15 



THE CARRYING OUT OF HESEARCH AND THE 

 FORMATION OF EXPELilMENTAL STATIONS. 



23. A chief instrument of resojuvh and of progress is experiment; 

 the Japanese authorities did not long delay its use, and numerous 

 experimental stations have been started. But enquiry Ly experiment 

 is only preliminary to instruction, and these stations fulfil this double 

 duty. In fact, instruction seems to have preceded systematized 

 experiment, for a large number of itinerating teachers were employed 

 by the prefects, under the orders of the Minister, to give instruction by 

 lecture and example to the public ; in several places there were also 

 established schools intended to be of a practical character. 



24. But— prubably for the reason that practical knowledge was 

 insufficient for sound and acceptable teaching — it was rightly decided 

 to start experimental stations, and as these increased, the itinerating 

 teachers were reduced and the practical schools mostly beoamfi stations, 

 so that there are now 29 stations, 4 schools, and only (1902) twenty- 

 four itinerant teachers. The reason given in a report on the progress 

 of the stations for the substitution of stations for schools, is that in 

 the latter instructiim tended to become theoretical only, which seems 

 to be due to the fact that instruction had not been sufficiently preceded 

 by experiment. The experimental stations are extremely practical 

 and are places not so much of scientific as of practical enquiry and 

 experiment as in the use of new nets, the building and trial of new 

 boats and the training of fishermen in their use, the art of preserving 

 fish by canning or otherwise, and so forth. At present in one place 

 a school coexists with the station ; in some stations instruction is 

 not given directly ; in others short practical courses only are given. 

 But instruction in the wider sense, viz., in training fishermen in new 

 methods, seems to be the work of all. 



25. As usual in Japan these experimental stations, schools, etc., 

 are initiated, maintained, and paid for from prefectural (local) funds* 

 receiving only a moderate grant-in-aid from the Imperial Treasury 

 (c/. "Agriculture "). The suggestion, possibly amounting to order, 

 apparently emanated from the Minister in charge, and the prefects 

 with their expert advisers and thoroughly aware of the importance of 

 the industry and of its development, have vied with one another in 

 establishing and supporting the stations and in supplying them with 

 the best men and the necessary means. The first experimental station 

 was founded in 189 J- at Shinojima in the Aichi District (see below for 



* See note on Japanese Agriculture for explanation as to Prefectural (District) 

 administration and funds. 



