82 3. Construction of Native Vessels 83 B. RECOMMENDATIONS 83 1. Immediate 83 2. Subsequent • 85 C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GUAM FISHERIES 88 1. Commercial and Sport Fishing 88 2. Fishing Vessels 88 3. Special Fishing Regulations 88 4.. Japanese Fishing Hampered by Sharks 88 Part IV NATIVE NAMES REUTING TO THE FISHERIES 89 REFERBJCES 98 INDEX 100 iii Figure 1... Tinian. Spreading a H ft. throw-net from a coral reef. June 194.6. IV ILLUSTRATIONS FJKure Page 1 Tinian . Spreading a lA. foot throrz-net . June, 194.6 iv 2 Kusaie. Hand net (Epino) used by women. August, 194-6 8 3 Jaluit. Paddling and sailing canoes. August, I94fa 8 A Uajuro. Short spear. August, 1946 14 5 Jaluit. Sailing canoe. August, 1946 14 6 Kusaie. Trolling (heavy) and still-fishing lines. August, 1946 ... 14 7 Kusaie. Throw-net. August, 1946 16 8 Kusaie. Uethod of holding throw-net. August, 1946 16 9 Kusaie. Paddling canoe. August, 1946 16 10 Kusaie. 4-prong spear. August, 1946 17 11 Kusaie . Samoan Crab (Scj[lla serrata) . August, 1946 17 12 Kapingamarangi . Canoe house, lagoon side. August, 1946 26 13 I'fuicuoro. Paddling canoe. August, 1946 26 14 Kapingamarangi. Fish spear. August, 1946 26 15 Kapingamarangi. Stone fish trap, low tide. August, 194-6 27 16 Kapingamarangi. Sailing canoes. August, 1946 27 17 Kapingamarangi. Paddling canoe and scoop-net for flying fish. August, 1946 28 18 Kapingamarangi. Detail of fish traps . August, 1946 28 19 Truk. Short fish spear, liay, 1946 31 20 Pailaus. Terrain between Koror and Pelelieu. July, 1946 37 21 Palaus. Typical undercut cliffs on islands between Koror and Pelelieu. July, 1946 37 22 Palaus. Koror Island. Site of Japanese Marine Fisheries Experiment Station. July, 1946 38 23 Palaus, Koror. Bombed Japanese biridge blocking navigation. July, 1946 38 24 Palaus. Koror Island. Giant clam shell. July, 1946 40 25 Palaus. Near Koror. Spear fishing inside barrier reef. July, 1946 i 40 26 Palaus. Koror Island. Paddling canoe. July, 1946 40 27 Palaus. Koror Island. Spiny Lobsters. July, 1946 41 28 Palaus. Near Koror Island. One man's catch, tiro hours of spear fishing. July, 1946 41 29 Palaus. Near Koror Island. 25 pound blue wrasse from outer reef. Taken vdth spears. July, 1946 41 30 Palaus. Koror Island. Bonito and Crevalle taken on spoon, July, 1946 43 31 Palaus, Koror Island. Types of trepang produced by natives. July, 1946 43 32 Palaus, Koror Island. Ekiuipment for culturing pearls, July, 1946 44 33 Palaus, Koror Island. Baskets holding black-lip oysters for pearl culture . July, 1946 44 34 Palaus. Kayangel Island. Jig made from stalk of spider lily. July, 1946 47 35 Rota. Area between shore and fringing reef. Low tide. June, 1946. 47 36 Guam. Blue wrasse taken with surround net, near Merizo. June, 1946 57 37 Truk . Japanese fishing sampan-. Uay, 1946 62 ILLUSTRATIONS (Continued) FJKure Page 38 Saipan. Eonito fishing. No. 1, Laying out live-bait net. June, 19A6 -. 63 39 2. Driving live-bait into net. June, 19^6 63 40 3« Drying-up live bait net. June, 1946 65 41 4. Bailing live-bait from net to tanks. June, 1946 65 42 5» Detail of live-bait and tanks, June, 1946 65 43 6, Salt water sprayer. June, 1946 . 66 U. 7. Method of fishing. June, 1946 .. 66 45 Ailihglaplap. Anchor and float for sponge culture. August, 1946 . 71 46 Truk. Native produced Trepang (dried sea-cumbers) August, 1946 ... 74 47 Truk. Trociius shells. May, 1946 74 48 Saipan. Beach seining No. 1. Setting net. June, 1946 77 49 2. Hauling net. June, 1946 77 50 3« Catch (mostly 4 to 5 inch goat- fish) June, 1946 78 MAPS The Mandated Area Facing 1 Ehiwetok Atoll, Marshalls Facing 5 Ailinglaplap Atoll, Marshalls 6 Kvjajalein Atoll, Marshalls Facing 7 Jaluit Atoll, Marshalls 9 Liklep Atoll, Marshalls k 1^ Majuro Atoll, Marshalls 1^ Kusale Island, Carolines IV Ponape Island, Carolines ^9 Nxikuoro Atoll, Carolines 23 Kapingama rangi Atoll, Carolines 23 Truk Group, Carolines 29 Kuop Atoll, Carolines 31 Palaus, General chart, Carolines 34 PeLLaus, No. 1, Kayangel Islands 34 Palaus, No. 2, Babelthuap Island 35 Palaus, No. 3, Koror to Felelieu 36 Saipan, Marianas ^9 Tinian, Marianas .' ^1 Rota, Marianeis 53 Guam, Marianas 54 Figure TABLES 1 Bonito Catch - Japanese Mandate Islands, 1934-41 ^0 2 Prices of Fresh Bonito, 1934-41 ^0 3 Vfeight Relation, Eonito Sticks to Fresh Bonito 60 4 Number of Fishing Vessels in the Mandate Islands, 1937 61 5 1941 Catch L Production - Mandated Islands 61 vi 135° DAITO SHIMA 140° _l 145° 15 0° _J 155° BONIN (OGASAWARA) ISLANDS , . ■■ PARRY Group (Mukoshimo Rello) Rosorio L (Nishino) ' ■ BEECHEY Group(Chichishima Rello) •BAILEY or COFFIN Group(Hah05himo Rello) . Kilo loo Shima * two Shima 'Mlnoml IwoShlmo VOLCANO (KAZAN) ISLANDS 160° I 165° 100 170° 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 STATUTE MILES MARIANA I S LANDS UrocGS or Forollon de Pojoros . Moug • Asuncion . Agrihon >Pagan .Aiomagon ■ Gugu on . Sangan • Anolohon - Forollon deMedinillo June 8-10 Tinion /^oipon June 11-18 Aguijon -Rolo June 29- July 3 • Guom June 6-7_ 21-23 • Sonta Rosa Reef PALAU . Pulo Anno ■ Merir TobI ' Helen Peel / Yop ■ -JNgulu , , Kayang»i;'July 19-20 -So'o' ^yBobellhuop July 6-26 •Goferul . Foroulep WesiFoyu. .Pikelol Olif^,o/o,o- .Lomolrek , Pulop HALL „ ^ . ,-. Eosi Mgriio May 22-June 5 Nomonuilo .» Foyii, ^.'J Nomwin . Minio Reel -'Ifolik 'Angour Eoufipik Elolo'S"'"""' 'Puluwot ■ Pulusuk Kuop' TRUK f. Noma 'Losop Nomoluk , NOMOI Eial ,■ - Lukunor SolQwon ■' Oroluk MARSHALL May 12-17 '.''■• Eniwetok Toongi ISL ANDS RALIK .BikorRATAK .....Bikini Rorqelop ..;■' . r? (.Rongerik , Ulirik Ailinginoe--- - " Toko <■- ■ Ujelong Aug. 1^-17" «°"'° UJoe', Kwojolein 'Loe .Lib Pokin. PONAPE Aug. 8-13 Anr 'Mokil • Pingeiop Ngolik C A R 0 LINE ■ Kusaie Aug. 19-21 Jemo « -Meill r.-.Lik.op Aug. 29-30 ,- wolje 'lErikub :")Motoelop ■■5,Nomu ^'"•^ .,,-,.' ; Jobwol Allinglopdap;--:' Aug. 25-26 Aug. 27-23 ...joluit ,.,Mni Nomorik. -kiI-^^^' 23-H ;. Ebon * Nukuoro Aug. 6 ISLANDS "'«^ , Mopio New Gu i nea Koptngomarongi Aug. ^-5 G I LBER T ISLANDS ADMIRALTY ISLANDS Monus Bulorifor i rp (Mo km) Morokei Aboiong'- ,\ Torowa Moiono. Abemomo . Kurio " ■ Aronuko J a n Nonouli "^'i Tobiteueo NewHonover 150* :^^ (U, S C. C Economic Survey) 19/i ^ ■ • ■ 1 r- — I — 160° United States Department of the Interior, J. A. Krug, Secretary- Fish and vaidlife Service, Albert M. Day, Director Fishery Leaflet 273 Washington 25, D. C. October 194.7 SURVEY OF THE FISHERIES OF THE FORMER JAPANESE liANDATED ISLANDS By Robert 0. Smith Aqiiatlc Biologist, Office of Foreign Activities, Fish and Wildlife Service. INTRODUCTION A. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA In evaluating the fisheries resources of the former Japanese Mandated Islands of Uicrcnesia, two facts must be kept in mind. The first is that a relatively small amount of land (902.5 sq. mi.) is widely distributed over a considerable area of the central north Pacific Ocean. The second fact is that we are dealing here with a total native population of only 70,000 people. On a ccmparative scale, the land area is 3A that of Rhode Island and the total native population is about XJL. that of Honolulu. Only by consta itly keeping these two facts in mind can we maintain a realistic approach to the problems involved. The Japanese mandate comprised all of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands, with the exception of Guam, w^.ich had, of course, been United States Territory under the Jurisdiction of a naval governor since the Spanish-American war. These island groups contain more than 2,100 islands and islets of varying sizes, extending over a total area of ocean approximately the size of the United States (see General Map). Tbe native popu- lation is not distributed evenly throughout this area, but tends to concentrate at a few points. Vi'e must also avoid a tendency to confuse the Japanese exploitation of the commercial fisheries with the subsistence fishing of the native population. Except in a very few places (Palaus, Saipain, Truk, Ponape) where there was a large Japanese commercial fishery from Wiich small amounts of surplus catch were funneled off to the natives, the basic pattern of native subsistence fishing remains approximately the same now as it did prior to the Japanese mandate. Neither the Spanish nor the German regimes, which preceded the Japanese, could profitably use in their economy the fishery products from Micronesia, and so made no effort to exploit them. Exports were limited to small amounts of trochus, p^arl, and tortoise shells . Under Japanese mandate the decade from 1920 to 1930 was one of general inquiry to determine the kinds of marine resources present. Actual production for export to Japan was negligible. Beginning with 1930, the tonnage exported to Japan increased steadily until halted by the imminence of war. Highest production of bonito was apparently in 1937, when over 75,000,000 pounds were produced. Insofar as the abundance of fish is concerned, there is reason to believe that production had not reached a maximum. Exported processed food products consisted chiefly of dried bonito, dried tuna, canned fish, and trepang, amounting altogether in 1937 to slightly over 6,000 metric tons. Compared with total production in the Japanese Bnpire, fisheries products from the mandated area were valued at less than two percent. The natives had little part in this developing industry. Okinawan fishermen manned the fishing vessels and Japanese operated processing plants and facilities on shore. There is no record of a native crew being permitted to operate a Japanese fishing vessel in the offshore fishery. After the outbreak of war the natives were not allowed to go outside the lagoons . However, the important place of sea foods in the native diet can scarcely be over- emphasized. It is the beef and pork of Micronesia. Even at the highest levels of meat production ■rtiich existed prior to the war, fish was the main protein, eaten at least once daily, generally oftener. Chicken and pig, though fairly abundant were mostly eaten at feasts. Shortages brought "on by the war, mainly Japanese inability to replenish their own supplies, have now reduced the live stock to so low a number that in most places, even feasts depend largely on sea food. It is not surprising that this should be so, for nonnally fish and shell-fish are easily taken on the flat, shallow reefs along shore; on the barrier and fringing reefs around the islands, and in the lagoons of atolls. The supply has always been available in retiim for a few hours of pleaseuit recreation, needs no cultivation, and is even frequently eaten raw, eliminating the labor of preparation. ■Riis happy conditicoi has been badly affected by war. Native canoes were destroyed by Japanese to prev«it escape or contact with United States forces. Almost every family formerly had one canoe, often more. Without water transportation, fishing is limited to the shoreline^ where the catch is mostly small iamiature fish and shell fish. The greatest shortage is in the Palaus, where only 80 canoes were left out of 1500. A second and equally serious shortage exists in fishing supplies, and this is vmiversal in the ex-mandate. Formerly, large quantities of Japanese hooks, feather lures, jigs, nets, seine twine and fish line were obtainable. Stocks on hand have been exhausted and American supplies have been slow in coming, the third factor limiting native subsistence fishing is reduction of fish and shell fish on inshore reefs by Japanese dynamiting. Many Japanese garidsons found it necessary to procure sea food to offset food shortages when their supply lines were cut. The most efficient method of capture for them was use of explosives. Though no permanent damage should ]-esult, temporary fish and shell fish shortages exist which are aggravated by the shortages of vessels and supplies mentioned above. Another point worthy of mention is that except in the Palaus, various species of fish are poisonous in varying degrees from slightly to deadly. Natives, of course, know the edible quality of each fiph in their home waters, and fish poisonings more severe than moderate gastric disturbances are rare. B. SCOPE AND METHCDS OF THE SURVEI. The primary pxirpose of the Econanic Survey was to promote the welfare of the native population. The Survey was expected to establish a factual background for use by adminis- trative officers. In order to accomplish this, the study of fishery resouirces was divided into two main categories, the first consisting of what may be called day to day, or subsistence fishing, mainly carried on inside the barrier reefsj iriiile the second is offshore, or commercial fishing, of a magnitude much greater than required for the support of the local population. For its full development, this type of fishing demands an investment in ves- sels, equipment, and shore facilities far beyond the means of the natives to provide, consequently less time was devoted to it during the survey. Emphasis has been placed on describing local conditions at each island visited, the most abundant kinds of sea-food and sea-products present, the boats and fishing gear owned, and the mehtods used in sub- sistence fishing. Shortages in food, equipment and supplies have been noted with recom- mendations. Sxiggestions have been made for conservation measures as seemed to be required in the light of present knowledge. Field work extended over the period May 2-August 31, 19^6. Unless otherwise indicated, all dates or references to time should be understood to fall within the above limits. An LCI (Landing Craft Infantry No. 983) was made available by the Navy for transpor- tation of the Survey party, and this was used between Pearl Harbor and Truk, via Eniwetok, on the outgoing trip, and inbound from Truk to Kwajalein, via Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro, Ponape, Kusaie, Jaluit, Ailinglaplap, liajuro and Likiep. Elsewhere, travel was by Naval Air Transport Service, Points reached, and dates of arrival and departure, are shown on the general map facing page 1. In the Field Survey section, locsLI charts are marked to show the localities examined and fishing methods used. Since much of the travel between islands and island groups was by plane, fishing equipment was limited to hand lines, feather lures, spoons, spears and throw-nets, with a total weight of 80 pounds. This gear was satisfactory, as the natives had seines for use at the relatively few places such fishing was possible. At each point visited, information on the fisheries was collected in two ways: by interviews with fishermen, chiefs, scribes, and any other persons having a knowledge of local conditions, past and presentj and by examination of as many fishing localities as time permitted. Where stops were of only two days duration, one was spent ashore holding conferences and examining lishing gear, v/hile the other v;as devoted to fishing. Btirrier and fringing reefs on the seaward side, and reefs on the lagoon side of islands were examined by diving; on shallow flats, throw-nets and hand picking were used; battle lanterns were used under water at night for examining both reefs and flats in depths not over two fathoms; trolling was done in lagoons, passes, and just outside the breakers of barrier and fringing reefs. Locsil transportation usually was by out-rigger canoe, vdth fishermen as guides and assistants. Additional information was obtained from the area economists of the survey, who made intensive studies of limited portions of the ex-r.ianaate . Because of the extensive collections of Hiarine organisms already made by Operation Crossroads, and others, museum collecting was omitted from the agenda of this survey, but it could not have been done anyway without curtailing more important phases of the program. An unsuccessful attempt was made to bring back seme specimens in a home-type quick freezer. ITINERAJil May. 19A6 2 1200 Left Pearl Harbor on LCI (L) 983 12 Arrived Eniwetok, Northwest Marshalls 17 Left Eniwetok (LCI) 22 Arrived Truk, Central Carolines June 5 Truk to Guam (by air - R5D) 7 Guam to Saipan by air (Marianas) 7 To Tinian by boat 8-9 On Tinian (Marianas) 10 Tinian to Saipan by boat 11-18 Saipan (Marianas) 19 Saipan to Guam by air 20-28 Guam (Marianas) 28 Guam to Rota by air 29-30 On Rota (Marianas) July 1-3 On Rota (Marianas) 4.-5 Guam awaiting transportation to Palaus 5 Guam to Pelelieu by air 6-26 Palaus and Kayangel Ids. (Western Carolines) 27 Pelelieu to Guam by air 29 Guam to Truk by air 30-31 Truk (Central Carolines) August 1-2 Truk 2 Truk to Kapingamarangi by LCI A-5 Kapingamarangi (LCI) (Southeastern Carolines) 6 Nukuoro (LCI) 8-13 Ponape LCI (Eastern Carolines) 16-17 Kwajalein to refuel (LCI) (Central Marshalls) 19-21 Kusaie (Eastern Carolines) (LCI) 23-24 Jaluit (Southern Marshalls) (LCI) 25-26 Ailinglaplap (Southern Marshalls) (LCI) 27-28 Majuro (Southern Marshalls) (LCI) 29-30 lAkiep (East Central Marshalls) (LCI) 31 Kwajalein (LCI) Arrived 1000 31 Left Kwajalein by NATS for Honolulu 2300 31 Arrived Honolulu 1300 4 I I 40" JS" V/ejt Sp.t • ll*30' .2 0' 162* 5" 10' 19' 20' 29' CBoho., I, ..18 r..ay 'T-D-S Mu.imbia.r.hKu. I ^ K.r„„;,v, I '■^. •3". I^°4 So«*.(V> v«/«l»t P«.»s«.3« % G*r iitMVn 16 May ^jp'"r^^' I T-D-S .Ru.«,t I ENIWETOK 10 12 3 4 Stotutl Miltt H-Handline T-Throw Net D-Diving S-Spearing 40 15 May T \, ' I L. I62»9' -1 I 10' 19' Anchorage O 10' An>yft.«.VMi 1 Deep Enlrdnc* U S.C.C. Sarvty 3S' ll«30 . PART I TI'ELD SURVEIS BY ISUND GROUPS I. ffiE MARSHALL ISLAIIDS RALIK CHAIN A. ENrA-BTOK ATOLL (Population 139 - 19^6) (Ifeiy l-i-18) There was no opportunity to troll offshore during the stay at Eniv/etok, and in any case it is believed that the status of offshore fisheries will have been determined very thoroughly by the fishery scientists attached to Operations Crossroads. Both reef and inshore fishes were very abundant throughout the atoll, so that the small nuBiber of n§.tives i^ere not likely to exhaust the supply with the methods of fishing available to them. As an exan^le of the abundance of fish generally present, 81 goatfish (Ifalloid- i chthys auriflajima Forskal) were taken vath one cast of the lA-foot radius throw net. These weighed approximately half a pound each. On another throw with the 12-foot radius net, threadfish (Polydactylus sexfilis) and four mullet (Mugil cephalus ) were taken. These catches were made on the seaward side of Igurin Island, between the fringing reef and shore, in depths of one to two feet. Small black-tioped sand sharks (Su lamia melanopterus) , two to five feet in length, were common in shallow water. Also abundant were small orange-striped crabs (Grapsus grapsus tenuicrustatus). These crabs were boiled and eaten by the Marshallese. From the number of empty shells observed, it is evident that the spiny lobster or crawfish (Panulirus marginatus Quoy & Gaimard) is abundant in the area. On account of the coral heads, beach seining would be impossible. There were places, however, where a type of surround net could be used. On the lagoon side of Japtan Island there was a fairly flat coral ledge, suitable for throw-netting (Fig. 1), but too rough for beach seining. There were no edible seaweeds (Codium sp.j Gracilaria sp.; Laurencia sp.) on either Japtan or Igurin Islands. A few small bait fish, an anchovy of the kind called "nehu" in Hawaii (Anchoviella purpureus ) . were seen around the islands, but not in sufficient quantity to supply a commercial fishery. In place of these, the very abundant small goat- fish could be, used. Several species of small decorative shells were common in shallow water under rocks along the shores of all of those islands of the atoll. The commonest ones were the "monkqr face" ( Cypraea moneta). The "gold ringer" (Pustularia annulus) and the "strawberry" or "bleeding heart" (Pustularia (Erosaria) Helvola). Several species of cowries, particular- ly the tiger shell (Cypraea 'tigris ) and Cypraea caputsei-pentis were abundant on the ocean side of the reefs. The small shells mentioned provide an income to the natives, who make them into necklaces, bracelets, and head bands for sale to militarj- and civilian personnel; the prices charged by the natives range from a dollar, for a necklace made of the monkey face, to ?