Abstract
The fishing conditions of flying squid, ommastrePhes barsram(Lesueur), in the North Pacific Ocean was studied based on the horizontal water temperature data, satellite data from NOAA and statistical data of flying squid fisheries which were collected from 1980 to 1984. The obtained results were as follows; 1. Since 1979, the Korean drift giIlnet fishery for flying squid was launched in North Pacific. Number of operating vessel and catch of flying squid increased gradually every year. The number of vessels were 111 and their annual catches were 42, 977 M/T in 1984. Therefore, Korean drift giIlnet fishery for this species has played an important role in the products of Korean high-sea fisheries. 2. In the beginning of the fisheries, fishing grounds was formed in the west of long. 1800E. In 1982, in consequence of the center which extended eastward, the fishing ground was formed long. 166$^{\circ}$W in the central North Pacific Ocean. Since 1983, the fishing grounds were formed as far as long. 161$^{\circ}$W. The range of general fishing season in the central North Pacific was from June to August. After september, fishing ground was shifted to the west, in the Northwestern Pacific. 3. The Predominant fishing season for the flying squid was August through January of the coming year. Optimum water temperature for flying sguid at surface layer in the Pacific Ocean ranged from 11 $^{\circ}$e to 17$^{\circ}$e in winter, 13$^{\circ}$e to 17$^{\circ}$e in spring, 12. 8$^{\circ}$C to 19.7$^{\circ}$e in summer and 1O.6$^{\circ}$e -18.7$^{\circ}$e in fall. 4. In summer, the Oceanographic condition in the North Pacific Ocean showed that the water temperature at surface layer was lower in 1980, 1983 and higher in 1981, 1982 and 1984 as compared with mean annual water temperature. 5. The characteristics df oceanographic conditions in the fluation, disformation, mixing and other factors of the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents, which have considerably influenced upon the water masses of the areas. 6. The data and information on surface thermal Structure interpreted from Infrared Satellite Imaginary from NOAA-7 and NOAA-8 are very available in estimating water temperature on the areas and investigating the major fishing grounds. 7. According to the fisheries statics of Japanese drift gilInet, the annual catches of flying squid considerably decreased from 225, 942 M/T in 1983 to 133, 217 M/T in 1984. 8. The fishing grounds in the central North Pacific in several fishing seasons were formed as follows: In June, the initial fishing season, the fishing grounds were formed in the vicinity of lat. 35 - 40oN, the central North Pacific east of 179$^{\circ}$E. In July, the fishing ground were formed in the wide arEa of the central North Pacific north of 400N and long. 174$^{\circ}$E-145$^{\circ}$W In Auguest, concentrative fishing operation carried out in :he central North Pacific north of 43$^{\circ}$N and East of 165$^{\circ}$W. On the other hand, in September, main fishing grounds were disappeared and moved to the west.