(2) Scientific research in Japan ie largely under the con- 

 trol of the Japanese government throrgh agencies within 

 the Ministry of Education and government ownersliip. 



(3) Important research institutions are the Imperial G-eo- 

 logical Survey, the Imperial Universities of Tokyo, 



, Hokkaido, Tohoku, -Kyoto, and Kyushu, and laboratories 

 of, the Mitsubishi Mining Company, Ltd. Researches in 

 sciences related to mining and geology are made at the 

 Yawata Technical Research Institute and other metallur- 

 gical laboratories maintained by the Japan Iron and 

 Steel Company, Ltd, the Japan Steel V/orks , and the 

 Kobe Steel Works, the Institute of Physical and 

 Chemical Reseiarch, the Chemical Industrial Research 

 Laboratory, and the Imperial universities. 



5. WILDLIFE 



a. Although wildlife was well protected in feudal days, in- 

 craasing territorial pressure from the axpanding human population has 

 caused it to decline steadily since 1868. Heedless exploitation during 

 World War II brought all wildlife to a critical state. Many species of 

 economic and scientific value are in danger of extermination. 



b. The decline in receipts from wildlife in the last two 

 decades has been marked. Ninety-five percent of the 200,000 licensed 

 hunters in 1925 made all or a major part of their living hunting. Today, 

 with only half the number of hunters, none is able to earn his living from 

 it. A small ducte-netting preserve now averages 5,000 ducks a year. In 

 1926 it produced 200,000. Up to 1925 one village in Gifu Prefecture mar- 

 keted 500 barrels of pickled thrushes annually. It lias had none to ship 

 since 1942. Japan abrogated the International Fur Seal Treaty in 1946 and 

 has conducted legal pelagic sealing since. Even this has been insuffi- 

 cient to bolster receipts from the overworked fur industry. 



c. The mediaeval game laws ,- unchanged since 1922, never favored 

 a sustained annual yield. A six-month open season, spring killing, and 

 sach destructive hunting methods as netting, trapping, and liming were 

 allowed. Species protected elsewhere in the v/orld as insect destroyers 

 and song birds were slau^^i^tered for food and sport. Lax enforcement 

 nullified what good those laws might have done. The "balance of nature" 

 has been badly upset, as insect epidemics attest. After stripping the 

 guano, sea-bird colonies were despoiled by egging and shooting, prevent- 

 ing future deposition of fertilizer. 



d. Strict conservation measures are needed to restore wildlife, 

 regain the T3enefitB formerly harvested from it, and establish a sustained 

 yield. Corrective regulations have been promulgated by the Ministry of 

 Agriculture and Forestry. 



44 