^2,00 for one of gold ringer, and $5,00 for one of the bleeding heart or straw- berry.. The tiger cowrie shells are generally sold for 25 cents each. All of the natives were concentrated on Aomon Island. Svibsequently, they were moved away as a safety precaution in preparation for the first test of the atomic bomb. Two species of the giant clam ( Tridacna rfigas- and Tridacna elongata) are abundant and are eaten by the natives — usually raw, but sometimes made into chowder. In addition to the species already mentioned, the natives obtain and eat in quantity rudderfish (Kyphosus sp.), several species of goat-fish (Mulloidi chthys sp.) and (Pseudupeneus sp.), trigger fish (Balistes & Balistapus sp.), surgeon fish (Hepatus sp.), and octopi (Polypus sp,). a. < < a. < CO -H G.hh I N.nn. 1 KWAJALEIN Slolur* H.III ,«y<.b-g."r^ At the eastern end of Piiraai Island there is a native coral stone semi-circular fish trap into wtiich the natives drive schools of goat-fish and other small species. In view of the abundance of fish and shell fish around Eniwetok, it seems unnecessary to recommend any change or attempted improvement in native fishing methods, as they are able to supply subsistence needs by only an hour or so of fishing per day. Several of the natives were given an opportunity to use the sling type spear of Hawaiian design and also our large throw nets, but other than the novelty of it, they did not appear to be interested. Their own spears are homemade, without barbs, and are set in a wood handle, the overall length of spear and handle being between six and seven feet. They do not have throw nets. Fish hooks were very scarce. B. Kft'AJALEIN (Population 751 - 1%6) (August 16-17) The islands of this low and sandy atoll resemble Eiiiwetok very much in having an abundance of fish on both the lagoon and seaward in shallow waters. Small goat-fish (Pseudupeneus) up t-o eight inches and striped surgeon fish (Hepatus triostegus). about seven inches long, are very abundant and easily taken with throw nets. Outside the reef, cr«valle (Caramc sp.), up to ten pounds, are also quite common, but wild. They could be taken by trolling or handlining just outside the breakers. At the time of the survey, there was not even subsistence fishing to any extent, for very few natives were left in the vicinity of Kwajalein because of the atomic bomb experiments. Most of tnose left are employed by, and receive subsistence from, the Navy, and do not fish for a living. C. AILINGIAPALAP ATOLL (Population about L200 - 1946) (August 25-26) Pigatyelang Island. The reef on the lagoon side is very rough, with many caverns, and drops abruptly to three or four fathoms. Outside of the reef a few coral heads extend from the bottom to within a fathom of the surface. Within this area reef-fishes are very abundant, although wild and difficult to get close enough to for spearing. Among the commonest species are red and blue parrot fish (Callyodon sp.), several species of siirgeon fish (Hepatus sp.), butterfly fish (Chaetodon sp.), and Moorish idols (Zanclus canes cens). There were also many small giant clams up to 12 inches. Sea cucumbers (Holothuria) were rare. The natives stated that the Japanese looked into the possibility of producing trepang (dried sea cucumbers), but found that the supply of sea cucumbers was not sufficient to warrant it. The Japanese planted 5,000 trochus shells on the outside reef on the seaward side in 1938. Tl.e planting was done by Okinawan fishermen vho came one day, planted the shells, and left immediately. The shells were dumped over the side of the boat and none has been harvested (to September, 194-6) by the natives, as there has been nomaricet for them during the war yeai-s. Trochus shells (Trochus niloticus) are not used for food by the natives, consequently almost the total number planted should be available, pliis the natural increase since 1938. These shells should not be harvested until June 1947, when all of the shells of good quality over three inches in diameter should be harvested. Since there are around 1,200 people on these islands and only a few pigs and chickens, the inhabitsints must depend largely on fishing for their protein food. The men go fishing practically every day. They formerly had throw nets, but due to the war these are now worn out, and there is no twine for replacement. The natives depend mainly on spears and on collecting small giant clams (Tridacna) and other shell fish. For the entire population there are only two short seines of about two inch square mesh, and an average of one fish hook for ten men. Turtles are quite rare here and are only a minor item in the diet. Although most of the fishing is done by men, the women somel^imes use small hand nets (Fig. 2) to catch small fish on the reef. The natives formerly used feather lures for trolling from their canoes outside the reef, but at the present time they have so few hooks that this is out of the question. They need feather lures, spoons, hooks of all sizes, lead to make sinkers, leauier wire, swivels, fishing twine for hand lines, seine twine for making nets and for knitting throw nets; also canvas and miscellaneous marine hardware for their sailing canoes. During the Japanese occupation, sampans operated from Ailinglapalap and obtained enough dried bonito for limited export, as well as supplying the Japanese garrison and local population with fresh fish. The sampans belonged to an Okinawan fishing company. The Jc^anese undertook sponge culture in 1937-38, a description of which will be found in the section on Fisheries (Part III-IVB). J«ft, Fig. 2,. Kusaie. Hand Net used by women. August 1946. jy.ght. Fig. 3.. Jaluit. Paddling and sailing canoes. August 194.6. ' ,«.',o' I ' ' ^ ►\_Boaqe"&.d'tK 1 -15' (85) JALUIT 12 3 4 Slolutc Miles 10' 78) Sou^th Pt U. S.C C. Survey «5' -I I L. D. JALUIT ATOLL (Population 777 - 19'i6) (August 23-2A) These are flat, sandy islands (Fig. 3), usually narrow and with no barrier reef on the outside, the fringing reef is about 200 feet offshore at high water mark. The seaward beach on Jaluit Island is fairly flat, slightly sloping, and has many small shells such as monkey face and gold ringers. The only sea cucumbers werfe small black ones (Actinopyga sp.), found ranging in length from two to six Inches. On account of the strong surf it was ioQjossible to examine the outer reef. On the lagoon side there was rough coral lava-like reef, extending from shore out approximately 75 feet wher« the shelf dropped abruptly to five or more fathoms. On the lagoon side mullet and goat fish were abundant, and a number were taken with the throw net. The mullet were approximately eight inches long and the goat- fish from six to nine inches. Other very abundant species were surgeon fish (Hepatus sp.), trigger fish (Balistes and Balistapus ) of several species, and a variety of parrot fish ( Callyodon sp.), damsel fish (Abudefduf sp.), several species of wrasse (Thalassoma, Coris sp.) and a number of butterfly fish (Chaetodon sp.). Of shell fish, giant clams (Tridacna sp.) up to 12 inches were observed — none larger; the natives stated that large ones were not taken there ^ Small trochus shells (Trochus niloticus) under three inches were very common, but no large ones were seen. Ihere were also many clusters of small mussels (Brachidontes cerebristrlatus)not over one inch in length, on the rocks which were exposed at low tide. At Imrodj Island the species of fish and shell fish were the same as at Jaluit. An hour was spent trolling from an outboard boat in the northeast pass near Imrodj Island, using a brass spoon and a red and white feather. No strikes were obtained, but mary ilying fish frcm A to 10 inches in length were seen, and it was apparent that larger fish were feeding on them. On the lagoon side of Imrodj Island to the northwest is a reef just barely under water at low tide, which has a large population of the giant clam (Tridacna croeea). This species is very abundant and is used by the natives for food. They are collected by hand, by means of a screw driver or a bar of steel to pry the animals out of the coral rock. One fish ab\mdant here, a brown spotted grouper (Serranus sp.), is considered poisonous by the natives, although not deadly soj it is sometimes eaten. The natives lack almost all kinds of fishing supplies and are especially desirous of obtaining hooks, hand lines, steel rods for making spears, spoons and feather jigs. They formerly had throw nets, but these have been worn out, and they have no twine or lead to knit more. Due to the poor soil, food is not abundant. The main protein is fish, in addition to wliich the natives have only a few chickens. Fortunately, sea food is very abundant and easily obtained, sind with a little assistance in securing fishing supplies the natives should not require much outside help. 10 lO O Q. UJ -Did 1-1 t)'-^ d 1-4 m/ 1- a 'fc! (r\. ^ 4j\ S'!^ -5 ^ "<'"- ,/■ °s& A--1 ^" en 6 6 o 11 o CM o < -P m — L. O. CM 12 RATAK CHAIN A. UKIEP (Population 6U - 1%6) (August 29) Because of infections resulting from coral cuts, no collections were made here. According to infomation obtained from native sources, large giant clams (Tridacna gigas) of three feet and more in diameter are to be found in this lagoon and the Japanese shipped some to Japan, possibly for decorative purposes, but also possibly to be used in button manufacture. The Japanese came to Likiep only to pick up copra and discharge trade goods. There was no Japanese garrison on the island during the war, and the native econony was comparatively unaffected — much less so than in any other place, except for Kayangel Island in the Palaus. No plantings of trochus shell, sponge, or pearl oysters were made here by the Japanese, There are a few trochus shells, but not enough for commercial operation. There are also a few black lip pearl oysters, but not even enough for incorporation into the native handicraft, where it is used as inlay in wood plates and other similar items. There are also a few hawksbill turtles, which are used both for food and in the manufacture of tortoise shell handicraft, particularly fans. However, there are not enough turtles of this type taken to supply the native needs for handicraft, and some hawksbill shells are imported from Ponape . The turtle shells which are taken here are always of small size, rarely over 18 inches in maximum length. There were some large and small smooth black sea cucumbers, but not enough for commercial making of trepang. Some sponges, not planted by the Japanese but natural growing, wash up on the beaches. They are of the type known as homy sponges, stiff and not very flexible or water absorbent. It is not believed that they would have any commercial value, although a sample was brought back. The Japanese did not engage in off-shore fishing. There is an ample supply of all kinds of reef fish to take care of native requirements. The natives also have enough canoes for transpor- tation to and from the fishing grounds. They should have an additional supply of hooks and sinkers for hand line fishing and seine twine for the constiruction of nets and throw nets. The Uarshallese are excellent seamen and frequently undertake voyages up to 60 miles from their homes, across open water, with loads of provisions, supplies, or handicraft, without navigation instj-uments of any kind, although a few uncorrected Navy compasses have been obtained recently, B. MAJURO ATOLL (Population 1236 - 1^6) (August 27-28) This group of islands if fortunate in nothavlng been bombed or strafed and no native supplies or equipment were destroyed by an invasion. There is no barrier reef on the outside. The fringing reef is from 100 to 150 yards wide, fairly flat, with about a foot of water over it at low tide. On the lagoon side, the beach is sandy with a rough coral ledge of gradual slope running out for 100-200 yards, rish were abundant on the lagoon side in shallow water and we caught many small mackerel (Scomber .japonicus) approximately six inches long and goat-fish (Pseudupeneus ) from six to eight inches. It was reported that there are many spiny lobsters (Panulirus) on the fringing reef, which are taken by torching at night when the spiny lobsters come up on the peef at low tide. As of August 19^6 the natives on Majuro Island (Laura) had about 220 sailing canoes and A2 paddling canoes. There is some new construction and the supply of canoes appears to be ample. Fishing is done by hand line, spears, some trolling, a few seines, and some throw nets. In addition, there is torching at night on the reefs and use of some small woven traps. 13 ^mB Fig. ^... Uajuro. Short Spear. August 1946, Fig. 5... Jaluit. Sailing Canoe. AubTist 19'*6. Fig. 6... Kusale. Trolling (Heavy) and Still- fishing lines, August 1946. 1^ However, most of the fish are taken by hand lining, using hooks with very short shank. Native needs were principally for fishing lines for hand lining, leader wire, swivels, and enough seine twine to make additional throw nets, of which a few are left, but most have been worn out. They have a few seines of the type known as surround net, but no twine or netting to replace them. 'Qieir spears are short, having a wood shaft about four feet long and a point of 3/8 inch round steel rod two feet long, with a plain point, no barb and not very sharp (Fig. 4.). Ihey also pound or mash black sea cucumbers to -ase as a fish poison. This is the only ai%a visited where sea cucunbers were regarded as poisonous, although Thon^)son (Guam Recorder, May 1941, p. 81) repcjrts that on Guam it was an old practice to use sea cuounibers as fish poison, Itiey are, of course, not eaten by the natives. Their traps are approxljoately two by two by four feet and are made of hardwood strips, the Japanese had no fishing boats located at Majuro, nor did they plant trochus, pearl oysters, or sponges here. However, there does not appear to be any reason why trochus shells could not be introduced on the outside reef. ESccept for the necessary fishing supplies, as mentioned above, the natives are well provided with means of obtaining fishery products, and it does not seem necessary to make any recommeiKiations for improvements in methods. The Japanese did not find it profitable to locate sampans here for the purpose of catching bonito or other offshore fishes. Ihe Marshallese sailing outrigger canoes are specially noteworthy and indicated the highest ability in both design and workmanship of any of the island groups visited (Fig.5), These canoes range in length from 20 to 35 feet. One canoe of approximately 35 feet which was examined had a draft of 30 inches, a beam of 2A inches, and was capable of carrying about 15 persons, Ihese canoes have a heavy keel piece, usually of breadfruit, with planking of one inch strakes, 12 to 14 inches wide, and up to 20 feet in length. The strakes are tied to each other and to the keel by hand-»oven coconut twine (sennit). The mast supporting the lateen sail may be set at either end of the boat, which, being double ended, makes It possible to sail always with the outrigger cai the windward side. These canoes are very fast and will sail within about two points of the wind. Ihe natives do some trolling with these canoes, but depend mostly on spears and throw nets for catching fish. 15 Fig. 7... Kusaie, Throw Net, August 1946. Fig. 8... Kusaie* Method of holding throw-net, August 19/i6, Fig. 9... Kusaie, Paddling Canoe. August 19-^6. 16 Fig. 10... Kusaie. 4-prong Spear. August 1946. Fig. 11... Kusaie. Samoan Crab (Scylla serrata). Aiiguat 1946. 17 II. THE CAROLINE ISLANBS A. KUSAIE ISUND (Population 1555 - 19^6) (August 18-21) In contrast to the low islands in the Marshall Group, Kusaie is one of the high islands. The native population is about 1,550. At the present time the reef fishes are somewhat depleted, due to the fact that toward the end of the wsur-^the Japanese dynamited extensively inside and outside the reef for the purpose of obtaining food. In view of the depleted popiHation of fishes on the easily accessible reefs, it is necessary for the natives to use as food a good many small size fish frcm thi^e to six inches, and it seems likely that as long as this is necessary, the recovery of the fish population on the reefs will be delayed. It will probably be two or three years before there is a near normal population of such fish as goat- fish, crevalle, mullet, groupers, and surgeon fish. Even with the dynamiting, however, the abundance of reef fishes is considerably greater than at Truk. The natives have only paddling canoes (Fig. 9)} none is equipped with sail, and the size ranggs from 12 to 25 feet. Uost canoes are hollowed out from breadfruit logs, but four other kinds are sometimes used. For a 16- foot canoe construction time is approxi- mately three days for six men. The usual method of building is for the prospective owner to get some of his friends to help him, irtiich is also true of Ponape, A number of canoes are being built at the present time and there is no shortage of transportation. Fishing methods include hook and line (Fig. 6), feather jigs for trolling, spears, tJirow nets (Figs. 7 and 8), and surround nets. Spears are mostly made with four points (Fig. 10), with a single barb on each, point constructed of quarter inch steel rod about eight inches long and set into a wood handle about six feet long. The Japanese had a processing plant, including refrigeration, for making bonito sticks, which were exported to Japan. The industiy was in the hands of Japanese and Ckinawans. No native fishermen were employed. Some trepang was also produced and exported. The natives catch and use spiny lobsters (Panulirus) (Fig. 27), and Sanoan crabs (Scylla serrata) (Fig. U). Ifiillets up to twenty inches in length are fairly abundant just off the mangrove swamps, but difficult to catch. There is no coamiercial trochus, as the Japanese did not plant any here. A small species of no value is present, as well as the rough type of cat-eye (Turfaa intercostalls ) . some with fair color. We explored approximately half a mile of the outside reef about three miles north of the harbor entrance. Fish were not very abundant and half an hour of work lor three divers produced only four fish. Five native divers were able to get only two spiny lobsters, approximately 12 inches long in an hour of diving. Such fish as are present are very wild and immediately go to deep water when any divers get near them. There is no barrier "reef at Kusaie, the fringing reef being only from a few yards to a quarter of a mile off the beach, which is generally sandy. The slope is gradual. from the reef out, the depth of water approximately 400 yards off the reef being only two to two and a half fathoms. In view of the scarcity and wildness of fish, most of the natives carry bundles of Derris elliptica roots in their canoes to use as fish poison. The roots are pulverized in the bottom of the boat and than dumped over in partially closed areas, where they bring up many small fish. As far as we were able to find, Barringtonia (BarrinRtonia asiatica) nuts are not nseA, although the natives were familiar with them. 18 19 It was reported to use that a sword fish (probably marlin), weighing approximately 24.0 pounds, was taken by still fishing on a hand line the week before. The dead bait used for this was a whole fish, weighing about two pounds. The fish was caught in approximately eight fathoms. The natives are very short of hooks and lines, as they have had no communication with any sources of supply since February, 1946. They no longer make their hooks or lines according to their traditional customs and are completely dependent on manufactured supplies for their fishing. During our stay at Kusaie, we had a native fishing crew set a beach seine, and from a haul — which it took them about an hour and a half to make — they caught only a few small striped surgeon fish, approximately eight inches long. Their net original- ly surrounded several dozen large mullet, but all jumped out. We also spent several hours trolling outside the reef and found barracuda veiy abundant. Of those caught, the largest was 53 inches long and weighed 22 pounds. We also lost tackle twice on fish so large, that they broke the line. Dxiring our trolling we continually had overboard both a polished brass spoon (size #7) and a irtiite Japanese feather type jig, which were operating side by side. Vfe found here, as everywhere else, that more strikes were obtained- on the spoon than on the feather . Since the natives do not have sailing canoes, nor amy powered motor vessels, they are at a disadvantage in attempting to troll. The native fishermen at Kusaie are very intelli- gent and progressive and would very much like to obtain small powered fishing boats, around 30 to 40 feet in length, with small diesel engines simllair to the Japanese semi-diesel which power all Japanese sampans. These would be suitable for trolling, and it is believed that a considerable quantity of fish could be taken by the natives without outside assistance- except that there are at present no refrigeration facilities at Kusaie, and excess catch over and above what could be consumed by the population within twenty-four hours could not be pre- served. Methods of salting could be developed in lieu of refrigeration, but storage would still be a problem. Salt of the proper kind would have to be shipped in. B, PONAPE ISUND (Population 5662-1946) (August 8-13) Ponape was the third most important Japanese fishing center with shore facilities, including refrigeration. All of these have been con^letely destroyed. At the present time there are two Japauiese sampans, 35 to 40 feet long, still in operation. These axe powered with the Japanese single cylinder, semi-diesel engine which must be started with a blow torch. Being a high island, Ponape has an ample supply of hardwopd trees for the construction of canoes and there does not appear: to be a great shortage of these craft at the present time. A number of new ones are being built. The cost of a 12-foot canoe is around $12.00. The chief methods of fishing used by the natives are; spears, hand lines, nets, small hand nets used by women, and the hand picking of small shell fish along the reefs. Sea cucumbers are abundant around Ponape and a small sample was processed into trepan g to determine whether or not it was