75 



fesearch has developed tbo industry so that not only does Japan now 

 supply herself with all that she requires but exports her produce. lu a 

 recent Fishery Trade paper it is stated that since the Japanese have 

 entered the iodine business the article has dropped more than 40 per 

 cent, in price in the world's market. The proper classes of weeds are 

 gathered, dried in the sun, burned, the ash dissolved and filtered, and 

 the filtrate evaporated , from this product the iodine is prepared hy the 

 usual chemical process. Secondary products are common salt, sodium 

 sulphate, potassium chloride, and sulphur. 



161. Seaweeds in general are greatly used as manure ; in many 

 places I have seen great heaps collected on the beach and met loads on 

 hand-carts going to the fields ; though not very valuable it is of con- 

 siderable aid to seaside farmers. 



162. Cora ^.—Formerly this was little worked though banks were 

 known ; this was due to prohibitory rules, and though coral was 

 secretly fished, yet most of the coral ornaments used by the Japanese 

 ladies before 1867 w^ere imported from Italy ; since the Restoration 

 (1867), however, coral fishers began to dredge the banks,, several of 

 which were soon depleted ; others have since been discovered and 

 what was formerly an insignificant industry is now an important one 

 especially along the southern coast. In 1871 coral imports weighed 

 3,600 lb. and were valued at Hs. 70,000, while the exports were nil ; 

 in 1877 exports began, but till 1887 never exceeded Rs. 15,000 in 

 value, while imports rose in value to Rs. 1,85,000 in 1883, from which 

 time they declined as exports rose, so that in 1902 exports were no 

 less than 55,101 lb. valued at Rs. 6,54-,200, while imports were almost 

 nil. The total value of the coral fished was said in 1904- to be about 

 Rs. 9 lakhs which must be a conservative estimate, considering" the 

 quantity exported. The figures and facts are given to show the rise 

 of an industry, as in the case of iodine and pearl buttons, from nothing 

 to a very large figure, and the gradual substitution of exports for 

 imports. The value of the coral per pound ranges from a special class 

 which may touch Rs. 340 per pound to a class valued at only one 

 rupee or less. The precious coral has been found on the shores of the 

 Ramesvaram island of this Presidency, but whether it exists in quantity 

 on workable banks is a question only to be decided after careful 

 exploration. 



The fishing iu Japan is very dangerous ; for several months it is 

 too stormy and in others risky, while the chances of profit are specu- 

 lative as may be judged from the varying prices of coral. The boats 

 are mostly open, though some are half decked with crews of from 4 to 

 8 according to size. The dredge is simply a strong rectangular net 

 about 5 feet square with a 2^ inches mesh from knot to knot, hanging 

 from a bamboo ; to the lower edge are attached tufts of old netting 

 and, of late, tufts are attached to the body of the net. The net tears 



