27 



department, tlie l^ishery schools attached to the Expetimental 

 Stations, and the Sessional schools.* 



50. Imperial Fishery Institute. — In the remarks on the Japanese 

 Fisheries Society, it is stated that in 1888, that society saw the need 

 for providing a body of well-trained experts and aocordinoly estab- 

 lished a school near Tokyo at the expense of the society ; this was 

 immediately successful so that the Museum building had to be given 

 up to the school until a proper building was erected in 1893 ; from 

 that yea,r the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries gave a subsidy 

 of Rs. 9,750 per annum towards the improvement of the school which 

 then largely developed ; in 1897, Government decided to take over 

 the whole school and reopen it on a very complete basis. Dr. Hugli 

 M. Smith (U.S.A. Fisheries Commissioner) who recently visited Japan 

 writes as follows of this Institution : — 



*' The Imperial Fisheries school, located in the outskirts of Tokyo, 

 is an institution which the Japanese may be pardoned for regarding 

 with great pride, for in no other country does there exist a similar 

 establishment which can compare with this in comprehensiveness of 

 curriculum, completeness of equipment, and thoroughness of instruc- 

 tion. The last week of my sojourn in Japan, 1 was invited to speak 

 before the faculty and students of this school on the fishety work of 

 the United States Government. After I had been shown about the 

 place and seen something of the methods and equipment I felt 

 exceedingly doubtful of my ability to impart any information. The 

 institution aims to equip young men for careers of usefulness in 

 connection with the fisheries. 'Ihe graduates obtain good position in 

 the Government service and in the fishing, fishcuring, and fish-cultural 

 establishments. I'here are thiee departments of study, each with a 

 , three-years* course, with provision for post-graduate work. There is 

 a full corps of able professors, instructors, and assistants, some of 

 whom have taken degrees abroad. '' 



* At the moment (December 1906) of correcting this note, I find in an American trade 

 journal that next year (1907) a Fishery branch will be attached to the Agricultural 

 College in the Imperial Univerbity of Tokyo, and that Rs. 1,50,000 have already been 

 appropriated to meet its expenses. This was not so much as mentioned last spring and I 

 concludb that it has been found necessary to give a thoiough siuentific knowledge of 

 aquatic fauna and flora and of the sciences connected with the fishing industrj' in all its 

 branches, andto train men, probably those who have passed out from the Imperial Fisheries 

 Institute, for the highest posts as advisers of Government and heads of the various 

 fishery institutions. It may be mentioned, that in Japan the University connects itself 

 directly with the main practical industries of the country, that while " literae humaniores " 

 are prominent as a subject, yet science, both pure and applied, is given equal rank, while 

 students of Agriculture as the greatest industry in the country (or rather, to quote 

 a Japanese phrase, its root or source of life) are counted as worthy of the hall-mark of 

 the nniveisity as those who have studied language and literature, it now appears that 

 Fisheries, as the second industry of the country are to be accorded equal rank ; «i «Jo 

 in India ! 