of the quality desired for export to China amd Japan, The Japainese had introduced trochus shells along the outer reefs and these are now abundant, as they were notharvested during the war years. About 10,000 had been brought in to U. S. CommerciaLl Coii^)any headquarters- for sale by various natives and most of them were over live inches in diauneter at the base. These are mostly old shells and many of them were badly corroded. Approximately 50 percent of the shells brought in were rejected by U. S. C. C. It is believed that befoj-e these shells are finally rejected and disposed of samples should be forwarded to United States and Japanese shell dealers to determine whether 20 or not they have any commercial value. It is bad from a conservation standpoint, and discouraging to native fishermen, to discard so large a percentage of the trochus taken. The black lip, or pearl oyster (Pinctada) . is conmon in water from one to four fathoms deep, in the area between the fringing shore reef and the outer barrier reef. At the present time no use is being made of these shells. As the total quantity is not large, it is doubtful if it would pay to put them on the world market, "Riey could, however, go into inter-island trade to be used as inlay in native handicrafts. Cowrie shells (Cypraea tigris) are very abundant, particularly around Uatalanim, and many hundreds are brought in by the natives for sale. The present price to the natives is three for ten cents. A large number of these shells are now being rejected because of a milky appearance of the shell, which is the result of in^roper drying. In order to retain the high natural polish they should be either buried in dry szind for a month or six weeks, or the animal inside them can be rotted out in sea water and then the shells dried in the shade. Usually the milky appearance which renders them unsuitable for trade purposes results fron exposure to the sun and to fresh water. Small giant clams (Tridacna) up to 12 Inches are very common and are eaten in large quantity by the natives. As far as we were able to determine, there are no very large ones ranging up to three feet or more. The barrier reef here is notable in being very wide, up to 150 yards, and also peculiar in dropping off abruptly on the lagoon side to four or five fathoms. Along this inside edge large parrot fish (Callyodon sp.) and crevalles (Caranx sp.) of 10 to 15 pounds weight are very common, but wild and difficult to catch as they immediately seek deep water when fishermen come around. Small mullet, up to 10 inches in length, are common in the shallow water on top of the reef. Also abundant are several species of goat- fish (Pseudupeneus ) around eight inches in length and occasional schools of large bliie wrasse (Cheilinus sp.) weighing up to 30 pounds. As many as 17 of the latter have been taken in one haul of a homemade beach seine. This type of seine is set in a semicircle on a flat part of the barrier reef and then a number of fishermen splash and drive fish into the center pocket. Due to the roughness of the bottom, it is not possible to haul the seine as is done with most beach seines. Along the outer edge of the barrier reef there are many rough cat-eye (Turbo) shells, some of which contain cat-eyes of fair quality. We did not see any of the smooth type, which are the most valuable. The natives of Ponape do not use either stone fence traps or large traps of any kind. There are several bamboo fence traps which had been constructed by natives from Yap. We were unable to obtain any information as to the production obtained from these traps. Hawksbill turtles are fairly common around Ponape and a number are taken annually. The price set by Militaiy Government is 80 cents a kilogram for thin shell and $1.30 per kilogram for thick shell. The Japanese paid from •¥100.00 to ¥160,00 per kilogram. In computing the price, the whole shell is weighed. A large shell weighed approximately six kilograms. Turtles are tsiken mainly by spearing or are caught by hand, but a few are also taken by nets. Under the Japanese the natives obtained some income from the preparation of trepang from sea cucumbers. The Japanese paid 30 sen (¥.30) per kilogram for fair quality, 45 sen (¥.45) per kilogram for good quality and 73 sen (¥.75) per kilogram for very good quality. The abundance of sea cucumbers warrants a resumption of this business, if markets can be found. In general, the catch made with seines was very small and scarcely paid for the labor involved. For example, one set of the net brought the seven men who fished it 21 only loior black surgeon fish, approximately seven inches long, and one large-eyed red squirrel lish (Myripristis sp.) eight inches long, although the time required to send the net was an hour and a half. In two hours of diving along the fringing reef inshore three divers obtained five black-lipped oysters of a diameter of six inches. One of them con- tained a tiny baroque pearl of no value, "'e also found large pinna shells of genus Atrina quite common. The auductor muscle is large and similar to that of the ocean scallop. However, it is not eaten by the natives although it has a very good flavor. One of these Atrina shells had six tiny black pearls, approximately 1/6/; inch in diameter. V.'e also found a number of sponges, which are native to the area and are used by the local population in place of towels after bathir^. These sponges are of cylindrical shape, with a lai^e central cavity. The outer walls are from 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, with sections branching from the main stem approximately 12 to Li indies in length. A sample of this sponge was brought back to determine^ whether or not it might have a commercial value. Since these sponges seem to grow very well, there should be no reason why the culture of more desirable species could not be undertaken. Every native canoe carries several bunches of derris roots (Derris elliptica) to be used in poisoning fish. The natives pound the roots to a pulpy mass and then thf'ow the whole thing into holes and caverns on the inside edge of the reef. This is a wasteflil kind of fishing, as even very small fish are narcotized and are destroyed without being of any use, although at the present time the natives keep even small fish three to four inches long. TOiile on the subject of poisons, it may be said that barringtonia (Barringtonia racemosa and asiatica) occurs at Ponape, but is not commonly used by the natives as a fish poison, although its use is known. Tephrosia (Tephrosia purpurea) also occurs here and its use as a fish poison is known to the natives, but they do not use it as they say it gives the fish a bad flavor. It was surprising to find no native jigs made of pearl shell body with tortoise shell barbless point such as were common at Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro. It was stated that the Ponapeans did not make these and did no trolling until steel hooks were introduced by traders. The bonito fishing was carried on exclusively by Japanese and Okinawans. Even at present the outside trolling is done chiefly by natives from Tap using sailing canoes, or occasionally by paddling. The total catch by trolling is inconsequential, each boat getting only one or two fish per day. There is no processing of the catch, all being consumed fresh. The bonito (Katsuwonus pelamis ) in this area run to about 15 pounds each. With the exception of one native who, with his family, fishes for trochus and other shells, trepang, and turtles, there are very few of what might be called professional fisher- men around Ponape. Almost all of the natives have canoes and fish for subsistence only, but much of their time is devoted to agriculture. At the present time the fishing lines are mostly of sennit, woven by the men by rolling fibres of ripe coconut husks on their thighs. Hand net and seine twine is also made from tliis and ranges in size from approximately #15 to #U0. The locally made spears either have a single simple barb on the end, made of quarter-inch steel rods two feet long, or may have three or four barbless points of 1/8 or 3/16 inch round rod. In either case the points are set into a wood shaft 5/8 inch in diameter and six to eight feet long. The area in the vicinity of Ponape town is similar to Truk in that the Japanese were short of protein food towards the end and did much dynamiting of fish, mostly inside the outer reef and along the outside of the inner fringing reef. The fisn population is there- fore scmevrtiat reduced, especially the smaller reef fishes. The larger fish, including the blue parrot fish (Callyodon sp.), crevalle (Caranx sp.), and mullet (L'ugil cephalus ) . are very wild. The mullet here range in size up to 18 indies in length and two and a half pounds in weight. Shell fish of all kinds were also taken by the Japanese in large quantities as food. Even the black-lipped pearl oysters (Pinctada sp.), trochus (Trochus niloticus). and cat-eyes (Turbo sp.), as well as Cardium and Anadara. were eaten and are 22 155* 55 .3*50' NUKUORO U.S.C.C.Survey Statute Miles 155' 2 Ka^p in.v€Te I 3 Nd^>v%*AiTot oa. 1 4Moto«u., 1 O At ij. Ka-YMj. I 1 7 T a.h a.Y^Q•.rol^ I 8Moto.K,^o 1 9 Sap^nlw^At oK I 10 Met u. \~'e. I H AWix^ Oi- O 4. I l5.SKu.3■»^^.a.vo^^u I l4:TaKonrAYl T 15Nu.K>aOy-o 1 IT K Sku-J e ■rT^ a I 2l.NuK.u.Oro P4SSIV.3& I54»45' KAPINGAMARANGI I 0 ' ' statute Miles I54-45' "^^^-^ S"'"«>' 49- 23 noTT much more scarce than formerly. We found no large trochus shells, even on the outer reef. According to our informationj the area around Kiti and Matalanim was not greatly affected by the Japsinese occupation and the supply of fish and shell fish was not greatly reduced there. This was due to the fact that the Japsinese moved away from Kiti when the American bombing of the island started. A few native nets are constructed entirely, of local materials. One was four fathoms deep and 38 fathoms long. The mesh or bar is 2-3/4- inches square, made from sennit twine, about #60 size. Floats were made of hibiscus wood (kalau), 2-1/2 indies in diameter by 16 inches long, spaced 17 inches on the cork line. Leads are of Anadara shells, also spaced 17 inches apart. The net is used mainly for catching large blue parrot fish inside the outer reef. The natives make a wide variety of handicraft articles from tortoise shell. For sale at the U.S.C.C. store were combs, belt buckles, wrist watch straps, and rings. The rings have silver or brass inlay. In general, these tortoise shell products were of very poor quality. Ihe shell was not selected, in the first place, for attractive markings, nor was it well finished. Combs sell for 85 cents and a dollar and many have little other than curio value. The wrist watch bands sell for 75 cents and unfortunately do not fit all watches. The rings sell for a dollar. Proper design and finishing would greatly increase the attractivness and saleability of ti^ese articles. It was reported that the only material available to the natives for polishing tortoise shell articles is old Japanese tooth paste, which apparently is much coarser than ours. "No machinery is available for cutting, grinding, orpolishing. At the time of this survey the natives had no Supply of the larger or smaller sizes of fish hooks; only a comparatively small stock of medium size hooks being on hand, Ihere was no fish line at all, nor seine twine for making throw nets. Most of the throw nets ^ich the natives had are now worn out. Note on Fishing Vessels , The harbor at Ponape is littered with the hxills of Japanese san^jans, ranging in size from 25 to 50 feet. All of these hulls, both in and out of the water, are beyond salvage. Two sampaJis about 4-5 feet long are now being operated by Military Government. One, which is assigned to a native sub-chief, is approximately 36 feet long and in very poor condi- tion. Water transportation around Ponape is dependent on these three Japanese boats, although there is a limited amount of travel by native canoe. Vne Japanese boats are powered with one to three cylinder, two cycle, dirett reversing, semi-diesel engine irtiich is started with a blow torch and develops approximately 15 horsepower per cylinder at 600 R.P.M. This type of engine uses a very heavy diesel fuel and will not operate on American fuel of 50 cetane. Ihe engine is of the straight drive type without reduction gear and has a simple clutch with throw-out or neutral, but no reverse. The propeller is about 24 inches in dianeter, with a 20 inch pitch, and the usual speed is six to eight knots. Ihe vibration is terrific, C. NUKUOEO ATOLL (Population 235 - 1946) (August 6) Ihere is no barrier reef, the fringing reef extending from shore out approximately 150 yards. Ihe edge of the reef drops abruptly to over six fathoms. There is about six to 12 inches of water over this reef at low tide. The reef, although flat, is extremely rough, having many scattered rocks up to three feet in diameter over it. Small shells used in handicralt, such as the so-called "monkey- face" and "gold ringers", are abxmdant. Ihese are to be found under the rocks in approximately six inches of water. Small black sea cucumbers, six to eight inches long, were extremely abundant on this reef. We saw no yellow ones. It was reported that the spiny lobster (Panulirus) is very abundant on this 24 reef and vie noted that the natives had a special instriment which consisted of a small sharp-pointed steel hook fastened in the end of a stick approximately 12 inches long which was used for jerking lobsters out of their holes in the rocks. Ihey also make an unusual type of spear which consists of a light steel rod approximately 1/8 inch in diameter and three feet long, which is shot by means of a sling. The sling consists of two pieces of tire tube which are slipped over the thumb and foi^finger of the left hand and the sling is used as boys use a slingshot. Fish were very abundant along the outer edge of the reef in from one to two fathoms and were comparatively tame. Among the more abundant species were crevalle, goat fish, parrot fish and wrasse. There are a few throw nets knit locally from twine previously furnished by the Kilitary Government. The last supply of tliis was received in February 19^ and the number of throw nets available to the natives is still inadequate. Also there are several beach seines made of coconut fiber, which have a square mesh of approximately an inch and a quarter. The twine is very coarse and aoout the size of #40 cotton twine. They have some ffAO twine which they use ibr trolling for skip jack, b^nito, and albacore. Usually tv/o or three fishermen go out together and one paddles or handles the sail while the others tend the lines. For bait they use a homemade jig, the body of wnich is cut from black-lipped pearl oyster shell, v/hich is common. Ordinarily they use an American type steel hook, although if these are not available they make a barbless hook out of tortoise shell and tie it onto the pearl shell body. A strip of fish is put on the hook for l3%it. 7,'e saw several fishing canoes with one or two bonito, weighing from 15 to 25 pounds, which were caught with this type of gear. One native said they formerly used bamboo poles and fished in very much the same manner as the Japanese do and that four men sometimes brought in a hundred fish in a couple of hours. At the present time there is no bamboo left on the island for poles. It is not grown locally and should be furnished. A few havrtcsbill turtles are taken, from which the tortoise shell is obtained for use in handicraft — most of it to make the centers of fans. The natives here are very good fishermen and need little help other than to be furnished v.-ith such necessary supplies as fish hooks, bamboo poles, cotton seine twine ranging in size from #20 to #60, some bulk lead to be used in making leads on nets, and a few feather jigs and spoons to supplement their homemade articles. PYoa the abundance of bonito seen here it is possible to assume that the natives could establish a small diying plant for the production of bonito sticks. D. KAPIKGAilARANGI ATOLL (Population /Wl - 19^6) (August 3-5) There is no barrier reef, the fringing reef being in most cases only a few yards from shore. The area from the reef to shore is of flat rock, comparatively smooth and with approximately six inches of water over it at low tide. Except for an occasional small wtiite brancl'iing coral three or four inches high, the entire surface -of the reef could be used for seining and is -very vrell suited to throw-netting. An examination was made of this reef at night, at which time many large yellow sea cuoimbers, from eight to fourteen inches long, and a few small black ones, four to six inches long, were observed. The quantity found, if present throughout the reef, is sufficient for limited production of trepang. The outer edge of the reef drops off sbruptly just beyond the surf. In this case the surf was too heavy for us to examine the fish population on the outside edge of the reef. On the occasion of our visit spiny lobsters (Panulirus sp.) were rare, only one being seen, although the natives report that many of them are found at times. '.Ve also saw quite a few surgeon fish (Hepatus so.) mostly under six inches long. The fact that this section of the reef is opposite the native village of Souwou probably accounts for the small number of fish observed. 25 /* Ficiure 12... KapinganaranEi . Canoe houses, lagoon side, August 194.6. Figure 13... Nukuoro Paddling Canoe, Avigust 1946, Figure H... Kapingamarangi . Fish Spear. August 1946. 26 ■•»- .**-. Figure 15... I[apingamarangi, Staie Fish Trap. Low tide, August 194.6, Figure 16... Kapinp.amarangi. Sailing Canoes. August 1946. 27 Figure 17... Kapinganiarangi , Paddling canoe and scoop net for Flying Fish, August l^^. Figure 18... Kapingamarangi, L'etail of fish traps, August 19A6. 28 TVhile examining this reef at 9:30 p.m. me saiv six natives in a canoe catching flying fish (Cypselurus simus) in their traditional manner. Four of the natives paddled the canoe, while t-wo men v;ith long-handled scoop nets (Fig. 17) stood up in the canoe and caught the fish which were attracted by a torch made of dried coconut leaves. The natives paddled the canoe up and down along the outer edge of the reef, possibly 50 to 100 feet outside the surf. The torch was kept burning brightly and attracted the fish. The two men with the nets got them as they went by. The nets are 30 inches in diameter and the bag is four feet long and mounted on a frame so that the bag does not collapse. "The handles are eight feet long. The flying fish were eigdt' to ten inches in length. On a ssind reef exposed at low tide we saw two fish traps of coral rock made by the natives (Fig. 15). They ai« V-shape, with the point near shore and the opening away from shore. The sides of the V are 50 yards long. Fish entering the traps were bottled up at high tide by means of netting stretched across the opening of the V, and as the tide receded were chased to the foot of the V where they were taken at low tide. There seemed to be no shortage of canoes. These are made locally from breadfruit logs hollowed out with an adze. The usual length is from Li to 30 feet. Every family had at least one canoe (Fig. 16); some had more than one. As was the case elsewhere, the pro- spective ov.ner of a canoe obtains the log and enlists the services of several of his friends to help with the construction. On Kapingamarangi the owner furnishes his helpers free lunch, but no money, as each man is repaid for service as needed. Most of the canoes 20 feet or longer carry a sail. TTie chief methods of fishing include spears, throw nets, seines, traps as described above, and also small basket traps made of bamboo, which are roughly 18 inches square by 30 inches long. (See FLg. 18). On the lagoon side of the island there are many individual coral heads sticking up from the botton>in from one to three fathoms of water. These coral heads frequently come within three feet of the surface. Around them there is an abundance of reef fishes and the natives say there has been no shortage. Due to the isolated location of this island it is not regularly visited by trading snips and arrangements should be made to supply the natives with fish hooks, hand lines, seine twine for making nets and throw nets, and some steel rods, app:i^oximately 3/8 inches in diameter, for making spears. To prevent depreciation from either checking in the sun or attack by marine worms, canoes are stored in sheds when not in use (Fig. 12). This practice is common through- out Uicronesia, E. THOK ISLANDS (Population 9750 - 19/;6) (May 23 - June 3) From the fishery standpoint, the most striking feature of these islands is the general scarcity of fish. Toward the end of the war Japanese garrisons totaling as many as ^0,000 men were isolated froiii home supplies and depended largely on sea food for meat. Since they were prevented by our bombing from using fishing vessels, it was obtained mostly by dyna- miting. This v.as carried on so continuously and over such a wide area that there is at the present tine a very great scarcity of fish of all kinds on the rtefs and inside the lagoons. Since the native population is very short on protein, they nave been forced to use