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(Suisan-kumiai) for the improvement and development of tLc fisheries, 

 for the protection and cultivation of aquatic products, and for the 

 improvement of the industry and trade. These Chambers shall, except 

 in matters provided for by the Fishery Law and Rules, be regulated 

 by the Law of 19U0 relating to Associations for Staple Products (Juyo- 

 bussan Dogyo-kumiai) '^ for which see note on Agriculture. These 

 chambers are not permitted to engage in actual fishery business but 

 are trade associations intended to work for the general improvement 

 of the industry in every branch as shown below s.v., "Articles"; 

 their sphere of operation is usually considerable and may cover a 

 whole Prefecture. These Chambers, again, may unite to form feder- 

 ations (^Suisan-kumiai Rengo-kwai), and some have already done so. 



117. The Fishery Law relating to these Chambers has been inter- 

 preted by rules issued by the Minister ; these provide, inter alia, that 

 these Chambers shall not exercise the rights of actual fishery, that 

 they shall be established on the sanction of the local prefect who shall 

 approve of their Articles and any modification, and shall have power 

 to cancel any resolution if illegal or injurious to the public interest : 

 reports of work done and budgets and statements of account shall also 

 be sent to the Prefect. 



118. The i^rticles of suoli a Chamber specify, infer alia, (1) the 

 work to be undertaken, viz., enquiry into the methods of catching and 

 preserving fish, and the provision of instruction in such methods ; 

 examination and standardising of manufactured sea-products ; the 

 means of protecting and increasing {e.g., by cultivation) aquatic fauna 

 and flora; the investigation of markets with a view to the development 

 and extension of the trade ; the settlement of trade disputes ; the 

 opening of shows or exhibitions and the preparation or procuring of 

 exhibits for such shows ; (2) the class of persons who may become 

 members, viz., fishermen and all persons connected with tlie fishery 

 trade and industry who reside within the area of operation ; [3) the 

 usual rules for tlie admission, rights and duties, etc., of members ; (4) 

 rules regarding the several officials, it being a rule that no one may 

 refuse office except for some strong reason, and that all oflfices are 

 honorary except that the office manager may get pay ; (5) the enter- 

 tainment of experts and inspectors under the control of the President, 

 the former of whom shall examine particular fishery subjects and the 

 latter shall superintend the examination of articles manufactured by the 

 members ; (6) rules for general council and departmental meetings, 

 departmental meetings being those of members of the same branch of 

 trade, ejj., curers, oyster-cultivators, etc. ; (7) the usual rules as to 

 finance ; (8) rules under which members rnay apply, upon payment 

 of a fee, for advice or for an investigation into methods relating to 

 the industry or trade ; (9) any trade matters to be specially dealt with 

 by the Chamber ; e.y., one Chamber deals specially with dried squid 



