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FISHERIES IN JAPAN. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



A CDnsideration of the JajDaiiese Fisheries as studied on the spot 

 and in reports, regulations, etc., induces me to attribute their present 

 condition and their growing success to the following reasons, and it is 

 believed that after a perusal of this note they will be accepted by its 

 readers, although the necessarily imperfect presentation of the facts 

 seen, heard, and read, may render them less immediately apparent to 

 those who have had no opportunity of personal observation. The 

 relation of population to subsistence and to the cultivable area, and 

 the absence of other animal food, are of course the basic reasons for 

 the existence of this industry in its already large proportions, and the 

 rapidly increasing pressure of population on the food supply (see note 

 on Agriculture) is a main cause of the necessity for immediate deve- 

 lopment ; this note merely attempts to bring out the methods by which 

 the Japanese Government and nation are meeting this necessity and 

 the reasons which appear to be leading to pronounced success. They 

 may be summarized as follows : — 



(1) The co-operation of Government and people; the Govern- 

 ment statesmanlike, resolute in progress on lines systematically thought 

 out and determined, imbued with the scientific spirit, liberal in neces- 

 sary expenditure ; the people responsive, enterprising, alert to utilize 

 opportunity and to follow example, and willing to accept taxation 

 needful to meet special expenditure. 



(2) The perception of the necessity (a^ for a general and simul- 

 taneous enquiry into local conditions and facts and into the facts, 

 methods, and implements^ etc., of foreign countries both as to the 

 capture, preservation, and culture of aquatic products, and as to the 

 methods of business and trade ; (6) for detailed enquiry by means of 

 vs^ide and continuous experiment. 



(3) The acceptance of the necessity, in the condition of the 

 fisher folk generally, for the initiative being taken by Government in 

 matters needing experimental enquiry, in radically new departures, and 

 generally in measures involving continuous enquiry and effort, certain 

 expense, and profit probable but not imraediatelj demonstrable, 