very small fish and shell fisn and it is expected that it will be from three to five years before the normal supply of fish is again present in the area. II other protein foods could be supplied, it would be desirable to restrict the taking of all immature fish, but under present circumstances it is not believed possible without great hardship to the native 30 5S' I I 10- ■Oil ^ KUOP 10 12 3 4 Stotuta Mllet U S C.C Survey Fig. 19... Truk. Short Fish Spear. May 19^16, 31 population. Using both hand lines and trolling, the only fish we were able to take in any quantity at all were remo ras . Altogether we trolled both feather and spoon for 18-1/2 hours inside the lagoon and caught only one fish, a snapper (Aprion virescens) 18 inches long. At Falas Island, the reefs were searched for fish and shellfish. Fish were very rare, only a few small striped surgeon fish and goat-fish under five inches were seen. None of these fish was in sufficient quantity to use a throw net. On the seav/ard side of this island there were many "gold ringer" shells under rocks in depths from three inches to two feet, "iiionkey face" shells ( Cypraea moneta) were also quite common, and there were some small tiger cowries, (Cypraea tigris) around two inches in length. Black sea-cucumbers, both smooth and rough types, were very common, but no yellow ones were seen. Outside the reef on the seaward side there vrere a fev* small crevalle (Caranx sp.) 12 to lA inches long, but very wild. V.'e wei'e unable to get close enough for spearing. Small sand sharks, two to four feet long, were quite common. On May 28 an examination was made of the outside reefs at Udot Island. The beach is sandy and slopes off very gradually approximately a hundred yards to the fringing reef. The depth over the flat area is approximately a foot at low tide. On this flat are many black sea cucumbers and under the rocks there are many small decorative shells, such as the monkey face and gold ringers used in handicraft. There were a few scattered schools of mullet, approximately eight inches long. Six were caught with one cast of the throw net. In general, however, all of the small fish here were veiy wild and difficult to approacfi. The fish caught were given to the natives, who took even the small finger mullet, two to three inches long. The chief on this island said that they have had no fish to speak of since the Japanese dynamited along the reefs near shore both day and night. A few trochus under three inches were also seen, but as we did not examine the outer face of the fringing reef, no large ones were found. A number of small blue parrot fish about six inches in length were seen, but could not be approached closely. Y»e also saw several barfacuda (Sphyraena sp.) 10 to 12 inches in length. Outrigger canoes were very scarce and we were told that there were no breadfruit trees on the island large enough to make canoes. The Japanese had destroyed most of the canoes throughout the Truk group in order to prevent the natives from communicating with United States vessels. We also trolled on the seaward side of Udot Island, looking for schools of bonito, but saw none, nor were there any flocks of birds hovering over the v/ater as is the case vhen schools of fish are feeding. «Ve trolled both a feather jig and a brass spoon for an hour and a half without obtaining any strikes . The natives need many types of fishing implements, especially throw nets. Only a few are now available, as most of the nets they had under the Japanese have worn out and there is no twine from trtiich to make new ones. Most of the fishing is done by women on the sheillow reefs, using the small hand nets called epino with which they catch very small fish, crabs, and other shell fish. At Fala-Beguets Island the natives are fairly well supplied with fishing implements. They have a few canoes and are able to do some hand-lining inside the reef. Usually three or four men fish together from one canoe. Vie found several schools of mullet eight to ten inches long and near shore, but very wild. There was an ample supply of epino nets and most of the natives had goggles and speaxs. In general fish are very scarce here, as two men came in from hand-lining with only four fish six inches long. As indication of the scarcity of fish here is the fact that we spent one and a half hours searching the reefs for fish and shell fish and in addition to the mullet mentioned 32 above obtained only a few small goat fish feulloidichthys auriflanmia) six inches in length, a parrot fish (Leptoscarus) 18 inches long, and a spiny lobster (Panulirus) of about one poimd in weight. Ve saw several small schools of the anchovy (Ancuoviella) used as a bait fish. In view of the shortage of protein food the nativts eat all kinds of shell fish avail- able. Most of the shell iish are either eaten raw or roasted. Among their main sources are the trochus, both the commercial species imported by the Japanese and their own smaller native species and Cardium. called kitir and nitchik by the natives, they also eat three species of the giant clam (Tridacna gigas. crocea. elongata) and the kuIs foot (Hippoppus ) . Practically all of these shells are ruined for commercial purposes by roasting or by muti- lation from cracking in order to get the animal out. On June 3 an examination was made of the reefs around rls Island. Probably because of its distance from the main Japanese base on Dublon Island this island has more fish than any of the others in the Truk group. Using spears we obtained several blue parrot fish (Leptoscarus) of small size ranging up to ten inches. Ihese were very wild fish and difficutl to approach. There were also a number of schools of sma.ll goat fish six to seven inches in length. Also common were small crevalles (Caranx ignobilis ) about ten inches in length, and the milk fish (Chanos chanos). Unfortunately the reef and the area between reef and shore are very rough around this island and there are no places where either seines or throw nets caui be used. T,e also saw a number of schools of the bciit fish (Anciioviella p\u:pureus ) which seemed to be plentiful enough to support a moderate commercial fishery except for the difficulty of catching them. There are plenty of spears and the women use the small hand net (epino). Training in the use of the spears begins at an early age as we saw a number of boys six to ten years of age using spears in shallow water inside the reef. Red striped crabs (Grapsus grapsus tenuicrustatus ) are abundant. ?/e also found three species of the giant clam (Tridacna gigas , crocea. and elongata). Ttie so-called mule foot shell (Hippoppus hippoppus ) is also ab\indant as were trochus, especially the Siaall native type. Oae of the epino nets which we examined had a mesh one-half inch square. This island seemed to have more seafood around it than all the others put together. In addition several flocks of birds were working along north pass which generally indicates feeding fish underneath. '.Ve were unable to do any trolling outside ourselves, as the vessel assigned to us was not allowed to go outside the reefs. Unlike most of the other islanders, the people at Truk do not use the small decorative shells such as "monkey face" and "gold ringers" to make handicraft items such as headbands, necklaces, and bracelets. A few are used as fastenings on baskets. Note on Bonito Industry on Truk Although the Japanese produced considerable quantities of dried bonito sticks at Truk, operated a number of boats, and had refrigeration and other shore facilities on Dublon Island, our best information is that natives were very seldcm employed in the industry. Their only employment was that women were used to a limited extent in the processing plants, but in the matter of catching fish the crews were entirely of Okinawans or Japanese. Sampans ranged in size from 40 to 55 feet and carried crews of over 20 men. The fishing was limited by the amount of live bait which could be obtained. Although some fishing was carried on throughout the year, the supply of live bait made it necessary to curtail operations during the period from ilarch through June. The largest catch was, therefore, during the period from July through February. Two types of live bait were used, the first being a small anchovy (Anchoviella purpurea) one to two inches long called seribu by the natives of Trukj the second species was a small red or pink species, from two to three inches long, called tlribu by Trultose and takabe by the Japanese. As none was obtained, scientific identifi- cation can not be made. (For further reference, see Part II-I Bonito Industry.) 33 1 ' 1 r- 13 ' ' ^ t— 1 *1 • .-■^ CT-l E ■ lO • » ■ ^^ f "5-1 in o - » •- cja>o Pt June 11 ( ■5 40 45' -I I L 1 U.S.C.C. Survey 145 'SO' D-Diving S-Spearing TH-Throw Netting 49 III. THE MARIAia ISUNES A. SAIPAM ISUI© (Population M600 - 19-46) (June 12-17) the fringing reef on Saipan is in some places over a mile offshore, fomiiig a broad inshore area suitable for beach seining and throw netting. The native population on Saipan is somewhat in excess of ^,600 persons, and since they traditionally consume nearly a pound of fish per person per day, there is a steady market for fishery products. Due to the general shortage of labor, most of the natives are employed by the armed services in one capacity or another. Only 80 men are available lor work in the fisheries. Approximate- ly 50 of these are engaged in offshore fishing for bonito on tvro Japanese sampans. Under the Japanese, the bonito fishery was entirely in the hands of Okinawan or Japan- ese fishennen and no natives were allowed outside the reefs, 'flhen these experienced fish- ermen were repatriated, there remained available on Saipan four sampans from 55 to 65 feet in length, nfith necessary operating gear such as bait nets, poles, and hooks. Two of these vessels are nowin operation with all native crews. A thorough description of the methods used will be found in the Fisheries section (Part II-IC), since it may become an example for operations by natives in some of the other islands, particularly in the Carolines. Several night surveys .were made of reefs at various parts of the island, especially to determine the abundance of spiny lobsters, sea cucumbers, and trochus shells, all three of which are more easily located at night than diiring the day time. The local native method of hunting the spiny lobster is to use either a coconut frond torch or a Coleman gasoline lantern and walk along in shallov/ v;ater not over three feet deep and when a lobster is located to pin it down with a forked stick. Two fishermen v/ork together on this, one carrying the torch, the other the forked stick. A method which v.-e found much more successiXil than the regulation torching was to s*ri.m with navy battle lanterns under water, as visibility is much better and the crawfish, being largely blinded by the glare of the light, can be caught by hand. In contrast to the scarcity of fish inside the reef, we found the holes and caverns at the outer edge of the reef well populated with surgeon fish, red squirrel fish, crevalle and parrot fish. As long as there is the labor shortage on Saipan, these fish cannot be made available to the native population, as they can be taken only by spearing, or by the use of hand lines from outside the breakers. As the natives are employed daily by the airmed services, they will have no opportunity of going to these reefs. Many Chamorros have spears, goggles, and seven- foot thrownets. The latter have a very small mesh, close to 1/8 inch square bar. They are used along the sandy beaches and the catch is generally small goat fish three to four inches in length and occasionally mullet up to 10 inches in length. A night survey was made of the reef which lies off Maniagassa Island. With the assistance of four native divers, a strip 60 feet wide and half a mile long was covered on the inner side of the reef. The depth of water varied from two to five feet. Using diving goggles and navy battle lanterns carried under water, the section was carefully covered. Spiny lobsters were common, but we obtained only two which were large, weigh- ing two and a half and three pounds and being 18 and 20 inches in length. Trochus were very abundant. Taking only the largest shells, at least four inches in diameter at the base, they were picked up at the rate of 25 an hour. There were many large trochus shells inhabited by hermit crabs, and it is reasonable to suppose that they had perished from old age. Sea cucumbers were very abundant. The large yellow ones up to 1^ inches in length were common, as were the large, black, smooth ones up to 24 inches in length. Fairly 50 -1 r 3 5' T 1 1 -r D-Diving S-Spearing TK-Throw Netting 4'0' ' ' "^ TINIAN - ! 0 1 2 3 4 StotutB Miies •5' .15° •55" -50' Ushi Pt H.loPt (ISO). 5'- As.3a Pi June 8 (night) D-S June 10 (day) D-S-TH Mata log Pt Jun"e D-S-TH linian Town ^^ Mixrpo P\ L&lo Pt. i'c; '•■ .' Tat s u VT\ i R « « f OQU.tj^TV I. ON&f tar, RotK 145*35' -> 1 1 1 I I L. U.S. C.C. Survey 15- 55'- 50*- 51 common were large, black, spiny ones up to 12 inches and smooth black ones to eif^ht inches. Brov/n spotted groupers to 1/. inches were abundant, and very common wei-e two kinds of red squirrel fish, one solid red, ^^yripristis murd.jan. sind one with white longitudinal stripes, Holocentrus diadema. Both of these were about eight inches in length. On the leeward side of the island, in the section from shore out to the reef, there are many patches of edible sea weeds of the branCiiing type (Gracilaria sp.), about six inches high. Giant clams of the species Tridacna elongata were common, but rarely exceeded six inches in length. Small decorative shells used in handicraft were rare, with the exception of Cypraea moneta. A nujnber of fish are considered poisonous. Among these are large crevalle (Caranx sp. ) and most red fishj also all of the fish on the outside reef. On the inside ol the reef it is considered that any black fish (presumably surgeon fish) are poisonous and, of course, all puffers are discarded. The black tipped sand shark, (Eulamia nelanapterus) is not eaten. B. TINIAN ISLAI^JD (No native population - 1946) (June 8-10) From a fishery standpoint, the most striking topographic featui'e of Tinian is the lack of barrier or fringing reefs, particularly along the east or weather side of the island. Here the surf breaks directly against rock cliffs of the island itself and there is no rocky plateau along the shore. ITiis is in part true of the western or lee side of the island, except that the surf is not as high and there are sections where there is a limited fringing reef. At the time of our visit there vrere no native families living on Tinian. The fishery was in the harfds of Okinawans, but was not being actively prosecuted because the Okinawans were to be repatriated within 10 days. Since it might serve as a useful pattern else- where, it may be stated that the Okinawans conducted their fishery on a cooperative basis. One group, using a Japanese sampan, fished offshore for bonito and tuna. The other group, using two Okinawan canoes and a beach seine, fished inshore. The catch was sold at prices ranging from five to ten cents a pound, which was sufficient to provide a good source of income to the fishermen and still supply the remainder of the population with the protein food at prices wiiich they could afford. Our only examination showed that the inshore areas were well populated with fish. Llxillet 10 to 12 inches in length, and goat-fish (iLUlloidichthys . Pseudupeneus ) six to eight inches in length were abundant, although rather wild and diificult to approach. Spiny lobsters, Panulirus marrinatus . were abundant on the reefs at night and can be taken by torching. Tliese lobsters ranged in length from nine to 16 inches and averaged slightly over a pound each. The female lobsters were carry- ing brif;ht orange eggs on their svjimmerets. This species differs from that found along the southeastern United States coast in that the head and thorax portion are much larger in proportion to the total length than is the case with the United States variety. Con- sequently, the central Pacific lobster does not have as much meat in proportion to total length as the United States variety does. Thread fish (Polydactylus sexfilis) . are surgeon fish (Hepatua sp.) were abundant. The former ranged in size from 10 to 12 inches, v;hile the latter were approximately eight inches in length. The chief characteristic of the inshore area from the fringing reef to the high water line on shore is -the lack of living coral. The bottom is of very fine wnite coral sand, ivith occasional dead corsil heads protruding from the bottom. Such an area is well adapted to the use of throw nets and in some places bc-ach seines can be used. This con- dition is characteristic of the Marianas as compared with the Carolines and Marshalls. 52 "I • , .. , 1 1 ■ ' -T to 5 io -"o < • a ' CJ * • < lO • m m • > 1- M ■ • y^"\^ 9 cn • O - ■ 9 fi ^ \ 8 CO ^ • O " m If ) } => • -jo V \ \ to. • \ =" "^. ^ 5 !v • • \ k ( / ^ 1 « • \ \ f 1/ i\ r / :^ \\\ \ )/ '( A r« • ^ . \ A ) 1/1 1 <0 N ^v ( "^^ ( < 0 \\> \ * \ )u^^ ^ tC W Ji ^ ^ I '' ^^ 1 vSOs \ c \v -^^ JuV ^\ ■o " *c o 'F a OiJ ^ ^. to o l^ 7» & i 'yf/ /^ ft. Ib- -lO >^ Js y //A ff itf 4 5 5 or' ^ S ji "c 1 ^ ^ ^ \ fl" . bfl O / ^ k J? ■ hO-H •H rt ■p ^ Af^ ^ > Q) •H ^ s <^ 0) •rl D. z ^^ >» 3rH o li Q en 1 Q c c +3 c •6. ■|5 to _1_ 1 1 o \ 43 o a a> 1- 1 '•? 53 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 — -—I 1 1 1 ! ; 1 1 1 40' 45' SO' ^ ^ I44-55' C(.«^ 11 ^^6 «% ^tdi F=«n if^ V \,-^^ \ (^ (S»^"~N. ^^,_lj^-•'"^-^^"AO&AI.1 Pr. ffVpf^StNTA I '^ > iK'^*'''^^'^ Ylig Bay i;^ (>J/®>a5 r /^^ TOCiCHA e>AY - ^ J3 ' \Fema \ V 1 I ) "><=^_^ ■ Mr Umlah ^"'^X}t<^~' TALOFoto -13° 20' \\. i»V ll^i \ ^"-^ ^°'" UmATAC e«Y ^ ' "f 60LAMOS ^IX J GUAM g Ml 5A&Al.AAuAhl "^^-..^^f^y (J ^^ ^ ^^^"^ ''^"^ If-IAKAJAKJ CG DoCk-^^j-j ^K^^Agfayaki Bay Slolula Mllei D-Diving S-Spearing TH-Throw Netting coco.ti^ 5^ 22 ° *"''*'' D-S-TH 40' 45' 50' |<54'' 55' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -. 1. « 1 1 1 L.- >— -I 1 •■ 1 34 In both the latter groups there is a tremendous growing population of brain, mushroom, staghorn, and other branching corals. Around most of Tinian there is a bluff from 10 to 4.0 feet high, rising abruptly along the shore, and consequently there are no mangrove swamps. Small decorative shells which might be used for handicraft are rare. Along the outer edge of the reef there is a large population of fish among which the most common are parrot fish (Callyodon Sp.), mullet, goat-fish (Mulloidichthys and Pseudu- penaus ) . and crevalle (Caranx sp.) to three feet in length; octopi are occasionally to be found, and yellow sea cucumbers are abundant. Schools of anchovies (Anchoviella purpureus) , used as live bait for bonito, are abundant under the bluffs. Small flying fish from three to six inches in length are very abundant also. All of our observations indicate that Tinian would prove to be a very good site for an extensive bonito fishing fleet. Probably as many as 10 or 12 fisliing vessels could be accommodated there, C. ROTA ISLAND (Population +800 - 19^) (June 29-July 2) The fringing reefs around Rota are mostly only a few yards offshore (Fig. 35). Con- sequently, there is a comparatively small inshore area from which fish may easily be taker. The Japsmese operated one saapan, which brought in fresh bonito to feed the garrison, Japanese civilian, and native population. Any surplus was dried. The natives were employ- ed on the sugar plantations and were not allowed to go outside the reef, so that there is none experienced in offshore fishing. Only two fishermen expressed any desire to fish out- side the reef and their operations wei'e confined to hand-lining just outside the breakers. Since there is no local interest in developing an offshore fishery, it would be impractical to attempt to do so. Nevertheless, the 800 natives on Rota are not now able to obtain a sufficient quantity of protein food, and the most practical form of assistance would be to supply the fishiiig gear which they were accxistomed to use under the Japanese. According to a report froiii the native commissioners of the two villages, their most urgent need is twine from which they can knit throw nets. They formerly had one to a family, but at present there are only eight left altogether, Ihese nets were approximately 10 feet in diameter. An ample supply of twine for making throw nets should be kept on the island. Canoes or other small boats are not essential as few woulduse them, nor are hooks or lines especially needed. In the absense of throw nets, the natives do a small amount of spear fishing with goggles on the reefs, and women and children collect shell fish — mostly trochus, cat-eye, and spiny lobsters — from the reef. Outside of these the natives have a few chickens, and sometimes coconut crabs and fruit bats. Occasionally a deer is taken. According to the native commissioners, they were accustomed to having fish at least once a day and estimated that they used approximately a pound of fish per person. However, due to the lack of cast nets and nonavailability of fresh fish from the offshore fisherj--, they obtained fish only two or three times a week. The fish is mostly prepared by roasting, boiling with vinegar, or eaten raw, A favorite method of cooking fish throughout the Mariamas is to fry them in coconut oil. This was also done on Rota, but at the present time, the destruction of coconut trees has been so great that no oil is produced locally and none has been imported. Sea cucumbers are not eaten and shark meat also is not used by the native population, Barringtonia nuts are occasionally ground into a paste and used as a fish poison. Derris root, also, is sometimes used, although rarely. During May and June large schools of a small silvery fish, tvfo to three inches long, called manahag. believed to be young herring, are taken in large quantities by throw nets and are salted down for future use. These large schools appear annually, both at Rota and Guam, and stay only a few weeks. 