Size composition of the oceanic skipjack Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) and the yellowfin tuna Neothunnus macropterus (Temminck and Schlegel) from the Laccadive sea around Minicoy during the season 1960-61

The tuna fishery of Minicoy island depends mainly on the oceanic skipjack Kutsuwonus \npelamis and to a smaller extent on the yellowfin tuna Neothunnus macropterus. A comprehensive \naccount of the fishery has been given by Jones and Kumaran (1959). The gear employed is the \npole and line, using live-bait fishes. Data on the size composition of tunas are of value in elucidating \ntheir population structure and migrations. An intensive study on the fishery of the island was \ncarried out during the tuna fishing season November 1960-April 1961. The results of the investigation \nare presented in this report. The size composition of the two species for the season has \nbeen studied by the examination of samples from the landings in Minicoy. Data on the total \ncatches of each species and the catch-per-man hour-effort are also given.