47 



Okajama passotl a regulation granting an additional Rs. 7-8-0 per ton 

 to steamers and to sailers of European pattern eligible for the 

 Imperial subsidy, and Ks. 105 per boat for any Japanese-built fishing 

 boat fnlly decked, above 6 feet beam, and proved to be safe in heavy 

 seas, with tlio result that in 1901 the district had 84 boats in Korean 

 waters and paid Rs. 5,400 as subsidy; Iwate gives lis. 45 per ton for 

 boats of from 30 to 50 tons. 



Altogether it is stated that 16 prefectures granted during the 

 seven years 1897-1903, the sum of Es. 3,30,000 in aid of fishing in 

 Korean waters, while from 19Q0 tho Imperial Treasury has granted 

 Rs. 30,000 per annum to the guild of Japanese fishermen fishing in 

 Korea. To these subsidies is, at least partly, due the increase between 

 1897 and 1901 of boats from 950 to 2,532 and of catches from 

 Rs. 4,0(3,000 to Rs. 15,75,000 * : it will be noted that the value of the 

 catches per boat increased from Rs. 4J7 to Rs. 022, doubtless owing 

 to the improved character of the boats. 



103. It is stated moreover that Government lends money to 

 fisherraon v^dien they have a bad season and when they are unable to 

 provide a proper outfit from their own means. Fishermen who open 

 new fishing grounds or who start new fishing establishments are 

 exempted for some y^ears from any fishery tax w^heuever the outlay on 

 such new ventures is considerable. It has been recently suggested 

 either that there should be special district Fishery lending Banks simi- 

 lar to those provided for agriculture, or that these latter should be 

 empowered to extend their operations to fishermen. 



THE ORGAN IZATION OF FISHERY ASSOCIATIONS. 



104. Apparently there has alvrays been a tendency in Japan for 

 artizans or traders to unite in small guilds or associations, like the 

 artels in Russia, and doubtless this was the case also w^ith regard to 

 fishermen especially as the fishing community were frequently at odds 

 with the local farming community as to various foreshore and inshore 

 rights wf fishing and sea-weed collecting, and as some fishing 

 operations require combined effort and expenditure. Be this as it 

 may, a far-sighted Government, for reasons similar to those given, s.v. 

 "Agricultural Associations" in ray Agricultural note, determined 

 on the creation by law of Fishery Associations, and in this they 

 were, as in Agriculture, assisted by the fact that private Fishery 

 Societies were already in operation. The first law on the subject was 

 passed in 1886, but this was found insufficient and was repealed by 



* This is the figure given in an official return but Fceus altogether too low, bince the 

 boats are of considerable size. The Journal of the Fisheries Society for October 1902 gives 

 the value of the catghes jp Korean waters as 3 naillion jen or lis. 45 lakh§, 