55 Important in the diet are animals fraa trochus and cat-eye shells. Itiese are mostly caught by women and children while wading on the reefs at low tide during the day. Spiny lobsters are also used in large quantity, but are caught by men and boys at night by torching. They use a three-pronged spear without barbs on the points. The torch was not observed elsewhere. It consists of a section of bamboo approximately four feet long and two to tliree inches in diameter. One end is open and the intemodal space is stuffed with rags soaked in kerosene. The kerosene capacity is sufficient to burn for two to three hours. A specialized type of net was developed in the Marianas for gill netting at night. In order to prevent phosphorescence in the v;ater from showing the position of the net and frightening away the fish, the netting and floats were dipped in pig's blood. Instead of ordinary leads to hold the net down, the tops were cut off of one of the cypraea shells (C. caputserpentis) . which were then tied to the lead line at intervals of 15 to 18 inches. The net was a mile in length, six' feet deep, with a one inch square mesh. The floats were of pago wood and were eight to ten inches by two inches in diameter, D. GUAM ISLAND (Population 22,783 - 19^6) (June 19-27) The fisheries of Guam are under the jurisdiction of the agricultural division of Military Government. In order to axourgge production of sea foods several steps were undertaken. One was to remove ceiling prices from seafoods. A second was to designate certain men in each village as fishermen thus relieving them of other eii^5loyment. A third was to give exclusive trap fishing rights along certain areas of the coast to single in- individuals. Finally, several vessels belxsnging to Military Government were offered on a rental basis to fishermen with the hope of stimulating production of off-shore species, such as bonito. These measures have been largely unsuccessful. Removing ceiling prices can be effective only in cases where production is sufficient to increase incane appreci- ably. The general shortage of manpower on Guam has made it more profitable for wage earners to wor^ for the armed services rather than to go fishing. Consequently very few of the men designated as village fishermen are actiially so enployed. Examination of the traps in the vicinity of Meriso show a catch of only a few pounds per day, entirely in- sufficient to v/arrant this type of fishing as a primary source of income. The rental of flailing vessels has not resulted in the development of off-shore fishing for a number of reasons. In the lirst place, there is no back log of expeidenced fishermen to undertake this t'/pe of v/ork. In the second place, shore facilities are not available in the event of a large catch. In particular, it is necessary to have ample refrigeration space to handle the catch. It is also necessary to have transportation facilities in order to dis- tribute the catch to consumers. Very few fishermen can afford to pay a thousand dollars for a surplus weapons carrier or similar type of vehicle. The limited reef and inshore areas are not sufficiently large to warrant any expec- tation of an increased catch from this area. In the case of an off-shore fishery for tuna and bonito it seems probable that it would be necessary to bring in experienced fishing crews from other islands, such as Saipan, and to subsidize them heavily over a period of possibly six months by furnishing vessels, equipment and refrigeration space at no cost in order to develop the fishery. Unfortunately,, one of the limiting factors in the estab- lishment of an off-shore fishery for tuna and bonito is the availability of live bait. Our limited observations can throw no conclusive light on the abundance of bait fish airound Guam and if a successful off-shore fishery is to be established, a thorough in- vestigation must be made of this supply. However, our impression is that there is not an ample supply of bait fish around Guam which would warrant the encouragement of a large off- shore fishery, Tlie most common type of fishing gear is the throw net. The usual size is seven feet in length and there ai* two common sizes of mesh, one of 1/2 inch bar or one inch stretch mesh and the other about half that size, approximately I/4. inch bar of 1/2 inch stretched 56 mesh. Both are made of cotton twine. Diving and spearing of fish are negligible. There are quite a nuinber of small seines ■Rhich are used in nultiples of 30 feet by tying sections together. 'Ihese seines axe straight, about three feet deep and of one inch stretched mesh of cotton twine. Ihere are only a few scattered places where seines can be used because of the rough bottom. Spiny lobsters are fairly abundant and a good many are taken at night by torching, Octopi ai'e also very common up to three feet in total spread. Both the spiny lobster and the octopus are regarded very highly as food by the Guamanians and they also eat the small black tipped sand shark (Eulamia melanopterus ) . Although there are a few small outrigger canoes 12 to liV feet in length, these are very roughly constructed and have relatively little carrying capacity. The Guamanians pre- fer United States manufactured small boats, both power and sail. The most promising locality for increasing production is at Umatac. There are a number of good fisliermen here v/ho are experienced in going off-shore and who have in the past operated gill nets for mackerel vdth good success. It is repoi'ted that their catch amounted to ^0 to 50 thousand pounds of mackerel a week during the season. Here again increased production would be dependent on establishing refrigeration and transportation facilities. Because of its partial isolation there are more fish around Cocos Island than around the shore of Guam itself. On the lee side of the island there v/ere schools of large mullet Ui to 16 inches long, larf:e crevalle of 10 to 15 pounds and blue wrasse (Cheilinus sp.) (Fig. 36) up to 30 pounds mere observed on the seaward side. Goat-lish up to ten inches in lenf^h also mere common. For further recoi-.imendations concerning iisheries on Guam, see Part III Summary and ice commendations (IV L). Fig. 36... Guam, Blue wrasse ( Chei linus undulatus ) , taken with surround net. Jvme 19^6. 57 PART II DESCRIP110N OF THE HSHERIES INTRODUCTION Although the number of economic species of lisn, reptiles, and marine invertebrates is certainly in excess of 2,000, the day to day subsistence of the Native people is depend- ent on a comparatively fen groups. Of the reef and inshore fish it v.iil be found that throughout the mandated area the most important are the angel fish, the barracuda, the crevalle, the wrasse, the goat-fisn, the parrot fish, the squirrel fish, and the surgeon fish. Among invertebrates, the more important ones are a type oi cockle called anadara, concn, crab, octopi, the rock oyster, spiny lobstei', giant clam, trochus, and turbo or cat- eye. Although a number of species of sea cucumbers are abundantly distributed ovijr the entire area, they were not found to be an important item in the native diet. On the various kinds of fish found in the open ocean outside the barrier reefs, the tuna, mackerel, and sword fish are of general importance. A few of these offshore fish are taken by the natives, us\ially by trolling just outside the breakers on the barrier reef. The natives fish depths of as much as 20 fathans, where they sometimes take swordfish weighing over 200 pounds, and yellow fin tuna weighing up to 80 pounds. Occasionally a dugong or sea cow was taken, particularly in the Palaus, but the total number evidently never amo\inted to more than a few a year, Ihe failure of the natives to develop more of an offshore fishery was not due to their inability to catch the tuna and other species, but simply resulted from the fact that they had no need to. From a practical standpoint it was easier for them to obtain their fish from the constant fish population on the reefs and in the lagoons. Their offshore fishing was more in trfe nature of what we would call "sport fishing". The taking of an extra large tuna or swordfish is described by the natives with as much enthusiasm as though it were to be entered into- the records of the International Game Fish Association. Since fishing between the shore and- the reef provided most of the food for the table, there was a customary division of labor between the sexes. Usually women and girls fished the reefs and flats close inshore, which are either exposed at low tide or nearly so. The men did the spear fishing, diving, and hand-lining, either around the reefs or in favorable spots in the lagoons. Boys begin going fishing with their fathers when about six years cf age, and by the time they are ten they frequently go fishing with groups of others of their own age. Fishing with beadi seine or from canoes is usually entirely in the hands of men. The women either collect their fish by hand or, in some cases, use a small hand net to collect small fish around rocks in the shallow waters of the flats. Most of the diving done by the men is in less than four fathoms, 7i\e above statements should not be construed to mean that the fishery resources of the former Japanese Mandate are only sufficient for native subsistence. Succeeding sections will show that the Japanese actually took 75 million pounds of bonito from the area in one year, using shore based lleets of small fishing vessels - under 50 tons. In addition, several factory ships produced an unknown, but certainly sizeable quantity which did not appear in the Uandate statistics. There is no doubt that offshore supplies of bonito and tuna are ample to support a fisherj^ approaching 200 million pounds annually. The present state of our knowledge of the tunas does not answer the question of whether or not the tunas of the mandated area are seasonally a part of the population which supports the Japanese home fishery, and if so to what extent. If this should be the case, it is possible that a catch of 200 million pounds in the former Mandate would cause some reduction in catch off J^pan proper. 58 I. BO^aTO INDDSTRT A. STATISTICE OF THE BONITO USHERY Maximum production of bonito was reached 1937 (Table I) with a catch of 7.i,983,780 pounds valued at 5958, /i.76 (¥4.. 00 to $1.00), or 1.3 cents per pound average to the fisher- men. The price of fresh bonito varied from place to place (Table 2), cind fluctuated according to local abundance, but basically it was a percentage of the market price for bonito sticks in Japan. Tlie 1937 price of fresh bonito v/as 9 percent of tlie ma.rket price of bonito sticks in Tokyo. The local price in the Palaus, for example, was established monthly, calculated at 9 percent oi the price which Palauan bonito sticks sold for in Tokjro the preceding month. In 1938 the catch dropped to 32,703,981 pounds, and to 25,'U.l,'ib6 pounds in ig-il. This the last year lor whicti statistics are available from the South Seas Government records, but it is known that the catch declined abruptly in subsequent years. The extra heavy catch in 1937 seems to have resulted from :.he operations of an unusually lar^e nuriber of fishing vessels, some of which were withdrawn the following year. Table /i lists the number of iishing vessels at bases in the mandated area in 1937. Figures for the following years are not available, but the number is knoTm to oe less. Japanese recommendations are that the number of vessels in the bonito fishery should be 25 at Koror in the Palaus; 20 at Truk; and 10 at Ponape. In addition, AO vessels of 50 to 60 tons could be used for tuna, 20 each at Koror and Truk. Table 5, from South Seas Government fig\ires for 1941, shows the production from the more important^ marine fisheries at centers in the Mandated Islands. In the case of white pearl shells (Gold-lip pearl oyster), it is believed that most of the catch was taken in tiie Arafura Sea. In using this table, note that bonito and tuna sticks are processed from the fresh fish, consequently the vertical column totals for weight are incorrect. Also, the figures for shark fin production in the Palaus are confusing. It is obvious that 42,858 kg of sharks would not yield anything like 22,028 kg of fins. Quite probably fins were removed from captured sharks, and the carcasses discarded. This, however, is mere speculation. In any event, the figures are the only ones available for the last pre-war year, and are sufficiently valuable to be included in this report. No figures could be found on the extent of the canning industry. The only information is that the Palau cannery at Koror, with a capacity of 500 cases a day, was completed in 1939, and operated at capacity for a short tiioe in 1940. It packed tana in oil, and was the only operating cannery on a commercial scale in the Mandated Islands, 59 TABLE 1 Bo'nito Catch — Japanese Mandated Islands 193^-1941 Catch in Millions of Pounds, 000 omitted PUCE 193A 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 .19a SAIPAN 5,535 3,929 3,721 8,134 5,702 4,591 Data 2,854 YAP 9 2 « • • • • • a ■ • • • • 123 79 not 12 PALAU 8,313 11,860 8,439 30,304 11,924 12,207 available 7,277 TRUK 2,639 6,605 12,914 27,353 11,648 16,807 9,561 PONAPE 2,645 2,888 5,930 8,940 3,290 8,157 5,333 JAUJIT 561 505 369 200 U,770 • • • • 372 TOTALS 19,702 25,787 31,373 74,931 32,701 41,841 25,409 ^ Original data given in kilograms. Conversion to pounds x 2.2. 2 No commercial production at Tap, ,1935-1939, incl, TABLE 2 Prices of Fresh Bonito — Dockside Cents Per Pound 1934 1937 1941 Saipan 02.5 Tap 03.5 Palau 03 Truk 03.75 Ponape 02.5 Jaluit 02.5 ^ N.A. — Not Available 01.25^ N.A. 1 01.25 0.75 01.25 01.25 03.25- N.A. ^ 02.5 02.5 02.5 07.5 TABLE 3 Weight Relation of Bonito Sticks To Fresh Bonito Fresh Bonito Bonito Sticks 1936 1937 1938 1941 U, 265, 772 2,422,856 17. 34,060,809 5,812,745 17. U,958,592 2,501,222 11.6 1 11,545,053 1,333,840 ^ Authors note: Itiis low figure may be due in part to increased use of fresh bonito to feed augmented garrisons of Japanese troops. 60 TABLE 4 Number of Pishing Vessels in the Mandated Islands, 1937 Port Below 20 tons Above 20 tons Tota] Saipan 34 3 37 Yap 4 — 4 Palau 89 160 249 Truk 47 3 50 Ponape 18 1 19 Jaluit 1 ^ 1 No. Crew 630 96 3154 817 586 21 TOTAL 193 167 360 5304 TABLE 5 1941 Catch And Production — Mandated Islands (From South Seas Government) Weight In Kilograms — Value In Ten 2.2 pounds 4 yen to a dollar SAIPAN TAP PALAUS TRUK PONAPE JALUIT TOTAL Bonito KG 1,297,354 3,308,160 4,346,259 2,424,260 169,020 11,545,053 Fresh ¥ 358,996 627,040 1,118,166 509,094 105,638 2,918,934 Bonito KG 182,152 370,290 724,800 332,266 24,332 1,333,840 Sticks ¥ 491,227 907,210 2,011,718 774,384 65,895 4,250,434 Tuna KG 33,669 906,150 24,150 12,768 46,356 1,023,093 Fresh ¥ 19,913 253,722 5,847 9,150 27,073 315,705 Tuna KG 54,533 3,956 2,730 5,500 66,719 Sticks ¥ 97,069 11,373 6,552 U,888 129,882 Horse KG 4,0U 1,896 1,613 7,559 U,830 29,932 Mackerel ¥ 2,302 1,251 1,290 4,031 7,425 16,299 King KG 5,767 U,092 Mackerel ¥ 3,356 11,555 :Jullet KG ¥ 75 40 6,075 3,037 6,150 3,077 Sharks KG 10,705 42,858 2,665 56,228 ¥ 3,012 . 214 527 3,753 61 TABLE 5 (Continued) 1941 Catch And PJWiuction — Mandated Islands (Fi-om South Seas Government) Weight In Kilograms — Value In Yen 2.2 pounds k yen to a dollar SAIPAN TAP PAUUS TRUK PONAPE JAIXJIT TOTAL Shark Fins KG ¥ 150 500 22,028 44,056 22,178 44,556 Other Fish KG 288,688 105,033 46,742 24,779 334,877 174,137 56,419 22,765 134,973 67,486 26,724 13,362 828,405 407,556 Trochus Shells KG ¥ 21,080 2,524 1 48,835 6,479 69,875 9,003 White Pearl Shell KG ¥ 212,688 "^ 183,430 212,688 183,430 Black Pearl Shell KG ¥ 559 50 559 50 Sea Cucumbers (Ti-epang) KG ¥ 2,117 3,136 4,892 9,556 12,723 14,486 22,227 9,172 15,317 38,477 59,596 Coral KQ ¥ 18,236 261,305 18,236 261,305 Other Shells KG ¥ 53,555 12,179 206,875 35,758 135,131 30,269 12,075 2,a5 407,576 80,621 TOTALS KG 1,878,236 72,854 5,502,515 5,361,595 2,951,814 271,932 ¥ 1,000,995 33,446 2,€09,559 3,232,875 1,395,387 226,856 8,699,118 •'- No open season for trochus in Palaus, 1941 (So stated in Japanese report) 2 Pearling fleet based at Koror, but shells taken elsewhere fAuthor's note) Figure 37. Truk. Japanese Fishing Sampan. 62 Figure 38... Saipan. Bonito Fishing No. 1, Layinr^ out live-bait net, June 194-6. Figure 39... Saipan. Eonito Fishint^ I«o. 2. Drivinr; live-bait into net. June 1946. 63 B. IHE JAPANESE B ONI TO FISHERY The length of time required to establish a new fishery is well illustrated by Japsmese experience in attempting to exploit the bonito in the former Mandated Islands. Although they were in control from 1914- on, it was not until the middle twenties that sufficient in- formation had been gathered to indicate the possibilities of a large fishery, their first attempts were made in the vicinity of Saipan, but because of the shortage 'of live bait the results were not. encouraging. Further search showed that a much greater supply existed in the Palaus and special attention was given to Uiis area. In the late 1920 's bait fish were also found at Truk and development here was started. Realizing that some fomi of subsidy would be required to get coimaercial production started, the Japanese Ministjry of Agriculture and Commerce offered special inducements to Okinawan fishermen who would migrate to the new centers. These inducements were in the nature of cash awards for the construction and outfitting of fishing vessels and for shore install - ations. As production increased and the fishery got on a more stable oasis, a number of fishermen organized cooperative fishery companies, while others operated their own vessels independently. By the early 1330's operations had been extended from the original localities around Palau and Truk to Ponaf^e and, to a lesser extent, to Yap and Kusaie. Because of the long distances involved (approximately two thousand miles from Tokyo to the Palaus), the catch was processed for export in the form of dried bonito sticks. It is interesting to note that producers of this item in the Japanese homeland were not pleased to have compe- tition from a new direction and at first adopted customary methods of attempting to freeze out competitive products. The method of fishing now in use at Saipan is described below. It is similar in all respects to the methods developed and used by the Okinawans. the latter sometimes obtained their live bait in a different manner. Apparently the Okinawans were extremely hardy fishermen, for, as soon as their catch was unloaded, they immediately refueled and left to catch live bait during the night. Schools of bait fish were attracted by lights and when a large school had been assembled it was led, by moving the light, to the bait net. At daylight tlie necessary quantity of live bait was put into the srdp's tanks, the balance remaining in the bait net until needed. The vessel then started hunting for bonito and fishing began as soon as a school of fish could be brought alongside. Ordinarily the Okinawans did not stay out overnight, even if no fish were caught. C. NATIVE BONITO IISHERY ON SAIPAN (June, 19/;6) In addition to two sampans, (Fig. 37) the facilities on Saipan consist of a dock capable of handling three or four sampans and a shed where weighing, washing, and gutting can be carried on. These sampans were owned by, and the operations are carried out under, liilitary Government. The fishermen were paid only the regular daily vjage established by Military Government and the fish were distributed free' to the native population. In view of the high degree of skill siiovn by the native fishermen, it is believed that the fishery could be placed entirely in their hands to be operated on a cooperative basis and the fish sold. It is recommended that the vessels and their equipment either be given to the natives, or appraised at only a nominal value of around f'500,00 each. It must be remembei^d that these Japanese sampsins were sunk at Saipan and were sub- sequently re-floated and repaired. It should not be expected that the natives would bear the cost of salvage and repair. Since the dock and shore facilities are essential to the fishing operations, and are in a large measure of jiublic benefit, they could be leased to the fisliing cooperative at some rental such as $1.00 a year, but in any case a definite guarantee should be given of occupancy for a period of at least five years. Such an arrangement would not only assure to the fishermen a more adequate compensation for their labors, but v;ould also greatly increase, possibly double, the production of the fishery. 