59 



128. la another prefecture the Prefect kindly furnighed the 

 following rates: — 



Trap net (fixed or pound nets) each 



Do. (small) ... 

 Various nets (seines, etc.) 



Poll-tax 



Sea-weed collection by machine ... 



Do. by hand, per person 



No tax is levied for three years upon any net of an improved 

 character introduced by fishei'men for trial, or during enforced 

 periods of suspension above six months, or upon women or boys under 

 13 years old when there is no adult male in the family. Nothing is 

 stated as to any boat tax nor is the aggregate amount of taxation 

 stated. This prefecture does little in the way of official fishery work, 

 having expended only Es. 2,952 in 1005 and having no fisheries 

 experimental station, though it is an important district with a marine 

 and river fishing population of 24,738 actual workers with 8,144 

 boats and 76 associations with 10,575 members ; taxation at 4 annas 

 per head and the above rates per net should yield a surplus above 

 the expenditure. 



THE ECONOMIC POSITION OF THE FISHER CLASSES. 



129. In general the fisher folk are extremely poor, but there are 

 many progressive capitalists and proprietors who are developing the 

 industry in all its three branches ; as in Europe these men are proba- 

 bly ousting the independent fishermen and bringing them under the 

 ^/ontrol of intelligence and capital. For instance, Mr. K. Ito says that 

 in the Hokkaido the fishermen are divided into three classes ; the 

 outfitter who supplies capital, nets and gear, and even food to the 

 fishermen who are not able to supply themselves ; proprietors who 

 own the fishing vessels, fish houses, and the necessary gear ; employes 

 who are hired by the proprietors. Sometimes the work is done on 

 shares, sometimes partly on shares, partly on wages. It is these 

 proprietors who are intelligent, well educated and progressive; it is 

 they who understand improved methods of catching, curing and 

 cultivating ; they form associations for the purpose of preventing the 

 preparation of inferior articles and for the adjustment of disputes, as 

 well as a Chamber for the improvement of fisheries and for the 

 distribution of useful information. Probably much the same is found 

 in the more progressive parts of the country in general, as evidenced 

 by the numerous Chambers, by the various factories for the prepa- 

 ration of products, by the increasing number of large boats and new 