54 figure 10... Saipan. Bonito Fishinc '1°. 3. Dr;-ing-up live-bait net. June 1946. Kisure U... Saipan. Bonito Fis.:ing Mo. A. Figure A2... Saipan. Bonito Fishing :io. ^. Bailing live-bait fron net to tanks. Detail of live-bait and tanks. June 19A6. June 19^6. 65 ^S;\^ * WSHli^ ^ Figure 43. •• Saipan. Bonito Fishing No, 6, Salt water sprayer, June 194-6. Figure 44... Saipan, Bonito Fishing No. 7. Method of fishing, June 1946, 66 At the time of our survey, refrigeration was not required in the dock area. All except a small portion of the catch was merely weighed, washed, and distributed to the native population in the round. This is a satisfactory arrangement as long as the demand exceeds the supply, since all of the fish immediately go into the consumers' hands and are eaten within twenty-four hours. However, refrigeration facilities should be made readily avail- able to hsmdle any excess of production over immediate consumption. All of our infonnation leads to the conclusion that the fishery could be considerably increased and that both the supply of bonito and bait fish will stand a considerably larger production. It should be possible, using the present experienced crev;s as teachers, to interest a larger number of the natives in becoming expert fishermen, with the hope that eventually possibly as many as ten fishing sampans could operate from the docks at Saipan. Since the increased proauction would not be required to feed the local population, it would be the aim of this expansion to prepare dried bonito for export to Japan or China. Since the method of processing is in^xsrtant in preparing a type of product desired by the Japanese and Chinese, it would be the best policy to bring in from Japan one or more persons experienced in the preparation of dried bonito to teach the natives the Japanese process, the need for technical assistance would probably not extend over a longer period than six months . The in^Dortance of the bonito fishery, not only at Saipan but at other places through- out the former mandated area, warrants a fall description of the method of fishing, since it will become a pattern for future operations. The sequence of operations is taken from an actual daj^ of fishing. Departure from the dock was at ^:00 a.m. and by 5:^5 the vessel was standing close inshore along the cliffs of Tinian to search for live bait. As soon as it was light enough to see, the vessel moved slowly along the cliffs and a diver was sent over about every 100 feet until one of them located a school of the small anchovies (Anchoviella purpureus ) , used for bait. The sampan then took up a position about 100 yards from the school of bait fish and was quickly anchored by bow and stern parallel to shore and less than 100 feet frcm the cliff. Then two or three lines with a hook at the end were carried asnore by swimmers and fastened to the rocks at water level to hold the ship from drifting away from shore, they were now ready to set the bait net, which is approximately 30 by bO feet and made of very heavy bobbinet. This net is stretched between the ship and cliffs with one short edge inshore and the other on the ship (Fig. 38). Ihe ^ort edge which is carried ashore is held at the surface by a large bundle of bamboo, which acts as a float. the leading edge of the net which is toward the school of fish is then weighted down at or near the bottom. "The trailing edge away from the fish is held at the surface. Ten or twelve fishermen then go over the side and form a semi-circle around the school of fish and by swimming slowly, drive the school into the net (Fig. 39). As soon as the school is within the leading edge of the net, this edge is brought up to the surface, foiming a trap. Some of the net is then drawn aboard the ship and some is wrapped around the bamboo float on the shore end until the school of fish is in a small pocket alongside the ship (Fig. 40), Frcm this pocket they are bailed into the two large bait tanks located amid- ships (Fig. /J.). The bait tanks are formed by two watertight bulkheads, which make a watertight compartment in the center of the ship. This compartment is further subdivided to form two tanks (Fig. ^2) . In this section two-inch holes are bored through the bottom of the hull in the way of the tanks to provide salt water circulation. This circulation is dependent on the motion of the vessel and is only sufficient to keep the bait alive during severail hours. It is not enough to keep the bait alive over-night. On the trip in questidn, approximately an hour was required to catch. a small school of bait fish. The ship then moved offshore and the captain began looking for flocks of sea gulls feeding at the surface, which are used as indicators of schools of bonito below, ■ffhen a school was located, the captain brought the ship across the head of the school and approDcimately 100 yards away. The engines were then stopped and small quantities of live 67 bait T;ere thrown over. As the vessel drifted showly, the bonito followed the live bait to the stern of the snip. As soon as a school has been brought to the ship there is a definite division of labor among the fishermen and each man has a, task to perform. In this case 17 men did the actual I'isning. Ihere were four men across the stern and 13 men along the port rail from bow to stem. No fishing was done from the starboard side. One man on the star- board quarter threw live bait over the stern to keep the fish coming to the four men who were fishing there. Amidships on the port side one man threw live bait both fore and aft to keep the fish coming to the iishermen on that side. Two men got bait out of the tanks while two others kept the bait throwers supplied with fresh live bait. Throughout the fisning, salt T;ater is sprayed over the side from nozzles located aoout every four feet (Fig. /t3). In this case there were eleven nozzles operating on the port side and three on the stern. The purpose of this spraying is twofold: first, it tends to prevent the fish from being frightened by sight of the fishermenj and second, the action of the spray on the water is somev.hat similar to a school of small bait trying to escape. Each fisherman has a heavy bamboo pole about ten feet in length to whi'ch is attached a line of the same length. At the end of the line is a barbless hook, which may be one of two types. In one case it has a few white feathers attached to it, similar to a feather jig, and in the other case it is plain and a live minnow is put on the hook by inserting the point through both lips. Ihe feather jig is used when the fish first come alongside the ship and is worked back and forth near the surface. After a few minutes the fish seem to become aware of the fact that the feather jig is not alive and cease striking on it. This jig is then removed and the plain barbless hook is put on vdth live bait attached through both lips. Fishing continues until the school of bonito soimds or the live bait is exhausted. The actual catching of the fish requires considerable skill and dexterity. As soon as a fish strikes, the fisherman leans back and dovm, heaving the fish quickly out of the water and toward the ship (fig. ^-i). The amount of power put into lifting the fish is gauged carefully so that the fish will come aboardship at about the height of the fisher- man's waist. He grabs the fish under his left arm, removes the hook- (if it heis not already come out of its own accord), and in practically one motion throws the fish behind him on deck and drops the hook again into the v.ater. Some of the fishermen are so skillful that they can with one heave bring the fish up and on deck, disengage the hook without touching the fish, and be fishing again while the fish is flapping on the deck. Expert fishermen will catch from ten to twelve fish per minute. All of the fish caught were ocean bonito or skipjack (Katsuwonus (Euthynnus ) pelamis ) , and ^,017 pounds were taken in an hour and five minutes. Tlie average weight per fish was nine and a half pounds. In addition to the bonito there are heavy runs of mackerel, particularly during the month of March. In March of 194-6 large schools came inside the reef, and during one week a total of 68,000 pounds were taken. If facilities were available, it is reasonable to expect that several hundred thousand pounds could be taken annually. It must be remembered that here, as elsewhere, the Japanese did not allow the Chamorros to go outside the reef and consequently they were unfamiliar with offshore fishing methods. Their progress in becomin?' expert fishermen since the American occupation has been most encouraging. With proper support there is every reason to expect that they can develop a very flourishing fishery for bonito (skipjack), tuna, and mackerel. It is suggested that it might be worthwhile to undertake experiments with some type of purse seine or lampara net for the taking of bonito. It is realized that there are many difficulties involved, especially the rapidity with which the schools of fish travel, the transparency of the water, and the fact that there is no smooth bottom in shallow water. Quite possibly the operations would have to be carried on at night. Such a method would, hov/ever, make possible the establishment of lisheries in areas where bait fish are not abundant. Recognizing the limitations imposed by the supply of bait fish, the Japanese experimented with purse seines during the 1920' s but were unsuccessful in developing a suitable method. 6C It might also be possible to extend fishing operations to new localities by developing the methods of obtaining sufficient supplies of other types of live bait than the anchovj', which is the mainstay of the industry in the Palaus and at Ssiipan, small goat-fish should be especially good for this purpose. There are several reconimendations in regard to bonito fishing. First, it is believed that the sampans could be operated efficiently with a crew of 1^ to 16 men instead of the 26 to 28 now used, thus providing an extra crew for an additional boat. Second, if it is found necessary, the sampans should be allowed to remain out overnight urtien they have found no fish during the day. This would pei'mit them to replenish their bait supply before dark so that they could begin searching for fish at dawn the following day, it being well known that the best fish- ing time is early morning. This would serve the additional purpose of getting the catch back to the dock in a fresher condition, as they would be caught during the coolest part of the day. Consideration should also be given to the desirability of the sampans carry- ing at least half a ton of ice for the preservation of the catch which is made earlier in the day, especially since in many cases it is the middle of the afternoon before the boats return from fishing. A half ton of ice would be sufficient to preserve up to 1,000 pounds of fish for twenty-four hours if the hold is properly insulated. D. DhlED BONITO STICKS— JAPANESE IffiTHOD Ihe bonito sticks, as prepared originally in Japan and subsequently In some of the former mandated areas have many advantages. Chief among them is durability. Vftien the process is finally completed, the sticks may be kept without refrigeration for months. Packaging is simple, as it is only necessary to wrap the individual sticks in paper and ship them in wooden boxes or barrels. The process is a simple one cind requires only facilities for cooking, although, in order to take advantage of large runs of fish, some type of refrigeration is essential. It takes about two weeks to finish the various steps involved. A number of women were enployed in butchering, skinning, scraping, trimming, and packing. In some cases they were paid a flat monthly wage, of around ¥40 to ¥60, but ordinarily they were paid a basic wage, plus a bonus for piece work. In addition to their salaries, they obtained discarded parts of the fresh fish for their own use. Native women were en5)loyed as well as Japanese and Okinawans. Native men were not commonly em- ployed. Broi;! the fishing vessels the bonito are brought in to the butchering tables, where the head is cut off and the guts removed. Gutting is generally accomplished by cutting off the entire abdominal section of the fish. Tivo fillets are then cut from the backbone and these strips again cut lengthwise, making four pieces from each fish, unless they are quite small, in which case there may be only two pieces; or, if the fish is extra large, they may again be cut across. The strips are then placed in a single layer in steel trays, which are stadr. deLaubenfels for checking. The v;eak fibers were not due to chemical bleaching, and it may be that this is due to differences in Mediterranean and Central Pacific conditions. In any event, it is evident that sponge culture has definite possibilities, and the sponges now at Ailinglapalap should be used mainly as cuttings to extend planting to other suitable places. IV. PEATiL SHELIS A. DISTRIBUTION OF PEARL OYSTERS The black lip pearl oyster (finctada margaratif'era ) is widely distributed through- out the former mandated area. Specimens were tsJcen at Saipan, the Palaus, Ponape, Kapingaraarangi, Nukuoro, and Likiep. They occur in abundance only in the Palaus. The Japanese figures for 194-1 showed a production from the Palaus of approximately 2,500 tons, but an unknown percentage of these may have been taken in the Arafura Sea. It is believed that limited commercial production would be possible at Truk and Ponape and it would be well worthwhile to attempt increasing the abundance in a number of localities such as Kusaie, Kapingamarangi, Ailinglapalap, Majuro, and Eniwetok. No specimens of the gold lip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) were seen at any place visited. Hov/ever, it is known that the Japanese brought in some of this species to Palau for their experiments in pearl culture and it is quite likely that more thorough investigation would reveal some in the near vicinity of Koror. Following the success of Mikimoto in commercializing the culture of pearls in Japan, nximerous attempts were made to establish tills industry in the former mandated area and also in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. The main experiments were carried on in the Palaus, where plantings were made as early as 1930 and at the time the war began four companies were engaged there in pearl culture. There was also a planting on a smaller scale at Ebon in the llarshall Islands. Ihe work at both of these localities is described more in detail below. The actual number of pearls produced and their quality, either in the Palaus or at Ebon, is unknown to us. For one thing, it was nbt customary to ship the pearls back to Japan annually. They were exported when- ever what they thought to be a sufficient number had been collected. Japanese statistics show 17,783 pearls exported from the Palaus in 194.1. However, these could have been pro- duced in previous years as well as 1941. 72 The great advantage of culturlng pearls in the Palaus and other islands of the former Japanese lilandate was the presence there of the larger species of pearl oyster, especially the black lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaratifera) , and the availability of the gold lip oyster (Pinctada maxima). Because of their large size they were not only easier to use as hosts for the mother of pearl blanks, but also the nacre was laid dovm at a more- rapid rate, so that pearls could be produced in two years rather than the three to five which were required for the smaller native Japanese species of the pearl oyster (Pinctada martensi) . B. JAPAIJESE PEAKL CULTURE AT EBOH Although we did not visit the island of Ebon, a native from that island was inter- viewed at Liajuro in regard to experimental productions of culture pearls carried on by the Japanese. Ihis native assisted the Japanese in their planting operations and was one of only three natives permitted to do so. The work was carried on from 1935 to 1942, Three species of oysters were planted: the first was the black lip (Pinctada margaritifera) of approximately six inches in diameter, brought from Namorik; the second species, was the gold lip (Pinctada maxima), approximately six inches in diameter or larger, which was brought from New Guinea; and the third a small white oyster, approximately three inches in diameter, which was brought from Japan. Planting was done inside the lagoon in depths of 3 to 12 fathcms. As at Koror in the Palaus, oysters were placed in wire baskets hold- ing from 6 to 18 oysters each. Some baskets were placed on the bottom, others suspended by wood floats and gasoline drums at varying distances from the bottom to approximately three feet belov/ the surface of the water. The effect of various locations was not known to our informant. He was told that in Japan it took five years to produce cultured pearls, but only three years at Ebon. The informant also did not know which species of oyster proved best for pearl culture. Pearl shell slugs of graduated sizes were put into oysters to form the pearls, as was done at Koror. Hone of the natives was permitted to watch the process of inserting the pearl slug into the oysters. The Japanese told the natives that it would cost them 1,000 yen to watch the process. Our informant thought that the Japanese must have planted thousands of these oysters. Three Japanese were engaged in this "work, and the man in charge was Kosuka Kyoshi, The operating company was the iiarshalls Sinsyu Kabushlki Kaiisha of Tokyo and Uaiken. The plantings were abandoned in 1942, and the informant did not know the present status of the plantings, but thinks it probable (with which I agree) that the natives took up most of the baskets to get the pearls . V, SEA CUCUMBERS (TREPANG) Approximately a dozen species (not yet identified) are very abundant throughout the area. The commercial types are shown in Fig. 31. T?hen dried they are known as trepang or beche-de-mer, and are a prized addition to the diet of many Orientals. A small (4-6 inches) smooth, black species occurs in tremendous qusintities on the flats, just offshore in 6 to 12 inches of water. It is sometimes difficult to walk there without stepping on them. Most of the larger species are to be found in deeper water, down to several fathoms, and usually are to be seen in greater abundance at night. Chief centers of trepang production were Saipan, Palaus, Yap, Truk, and Ponape. This was due, not only to the local abundance of sea cucumbers, but also to the avail- ability of shipping. Trepang cannot be kept indefinitely without protection against spoilage, and remote islands and atolls do not have frequent trading vessels to take a semi -perishable product. 73 According to Japanese reports, overfishing had reduced the numbers in many places, as no conservation regulations applied to these animals. Our ovm observations tended to confirm the Japanese statements, as the larger and more desirable commercial species were not very abundant compai^d with the unutilized species. No information is avail- able on the n\imbers spawned, or rates of survival or growth. The limited amount of tre- pamg fishing now (summer, 194.6) done by the natives gives no indication of the probable need for protection. However, trepang is a cash crop to the natives, and sufficient in- formation should be obtained to protect their interests. Japanese figures on export of dried sea cucumbers where between 20 to 30 tons per year. Their ig/Vl figures of production, presumably net weight, were as follows (weight in pounds ) : Saipan 119,673 Yap 68,952 Jalau 3a,2^i Truk 1,U2,779 Ponape 201,78ii Total l,87/i,A32 At truk, Ponape, and Palais fishing for sea cucumbers was done by men, as the valuable and large specimens liad to be taken mostly by diving, in which the vromen did not engage. (See also VIIB Trepang Fishing of Truk.) Figure Us (Above) Truk. Native produced Trepang (dried sea-cucumber). Figure Kl (I'-J-ght) Truk. Trochus Shells. :.:a.y 19/f6. IL, VI. nSHERIES - TROCHUS SHELLS Several species of trocJius are found throughout the former mandated area, but the comnercial species, Trochus niloticus. was originally taJcen only in the Palaus and at Yap. Under the direction of the South Seas Government transplantings of tiiis trochus were made froia. the Palaus to a number of other localities. Ihe latest transplantings Were around 1936. llost of these transplantings seem to have been successful since at present the animals are found in commercial abundance at Saipan, Truk, Ponape, Kuop, Jaluit, Ailinglapalap, and Kapingamarangi. Trochus are found chiefly on the outside edge of the barrier or fringing reefs at depths to tWD fathoms. It is stated that they prefer areas where seaweed is present, Tlie collection of trochus shells was given over to the natives. Tae Japanese bought them for from 10 to 15 sen (¥.10 - ¥.15) each and the total production was sent back to Japan for the making of pearl buttons. Such statistics as are available seem to show that approximately 125 tons were taken per year. However, since considerable planting was done in 193b, and it requires several years for the trochus to become established, there was no harvesting from Saipan, Ailinglapalap, or Kapingamarangi. In swidition, the exigencies of war prevented harvesting at any point from 1942 to 19'i6. In the latter year only a limited amount of harvesting was done under the direction of the U. S. Commercial Company at Tap, Saipan, the Palaus, Truk, and Ponape. There is every reason to expect that diiring the next few years the production of trochus should amount to as much as 50 percent higher than the tonnage taken by the Japanese prior to the w£ir. However, this will depend to a large extent on the number of shells rejected. (See also VIIC Trochus Shell Fishery of Truk.) VII, FISHERIES OF TRUK A. INTORIUTION ON PREVAR FISh'ERr The following information was secured from Chief Artie Hoses who is Chief of the wtiole Truk Group and oivner of Kuop Atoll. He stated that the Japanese brought in the comiRercial trochus shell from the Palaus and planted them around the reefs at Truk, be- ginning 20 years ago. The most recent planting v.as in 1936. Plantings v/ere apparently fairly widespread and included Kuop Atoll. None was planted at Hall Islands. (Autnor's note: Bie native trochus is a small species with a rough shell and seldom gets over two and a half inches in diauneter. It has no commercial value.) During the war, especially near the end, many trochus shells were taken by the Japanese and by the natives for food. The natives were not allowed to have trochus in their possession before the war as the taking of them was strictly controlled and done by Qkinawan divers for the Japanese. Ihere were a few Japanese divers also. The natives fonaerly had five and six man canoes both paddling and sailing . These were taker, away by the Japanese and the natives were forbidden to go outside the passes. Before the war the natives did a little trolling for bonito witli feather jigs outside the reefs, but only for subsistence. They v.'ere not employed by the Japanese to get fish for the industry. The main fishery was carried on by the Japanese and Okinawans, five Japan- ese sampans came into Dublon Island one day with 500 fish each ivhich was considered a good day's fishing. Each sampan carried a ci-ew of 12 men. Sometimes the catch was as lov: as 100 to 300 fish per day and occasionally a sampan would get 1,000 fish. The fish averaged five to eight pounds each. The Japanese had a large drying shed on Lublon Island for bonito (Katsuwonis pelamis ) . No canning or salting was done by the Japanese. They had refrigeration sufficient to hold surplus fish over-night in case of a large catch. Bonito 75 were sold fresh to the natives for $3.00 to S^.OO each. The heads, backbones and other by- products of the drying industry were sold for three to four sen each. The price depended on size of catch, as the Japanese reduced the price to get rid of a surplus, and raised it when fishing was light. Toward the end of the war when food was scarce fresh bonitos sold as high as ¥100 each. Ihe natives themselves dried scxae bonito partly following the Japanese method after cooking and removing the bones. Ttie flesh was dried in the sun. The natives also salted some bonito although salt had to be imported from Japan. The main native centers of dry- ing and salting were on Tol, Uman, and Pis Islands. There are still some Japanese fish hooks \ised for off-shore fishing but no fisiiing line and they have lost the art of using local fibres to make lines strong enough for bonito fishing. Under the Japanese, in order to fish off-shore or for certain other tj-pes of fishing, such as turtle and for shell fish, the natives had to go to the nearest Japanese office and get a license. The native told the Japanese where he wanted to fish, what species he expected to take and the season of the year for each species. If approved by the Japan- ese, a license written on a wood paddle was issued free and was good for three years. Any native found fishing without a license was subject to fine or work on the roads. Just before the Japanese suirendered they ordered the natives to destroy all Japanese papers, books, and photographs and the only thing the natives were able to retain were their bibles and hymn books. He were unable to locate any Japanese licenses and none is believed to exist now as native houses were searched by the Japanese to be sure that the order was complied with. B. TREPANG flSHKRy AT TRUK On Dublon Island of the Tiuk group there is a Korean merchant who, before the war, handled trepang. He is, therefore, familiar with the Japanese requirements, and it is believed that this industry could be revived in the Truk area with considerable profit to the natives. Yellow, black, and brown trepang were abundant and are present the year round. The process itself is a simple one, requires little investment or equipment, and should be easily within the means of any natives who wish to go into it. During the Japsinese occupation the natives collected many thousands of pounds of sea cucxanbers for making trepang. Specimens range in size from four to 18 inches in length (Fig. 1.6). Most of the fishing was formerly done at night, using torches made of dry coconut leaves to locate the sea cucumbers on the shallow reefs. Sea cucumbers were apparently found in greatest abundance at Tol Island, but we found them to be ccaaparatively abundant in the vicinity of practically all islands. In preparation, the sea cucumbers are first boiled, then eviscerated, then dried under cover over a fire. In some cases they are simply dried at comparatively low temperature; in other cases they are smoked. About sijc grades were produced formerly in the Truk area. Yellow specimens were the most sought after. Appeu^ntly, small sizes were used, as it was stated that 50 pieces of dried trepang weighed only one kilogram, A kilogram of the dried product was sold for ¥5.00 at Truk, and for ¥8.00 on arrival at Japan. This presumably was the price to the primary producer. We could not get the price to fishermen. Ihe Korean thought he could prepare approocimately ten kilograms of dried trepang per week, C. TROCHUS SHKLL FISHERY AT TOUK (Fig. 47) In view of the reported planting of trochus shells during 1936 by the Japanese, it seemed desirable to look into the present abundance of these sh.ell fish. Arrangements were made by tlr. G. G. Wheeler, USCC Senior Representative, to obtain the services of three Okinawan divers and a small navy patrol craft to visit the reefs in the vicinity of Otta Pass. Tliis v;as done on llay 25th. A small reef, approximately 3/8 of a mile in circimference, v;as selected for search. Four divers worked around this reef and in an hour and a half obtained 27 trochus shells over three inches in diameter. The trochus were found along the face of the reef in one to two fathoms. The production of lour shells per man per hour is extremely low. It is believed that this was not due to an actual scarcity of trochus shells, but to inexperience in locating them. 76 Fig. 48... Saipan, Beach Seining No. 1. Setting net, June 19^6, Fig. 49. Saipan. Beach Seining No. 2. Hauling net. June 194.6. 77 VIII. SAIPAli BEACH SEIIMNG (June 1946) The seine crew which operates inshore. between the beach and the barrier reef is very expert. There are 12 to 15 aien in the crew. Their seine is in sections approximately 200 yards long ui each section, eight feet deep, and of l/i. inch bar, or l/2 inch stretch- ed mesh. Itie cotton twine is somevjhat heavier than #9. The net is set from a 16 foot, narrow beam skiff of the Okinawan type. Three or four fishermen go in the seine boat amd tl-ie net is laid out in a half -circle from shore (Fig. A8) . The fishermen propel the seine boat with bamboo poles and by a single long sculling oar at the stem. The water in this section is not over three feet deep. The net is set only after a school of fish has been observed from shore. As the net is laid out, fishermen follow it into the water and see that it doesn't foul and is tight on the bottom (Fig. A9). liost fishermen wear goggles . and dive down in the water to see that the net is clear. These goggles are of Japanese make and are of wood and plastic construction. If the net is not long enovigh to reach back to shore, some of the seine crew wade out between the end of the net and shore to keep the fish from breaking out along the open side. Sometimes several hundred pounds of fish are taken on one set of the net. In general, however, this type of fishing is very low in production. Several hauls which ve obsei^ed did not bring in more thsai CO or 50 pounds of fish, most of which were small goat fish f]X)m four to six inches in length (Fig. 50). These small fish should not be taken, but, due to the shortage of protein food, it seems too much of a hardship on the population to recommend stopping this type of fishing. However, as soon as production from the sarapana is sufficient to supply the daily needs of the native population, it is recommended that the use of seines along shore between Mutcho Point and Susi^ie Point be prohibited during the months of June, July, and August. The results of this regulation, v;hen put into effect, should be observed care- fully and if it does not result in an increased catch of fish - both in number and size - seining along shore should be prohibited in that area throughout the entire year. This regulation should not prevent the catching of fish by means of a throw net. f Cal b Aa ^^m rS 7\ w ^^tj/^H li *"^i -^^I^^^Ih mI ^ Pp^ " ':?:: ^•^" , _'j* € ■• ■ . •yu.-J^lifti Figure 50... jaipan. Beach Ceining Mo. 3. Catch (.-nostly 4-5 inch goat fish). June 194-6. 7B K. SEA TORTLES Sea turtles, 'ooth the Hairtcsbill ( Chelonia Imbricata) and the Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas or .japonica) are lound throughout the area, but more abundantly in the Carolines, less so in the Uarshalls and Uarieinas. Jeciales come ashore on sandy beaches during late spring and early suraner to deposit their eggs, nuiJbering up to 150. A hole is dug in the sand above high irater mark, the eggs laid in it buried, and left to be incubated by the sun. The young hatch out at the end of 60 days and imniediately take to the water. The Hawksbill, being camivoj-ous, is not highly regarded as food. The 13 large plates or scutes on the back constitute the "tortoise shell" of ooiranerce. liarket value 01 the plates depends largely on their coloration, the plain dark plates having less value than ones vdth a greater proportion of light area. According to Japanese reports, about 200 turtles were taken annually, mostly from Palaus, Truk, and Ponape . Ihis small production reflects the rigid Japanese measures pro- tecting the Hawksbill. No turtles or their eggs could be taken on shore, at T/hich time they are very easy to capture, and no individual could be taken measuring less than 60 centimeters (24. inches) in length. The catch was made offshore, either by spearing or with special large mesh nets made of sennit. "Die Green turtle does not have the overlapping plates like the Hawksbill, and has no ccannercial vailue. It is herbivorous, and excellent eating. The most common native method of cooking is to bake the animal in its shell. The Japanese identified the Green tiirtles as Chelonia .japonica (ihuriberg). It is quite probably identical with the Philippine species, Chelonia niydas (Linn). X. POISON FISH Of the approximately 2000 species of fish and other marine animals in Central Pacific waters, at least 125 are said to be poisonous when eaten. Others, such as cone shells and sea snakes, have a venomous bite, and a third group including corals, sea-urchins and moray eels, cause wounds which frequently become infected and are difficult to heal. Reasonable precautions can be taken to avoid injury from organisms of the last two groups. Cone shells and sea snakes should not be handled. V.earing shoes (tabis ) and gloves when wading or diving, and care in avoiding abrasive contact with corals or stepping on sea-urchins will minimize the danger of wounds from them, lloray eels are found in holes in reefs, so it is inadvisable to reach into such places with bare hands. But the problem of poisoning from eating fish is a more baffling one. Only the puffers (family Tetrodontidae), and their spiny i-elatives, the porcupine fish (family Diodontidae) seem to be universally reg2irded as dangerous. Other species are poisonous in one locality but harmless elsewhere. Even the virulence of the poison varies from place to place, and vdth season of the year. As far as could be determined, there are no poisonous species in the Palaus. Elsewhere, it is good judgment to fo3J.ow the recommendations of the native people, who from long experience have ccane to know the harmful local varieties. The only other generailization is that surface feeding fish, taken by trolling offshore, are not known to be harmful. Bie poison evidently originates in the food of reef and lagoon fish. The death of over a score of persons annually, stimulated research by Japanese investi- gators at the Imperial Naval Hospital, Saipan (Reference 8). It has not been possible to obtain a translation of the reference publication, but according to a translator their con- clusions were that the substance responsible was an alkaloid in the blood, and that some measure of protection oould oe obtained by thorough bleeding, skinning, and washing the flesh of the fish before cooking. It is believed that additional research is necessary. Certainly the publication cited should be given a careful translation, and the conclusions checked by a competent pharmacolo- gist. There follows a list of the poisonous species of fish from the Japanese report. 79 iSHI p S p cB Ih 0) >-< 0) C3 (3 O Q -P +> "Si ■§) >> in gi S-P •• H rH J3 iH ■O C aj .r( n! a K Q W (H (0 ■P !>>P ■H ni rl i-i 0) f-H to (3 w rH X; r-t n) .rl (9 s3s J3 ^ S^ I fH Oj ?i id CQ "-a "-S --J W ■H 4i ri I r-J C g 4J D CD O a (U -rl -3 « a za I !3ga o n = cd = TO > o i) nl C ' nq a) s n) 0) •3 nJ •d :3 = h ^ x; 3 p. o CO 10 (U lU S c 0) (U --^ ^< o o Q (U C C o -a « !>i d, B, cd kJ 1^ CO CO o a> •H o C3 (U I-I nl > •H rH rt o pi n jd s ^ ^ 5 C C C § C .H (0 CO CO o h •r^ .r-j -1-0 .rl i! p JJ -p t, p s 3 a o.^ ►:)►:» h:) << I I .rl O •rl 1 a 0) rH tlfl CO CO .re -p p e :^ a. u o 0 r-j OJ H CNi Ol CM 30 ■p Si •H CO (I) r-i a OT E? S O 0) 'iJ^^ B ^■■^ H s» 3 p- I'd « o- +J O ti >.--' >. c O rH r-l i-i >> s i^^ . >? H r-l •p iH H ■P l>^.p (S ^ >» tfl ^ 4J +3 M'3 Me (B "§) = (1) -O M W) ■S;:1 ■§ O MOT coa to :a w a a '2i a G! n o o o n 0) xi 01 I HI 81 PART III SUiSliARY AND EECOMUBliDATIONS A. SUUMAKT 1, General Summary The superficial nature of the Siu-vey cannot be too strongly emphasized. Funda- mental knowledge of the fisheries is almost non-existent. Such basic facts as the times of spaiming, rates of growth, age at maturity, survival, food habits, and environmental factors, remain unknown. Basic information of this kind can be obtained only by trained fishery experts working over a period of years. A knowledge of these factors is the only sound basis lor the establishment of permanent conservation measures, or for the exploi- tation of the fisheries themselves. Administrative oificers will find that aside from the few exceptions to be mentioned belov,, the natives are able to obtain the necesseiry sea food for their diet by the use of their traditional methods. As long as their present way of life remains re- latively unchanged, it vdll be found that no purpose would be served in attempting to in- troduce different or supposedly more modern methods of fishing. The reefs and lagoons have a resident population of sea foods ample to provide the daily requirements tlirough- out the year and it is not necessary to atten^st to build up supplies for use in periods of shortage. To do so would require either the introduction of methods of salting, dry- ing, and storage, or the installation of refrigeration equipment v»ith attendant mainten- ance problems usually beyond the means or the capacity of the local people. In the field of water transportation, no means of private travel has been found more econcaaical than the paddling or sailing canoe, and the introduction of small craft powered with outboard or inboard marine engines should be dependent on specific local needs. Exceptions to the above general conditions are limited to localities having large military installations, or to places badly damaged by military operations. In the former category are Guam and Saipan, and in the latter liota, the Palaus in the vicinity of Koror, Truk, and Ponape, The labor requirements of military establishments on Guam and Saipan have made fishing a commercial, rather than a subsistence, proposition. In the vicinity of Koror, destruction of native boats, canoes, houses, buildings, and other facilities was so nearly complete as to require several years for recovery. In the meantime they need considerable assistance in rehabilitation. At truk and Ponape the Japanese dynamited the lagoon and reef areas to obtain food, with the result that several years will be required for a return to a normal fish population. In the meantime, the native requests for assistance in obtaining fishery supplies and equipment should be filled as speedily as possible, 2. Information on Fishinp. Supplies Fish hooks are designated in size from small to large by two seides of numbers, the first from sixteen down to one, and the second beginning with 1-0 and progressing up to 12-0, The small size hook is therefore #16 and the largest size hook is #12-0. Six sizes will cover practically all of the needs of the native fishermen. These could be sizes 8, 5, 2, 2-0, 5-0, and 8-0. The most practical shape is that known as "O'Shaughnessy" and the hooks should be tinned. For trolling and for heavy line fishing, a hook similar to the Pfleuger "martu" in sizes of 8-0, 10-0, and 12-0 will be found suitable. 82 Three sizes of cotton twine, either tarred or untreated, should be provided. Tarred twine has the disadvantage of "burning" if stored in bales for more than a few months. For hand line fishing, the sizes aliould be #20, #40, and #60. This twine is put up in hanks of two to four pounds each. For making seines, cotton seine twine of sizes #9, #12, and #15 will be found suitable. For making throw nets, linen twine of sizes #20 and #25 will be satisfactory. Approximately two pounds of linen twine are required to make one net and the twine comes in half pound coils. Stainless steel leader wire is ordinarily packaged in quartei^pound coils. Ihese should be obtained in sizes 9, 11, 14, and 16. For trolling it is necessary to have swivels of the so-called "barrel" type, which should be pixscured in sizes known as small, medium, and large. Ihese must be of brass. For making spears, steel rods in lengths of four feet or over^ should be obtained, in sizes of l/^ inch and 3/8 inch diameter. 3. Construction of Fishing Vessels for Native Use In the Pelaus, Salpan, Truk, and Ponape the natives are now very much dependent on reconditioned Japanese ssunpans for transportation and such offshore fishing, as they are able to do. Outside of these, they have only their own sailing and paddling outrigger canoes. With few exceptions, the motor vessels they obtained from the Japanese axe in very bad condition, ooth as to hull and engines, ilany are povrered with Japanese one-cylinder semi-diesel enginesj others with heavy duty gasoline engines, burning about 60 octane fuel. The majority of these vessels cannot be expected to last over another three years - many not over a year. Some means must be foimd for replacing these boats, ranging in length from 30 to 65 feet. They cannot be replaced with military vessels because of unsuitability, high cost of purchase, lack of maintenance facilities (includi^ig parts), and cost of oper- ation and maintenance. The natives need a type of vessel on the order of the Japanese sampan to be powered with a similar type engine, modified to operate on our 50 cetane diesel fuel. B. RECOUUEimATIOKS Following are the recommendations for the administration of the fisheries of the foirmer Japanese luandated Islands: 1. Immediate (1) Revalidate immediately the conservation measures adopted by the Japanese (1936 revision) for the protection of marine resoxirces. The Japanese fisheries regulations were sound and should remain in force until further study shows a need for modification. The natives are thoroughly familiar vdth the Japanese conservation measures, and it is recoiimended that they be put into effect again. These regulations will be found in Civil Affairs Hand Books for various areas arid are summarized in Civil Affairs Guide OPNAV 50E-20, dated I5 August 1944, entitled "The Fishing Industry of the Japanese Mandated Islands", The use of poisons, explosives, and electricity in the talking of sea foods was expressly forbidden except by permission. In view of the maj^y accidents which have occurred, especially from the use of Japanese hand grenades, the prohibition in regard to the use of explosives should be rigidly enforced. The use of poisons also should be strictly controll- ed, since they destroy large numbers of small fish. Tecporary exceptions may be made in certain places, such as Koror in the Palaus, Truk, and Ponape, where unusual shortages of sea food warrant the use of poisons as an emergency measure. 83 a. Licenses. Under Japanese administration coaunercial fishing, as distinct from subsistence fishing, was subject to license and regulation. No opinion is expressed here in regard to fees for licenses, or fines for violation of regulations^ The licensing system, however, provides a simple method of obtaining statistical infoRnation on the extent of the fisheries. Some restriction on the exploitation of marine resources is necessary if they are to be self -perpetuating, b. Closed seasons. These should be continued in effect for trochus during the period July 1 to April 30, permitting the talking of them only during a two week period in either liay or June; pearl oysters during the period August 1 to December 31j hawksbill turtles, Chelonia imbricata (from which tortoise shell is obtained) to be protected from June 1 to August 31 and from Decea±)er 1 to January 31. c. Size limits. Regardless of the open seasons, trochus shells should not be taken of a size less than three inches (8 centimeters) in diameter at the base. A rough measure is the width of four fingers. Hawksbill turtles and other sea turtles shoiild not be taken if the maximum length of the shell is less than 2k inches (60 centimeters), and no sea turtles or their eggs should be taken when found on shore. (2) Trochus, whether occurring naturally, or planted by the Japanese, should be designated as the pj^operty of the native peoples, and administered as a self-perpetuating resource. The fishery for this sinimal should be left entirely in native hands. (3) Appoint a fisheries administrator whose chief functions should include the following; a. Pi-omulgate and enforce regiilations for the protection of marine resources as outlined in paragraph 1 above, b. Provide technical assistance and information as needed by natives for the establishment and/or continuation of fisheries enterprises. This includes train- ing programs in fishing methods and processing techniques to place them on an equal basis with fishermen and processors of other nations. c. Assist natives in locating or expanding export markets for fisheries products. d. Plan and supervise investigations leading to; (1) a better understanding of the fisheries especially with respect to abundance, migi-^tions, propagation etc., to insure intelligent protection and utilization; (2) improved methods of catching fish, and of handling and prepciring fishery products for successful com- petition in the export market. e. Collect and disseminate statistical information on the fisheries. f . Issue licenses for authentication by the senior administrative officer. g. Report annually to the governing agency on the activities of the office, the status of the fisheries, and v.'hat benefits, if any, have accrued to the native people as a result of the administration of the fisheries. In accomplishing these functions, a staff will be necessary, including practical fishermen, technologists, biologists and statisticisms for varying periods of time, accord- ing to the kind and importance of the project. Tihere possible, personnel should be obtain- ed on detail from other agencies of Government. 84 (-4) Take immediate steps toward re-establishment in native hands of the former Japanese commercial fisheries for bonito and tuna, this will serve the dual purpose of providing income to natives and contributing to the short protein food supply of the Orient . Such a permanent, long-range program is predicated on one or another, possibly a combination, of the following methods: a. Financial support of Government for purchase of fishing vessels, equip- ment and supplies; construction and maintenance of shore iacilities; providing transportation both Tdthin and outside the area; obtaining managerial and tech- nical personnel. b. Authorized exploitation of the fisheries by private capital with proper safeguards for native interests. 2. Subsequent ftecommendations have been made above for satisfying the immfidiate needs of fisheries administration in Micronesia, But there is a longer view, with a more perman- ent set of values. The only real foundation for intelligent protection and use of a resource Is knowledge of it, and this comes irom research. The Japanese knew this and established their llarine Fisheries Experiment Station at Koror, Palaus, in 1932. The fruits of their investigations should be made public, but it certainly will be found that a veiy large amount of iVindamental research remains to be done. It cannot be done by administrative officers or by trade program specialists of the U. S. Commercial Con^Jany. Such extensive facilities and trained personnel could be provided only by the appropriate research agency of the Qovemment. For if the United States is to carry out its obligations, pure as well as applied fisheries research must be encompassed. As evidence of the fields in which investigations can prove valuable, there is apperxied a very brief outline for a fisheries research program of Micronesia. 85 OUTLINE FOR M INVESTIGAnON OF THE FISHERIES OF IttCBONESU I. Catalog of marine resources A. Animal 1. Identification a. Invertebrates Shellfish, including bl-valves, uni- valves, crabs, shrimp, and lobster Sea-urchins, starfish, sea-cucumbers, sponges b. Verteorates Fish, including eels, sharks, and rays Mammals: porpoises, ■whales B. Plants (Sea-weeds) 1. Identification 2. Y.'here found . 3. Abundance ^. Use a. Direct: food for people; commercial; agar b. Indirect: food for marine organisms; protection for young fish and shellfish II. Biology of liJarine Organisms A. Life Histories 1. Time of spawning 2. Rate of growth 3. Age at maturity /t. Food habits , 5 . I'd g rat ions 6. Longevity 0 . geology 1, Natural environment 2, Effect of enviroamental changes 3, Relationship to other animals and plants III. Oceanography A. Physical characteristics in liicronesia 1. Prevailing vdnds, seasonal strength and direction 2. Coastal rainfall and drainage systems 3. Tides and currents, including wave action /h. Conformation of reefs and lagoons 5, Character of bottom 6, Angle of slope froji shore seaward 7, Temperature and salinity fluctuations of sea water IV » Subsistence Fishing A. Inshore 1 . Species 2. Seasonal abundance 3. Methods of capture a. Drop line b. Set line c. Trolling d. Traps e. Seines and gill-nets f. Other 4.. Processing a. Eaten raw, cookedj dried, smoked, etc. 5. Fishing equipment a. Present boats, supplies b. Requirements, improvejients, costs B. Offshore Appropriate subheadings as above V. Production for Income (Export) A. Species 1. Abundance, potential production 2. liethods of capture a. Vessels, gear and personnel needed 3. Methods of Processing a. Shore facilities and personnel needed for salting, vet or dry; smoking; canningj other A» By-products a. Oil udible, vitamin i' Industrial; paint, soap, etc. b. laeal, for fertilizer or stock-feed c. Hides, fins 3. Sconomic factors 1. Cost of Production 2. Investment required 3. Competition in world markets /i. Demand in foreign and domestic economy VI. Conservation of Resources A. Regulations for 1. Protection of resources from over- fishing 2. Assuring maximum production B. Fish Culture 1, Artificial propagation and transplanting 87 C. RECOLiHOTAllONS FOR GUAli FlSHH'aES 1. Commercial and Sport Pishing Because of the many difficulties in establishing an offshore fishery for bonito and tuna, and the scarcity of smaller fish along the inshore coast of Guam, it seems pro- bable that the most promising extension of the fisheries v;ould be to increase or encourage production by means of gill nets at night and especially in the 'Jmatac area, mS they are already experienced in the use oi seines and gill nets, it would only be necessary to furnish several seines approximately ^00 yards long and »ith a stretched raesh from 2 "^l L, inches to 3 3A Indies. Since trds vwuld be an experimental project, it should not oe expected tha.t the fishermen themselves vrould be able to purchase these seines, especially as one or more sizes might be found unsuitable for fishing in that area. One aspect of fishing which is vrorthy of additional attention is f--he development of sport fishing. The recreational value of fishing is, of course, well understood and is being taken care of in part oy the services themselves. However, thex-e is now, and undoubtedly will continue to be, an increasing demand for fishing guides vdth small party boats to take out from two to four people. The abundance of marlin, sail fish, barracuda, wahoo, and various members of the tuna family, warrants the establishment of a small fleet of sport fishing vessels. Such a project has not only a recreational value, but will in time develop a number of fishing guides vdth sufficient knowledge of offshore fishing to contribute directly to the production of food fish. In general, party boats are hired on weekends and during the major portion of the week these fishermen vraulc be able to produce fish for food, 2. Fishing Vessels It is believed that any system of renting surplus vessels and small craft to native fishennen ^^dll prove unsatisfactory, whether it be for commercial fishing or for sport fishing. It has been found everyv^here throughout the fishing industry that private owiership of fishing vessels tends to promote more efficient operation and to increase production. It is recommended that the administrative section in charge of surplus vessels explore the possibilities of putting some surplus craft into private ownership with qualified individuals . 3 . Special Fisheries Regulations In order to protect the future survival of the many species of fish found close inshore it is recommended that regulations be made for minimum size limits on fish taken in the traps and surround nets along shore. In the absence of information on the rate of growth and maturity of the various species taken at Guam, it is impossible to recomaiend minimum sizes for the separate species. In any case, it is believed that the requirements of conservation would be met by prohibiting the talking of small fish of any species under six inches in length. The difficulties of enforcing such a regulation are fully recognized, but it is thought that they vdll not be found to be greater than is the case in the United States. If it serves no other purpose, it may bring to the attention of the people the necessity for conserving their marine resources. The regulation would not apply to fish taken for live bait, or caught with throw-nets. A. Japanese Fishing Hampered by Sharks As nearly as could be detennined, the two most abundant species of tunas are the ocean bonito or katsuo (Katsuwonus (Euthynnus) pelamis). weighing from 10 to 25 pounds, and the yellow fin tuna (Neothunnus macropterus) . vmich vjeighs up to 60 pounds. Schools are almost alvfays of unifonn size and weight. During their occupation of Guam the Japanese did a limited auount of tuna fishing, but were bothered by an abundance of sharks which attacked and chewed off part of thy hooked fish. It was the custom to send a diver down with a knife to kill the B)iarks. It was not possible to detenaine the abundance of sharks, but if they are very common a limited fishery might be established to get the shark livers for vitamin A. Because most of the sharks found here are sand sharks (Eulamia) of comparatively small size, being under seven feet in length, it is doubtful if the vitamin A content of the liver oil is high enough to warrant shipment to the United States, but it could be utilized as a supplement to the stock and poultry feeds of the Islands, or offered to the Japanese trade. The fins and hides could be mariceted and the carcass either sold fresh, or put through a reduction plant to make stock feed or fertilizer. 88 PART IV iiATlVK HAilS RELATING TO IWB FISHEKISS Albacore IWJMWS GERMO „ Ahipalaha (Havfaiian) Not recognized (Jaluit) Jilo (Uajuro) Aun or Toku (Truk) Not recognized (Ailinglapalap) Not recognized (Kusaie) Anchovy ANCHOVIELLA PURPUREA Nehu (ILav/aiian) Aol (Jaluit)_, Jepeor (liajuro) Lesabil (Ailintjlapalap) Aletses (:..arianas) >.;uch or Nou (I'rulc) Ikatik (Ponape) Sliaguni (Palaus) Angel fish CKIiTROPl'GE SP. Cliukiifan nimuk (Truk) Any stinc ray DASYA nS-AETOBATIS Jomjo (llajuro) Barracuda SPIIYKAEI>1A BARRACUDA Kaku (Hawaiian) V.etua (llajuro) Jure (Ailinglapalap) Alu (Marianas) Sav.Taw (Ponape) Twolah (Kuaaie) Yono (Kapingamarangi) Big-eye, red PRIACAI^ilHUS CRUEi>iXATUS Aweov.eo (Hawaiian) Lol (Jaluit) Lol (iiajuro) Lol (Ailinglapalap) Asondon (Truk) Big-eyed scad SELAI< CKblENOPHTHAUIUS Akule (Hawaiian) Akole (liajuro) Not recognized (Ailinglapalap) Blue runner 2C0LUEEOIDES SA^JC'^; -PETRI Lai (Hawaiian) Not recognized (iiijuro) Anwes (Truk) Bone fish ALDUU 'AJLfES O'io (Hawaiian) Beleo (ilajuro) Beleo (Ailinglapalap) Kllenifat (Truk) Not recognized (Kapingamarangi) Bonito, little tunny EUTKiraJUS ALLSTTERATUS Kawakawa (Hawaiian) Loj (Jaluit) Loj (Majuro) Lejajil (Ailinglapalap) Angarap (Truk) Not recognized (Kusaie) Tawatav/a (Kapinganarangi) Butterfly or Angel fish CHAETODCN UiOllACULATUS Yeliow manini (Hawaiian) Jorur (Jaluit) Idpop (ifajuro) hibab (Ailinglapalap) Tihitihi (Kapingamarangi ) Butterfly fish CKAETODON SETIFES laka Kapu (Hawaiian) Liarpwater (Ponape) Siti (Kapingamarangi) Liutterfly fish FORCIPIGEK LOWGIROSTRIS Lauv.'ilivali (Hawaiian) Siti (Kapingamarangi) Butterfly fish HEiuOCHUS ACUkJIiATUS lu-hilcihi loulu (Hawaiian) Tautahi (Kapingaaarangi) Butterfly fish KOLAGANraUS DIACANTHUS i'.ulainimuenipach (Truk) Cairiinal fish ahZLA FIiEl^AiA Upapalu (Hav;aiian) Not recognized (Jaluit) Ongong (iiajuro) Pan (Ailinglapalap) Tikupe (Kapingaiaarangi) 89 Crevalle CAJ(AMXi Elbert, S. H., Lt. Cdr., USNR, Trukese, English and English-Trukese Dictionary United States Naval Llilitairy Government, February 1947. 5. Edmondson, Charles H., Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawaii. Bernice P. Bishop Musexsa (Honolulu), Special Publication 22, 1933, (revised edition) 19^6. 6. Fowler, H. V.\, The Fishes of Oceania. Bernice P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu), Memoirs, vol. 10, 1928j Supplement 1, Memoirs 11 (5), 1931; Supplement 2, Memoirs 11 (6), 193'i. 7. Galtsoff, Paul S., Pearl and Hermes Reef, Hawaii, Hydrographical and Biological Observations. Bernice P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu) Bulletin 107, 49 pp., 5 pis., 9 figs., 1933. 98 REFETiErJCES (Continued) 8. Godsil, H. C' h Byers, Robert D., A systematic study of the Pacific Tunas. State of California, Department of Natural Resources, Division of I'lsh and Game, (Sacremento), Fish Bulletin IJo. 60, 1%^. 9. Herdman, Vi. A., The Pearl Oyster fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. Reports to the Government of Ceylon. (The lioyal Society of London), vol. 1: 125-Li6, vol. 2: 37-76, 1903. (Lite history.) 10. Hiyama, Yoshio (Editor), Report of the Investigations on Poisonous Ushes of the South Seas (in Japanese). Nissan Fisheries Research Laboratojry (Tokyo), 137 pp., 77 colored plates, 19^3. 11. Hirase, Shintaro, A collection of Japanese Shells, with illustrations in natural colors, ratsumura Sanshodo (Tokyo), 5th edition, 217 pp., 129 pis., 1936. 12. Hosaka, Edward Y., Sport fishing in Hawaii. Bonds (Honolulu), 198 pp., 19AA. 13. Jordan, David Starr and Evennann, Barton IVarren, The aquatic resources of the Hawaiian Islands, Part 1, The shore fishes. U. S. Fish Comniission Bulletin 23 (1), for 1903. Government Printing Office, ^.Vashington, I905. 1^. Moorhouse, F. V.'., Notes on Trochus niloticus. British t/.useum (Natxiral History), Great Barrier Keef Expedition, 1928-29, Scientific Reports 3 (5): Li5-155, 1932. 15. U. S. Navy Department, Civil Affairs Guide, OP^LAV 50E-20, The Fishing Industry of the Japanese ilandated Islands, 26 pp., map, figs., 15 August 1944. 16. Nichols, A. G., On the breeding and ginwth rate of the black-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) . Great Barrier Reef Committee (Brisbane), rieports " 3 (2): 27-31, 1931. 17. Rasalan, Santos B., Preservation of Pishing Gear in Samar Province, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science, Vol. 73, pp. 321-333, I'anila, 19^0. 18. Sugiura, Kenichi, Fishing and fishin[; implements of the people of Yap. (In Japanese). Anthropological Society of Tokyo, Journal 5A (616): 5^-65, 7 figs., February 1939. 19. Thompson, Laiira, Fishing in Guam. The Guam Recorder, 5'+-56, 80-81, i/lay 19^11. 20. Tinker, Spencer TV., Hawaiian Fishes. Tongg Publishing Co. (Honolulu), 404. pp., Figs. ,194^. 21. Vrhitley, G. P., Poisonous and harmful fishes. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Commonwealth of Australia (llelboume). Bulletin 159, (Division of Fisheries Report No. 10), 1943. 99 IIDEX Page Area oi Mandated Islands 1 of LJLcronesia 1 Baitfish (Also see under Fish) Goatf ish 5 IJehu 5, 48, 55 Eonito (Skipjack), Katsuwonus pelamis Fishery for Ailinglaplap 7 Japanese ^C ?Cusaie 18 Palaus 4.8 Ponape 20 Rota 55 Saipan 50, 6^; Tinian 52 Iruk 75 Benito Sticks Japanese method ^9 Kusaie 18 Truk 33 Cannery, Japanese Palaus 70 Canoes, native Giiaia 57 Kapiiir^amarangi Fig. 16 30 Kusaie Fig. 9 ^^ ^rshallese 15 Palaus '. Fig. 26 39, 46 Cast-net (See under Throw-net) Clams (See under Shells and Shellfish) Conservation Measures Guam 88 Japanese Trochus, size limits ^ Pieconunendations for 83 Crawfish (See Spiny-lobster under Shells and Shellfish) Culture, Pearl Oyster Illustrations Fig. 32, 33 4.4. Uap, Palaus-3 , 36 Llarshall Islands, Ebon 72, 73 Palaus 39, 42, 45, 73 Philippines 72 100 Page Diet, native 2 Eniwetok 5 I.iarianas • 55 Ponape 22 Truk 33 Dynamite, use of for killing fish Ponaoe 22 Truk 30 Kicports from Llandated Islands 1 Fish, by common names Anchovy 33) 55 Bait 5, 33, 55, 57 Barracuda 18, 32, 42, 48 Bonito 8, 25, 33, 42, 50, 55, 56, 75 Butterfly 7, 10 Crevalle 7, 21, 22, 25, 32, 33, 42, 48, 50, 55 Dauisei 10, 42 Fljdng 10, 30, 55 Goatfish 5, 7, 10, 13, 21, 25, 32, 33, 42, 55 Grouper, brotm 10, 42 liackerel 13 L'.anahag (herring ?) 55 laikfish 33 Moorish idol 7 iMllet 5, 10, 21, 22, 32, 55 Native names for 89 Parrot 7, 10, 21, 22, 25, 32, 33, 42, 50, 55 Poisonous 2, 10, 42, 52, 79 Scientific and Common names 80 Renora 32 Rudder 5 Shark 5, 32, 55, ?7 On Gxiam 88 Snapper (Aprion virescens) 32 Snapper, red 42 Squirrel 50 Swordfish 20 Surgeon 7, 10, 25, 32, 50, 52 Threadfish 5, 52 Trigger 10 V/ahoo 48 Yrasse 10, 21, 25, 42 Fisheries research. Plan for » 86 Fishing Supplies Native needs 82 Shortage of 2, 24, 25, 30, 32, 39, 46, 55 101 INDEX Page Fishing Vessels For native use S3 Japanese 24., ib, 50 Fish Traps Bamboo 21, 30 Other 13, 56 StMie Fig. 15 7, 30 Gill Nets 56 Handicraft, native Bniwetok 5 Nukuoro „ - 25 Ponape 2A Truk 33 Hand Nets (Bpino) 33 Japanese liailne Ebcperiment Station Koror, Palaus 48 Jigs, native > Kajnangel Ids 48 Nukuoro 25 Ponape 22 Itussels (See under Shells and Shellfish) Pearl Oysters Cultui^ (See under Culture, pearl oyster) Distribution 72 Gold-lip 72 Japanese species 73 Poisons, fish Derris elliptica » ..• 18, 22, 55 Barrlngtonia asiatica •.. 18, 22, 55 Tephrosia purpurea 22 Poisonous Fish (See under Pish) Population Of mandated islands •• 1 Of atolls, islands and island groups (See under appropriate heading in table of Contents) Sea Cucumbers Dried (Trepang or Beche-de-mer) Palaus 45, 48 "Cruk , 76 loe INDEX Page Sea Cucumbers (con'd) Jaluit 10 Japanese Production 73 Kaplngamnrangi , 25 Likiep » 13 MaJ\iro 15 Ijukuoro 24. Poisonous 15 Ponape 20 Price of 21 Preparation for market 42, 76 Hota 55 Salpan 50, 52 Tlnian 55 Truk 32, 76 Seaweed, Edible 5, 52 Seines, Seining Ailinglaplap 7 Eniwetok 5 Guam 56 Kapingainarangi 25 Kayangel Ids 4-8 Kusaie 20 Nukuoro 25 Ponape 21, 22 Saipan 78 Wjiian 52 Truk 33 Shells and Shellfish Anadera (cockle) 24 Cardium 22, 33 Cat-eye 18, 21, 22, 48, 55, 56 Clams Giant Fig. 24 5, 7, 10, 13, 21, 33, 42, 52 Marketing 45 L'ulefoot 33 Cowries 5, 21, 45, 48, 56 Crabs Red (orange) -striped 5, 33 SaiQoan Fig. 11 18, 39 Gold-ringer 5, 10, 24, 32, 33 HeLnet 45, 48 Lobster, spiny 5, 13, 18, 24, 25, 32, 39, 48, 50, 52, 55, 56, 57 Monkey-face (money shell) 5, 10, 24, 32, 33, 52 Viussels 10 Octopus 48, 55, 57 103 iriDEX Page Shells and Shellllsh (con'd) Oyster, pearl Black-lip 13, 21, 22, -i2, Ub, ^8 Gold-lip 73 (See also Culture, pearl oyste]:, and Pearl Oj^ter.) Sea- fan, Atrina (Pinna) 22 Spider IS Strawberry (bleeding heart) 5 Tiger Cowrie 5, 32 Trochufl 7, 10, 13, 22, 32, 33, ^, l^, 50, 55, 56 Trumpet A5 , LZ Spears, fish Native Fig. U 7, 15, 18, 22, 25, 33, 48, 50, 56, 57 Sponges Culture, Japanese 71 Llkiep / 13 native 22, 70 TVi row-net Sniv.etok 5 Illustration Fig. 1, 7, 8 iv, 16 Guan 56 Kapinf^amarangi 25 Kayanriel Ids 48 Kusaie 18 Saipan -. 50 Tinian 32, 33 T^ruk 32, 33 Shortages of 7, 15, 48 Tortoise Shell Fi shing 79 Price 21 Trochus fishery 75 Truk 76 Planted Ailinglaplap 7 Ponape 20 Preparation for market 42 (See also under Shells and Shellfish) Trolling By natives Ailinglaplap 7 Kayanc^el Ids 4B Kusaie 20 104 INDEX Page Trolling (con'd) By natives (con'd) Nukruoro - 25 By Survey ^2, 48 Tuna fishery, Japanese For canning 70 Palaus 70 (See Bonito under Fish) Turtles Ailinglaplap 7 Fishery • • 79 Likiep '. 13 Nukuoro • 25 Ponape 21, 22 Twine, net Native made 7 105 MBL WHOI Libr^Try - Seitals 5 WHSE 00723 n