JAPJUreSF FISHFRPrS PROD-'CTIOH, 190S-146 

 (A Statistical Report) 



SUMMARY 



1. This reiwrt presents production statistics of the Japanese f<shinR industry from 1908 through -I9U6. 



2. Fishery production was at Its peak during 1931-38 when total annual production. Including that of 

 colonies, varied from U, 900,000 to 6,900,000 metric tons. Excluding colonial totals, annual production 

 ranged from 3,500,000 to U, 900,000 metric tons during this period. 



3. Prior to World War II Japanese fisheries productloo-cane from ooeratlons in coastal and inland 

 waters, offshore waters, orarseas waters, and colonial fisheries (these operations are defined later in 

 this report). The largest tonnage was obtained from coAstal and inland waters, wh-ich averaged about 

 2j597,000 metric tons from fishing operations and 12*0,000 tons froci aqulculture annually during 1951-3*« 



U. Hokkaido leads in production from coastal and offshore fisheries, accounting for more than one- 

 third of the total. Tohoku, Kanto, and Kyushu are also regions of major production, 



■ 5, The production and processing of marine products employed about 1,500,000 persons, full or part- 

 time, in Japan Proper during I93I-3S. About 563,000 fishing boats were used. 



6. The production from Japanese fisheries varies considerably from year to year, chiefly because of 

 the Irregular occurrences of two iirportant pelagic species, sardines and herring. 



7. Some Japanese fisheries evidence depletion, owing to overfishing. One of the fisheries for VThlch 

 statistical data indicating this depletion are available is *ha trawl (kisensokoblki) fishery for s-ea 

 breai (tai). 



INTRODUCTION 

 A. General • 



1. The Japanese fishing industry is the main source of animal protein ''or the 77.000,000 oeoole 

 of Japan and also, prior to World War II, provided considerable foreign exchange. Approximately 1,500,000 

 persons were engaged either full or part-time In fishing and processing cf marine productaj about 563,000 

 boats were used in the industry. As these figures indicate, aquatic industries are of far greater im- 

 portance in Japan than in most countries. 



2. Japanese fishing before %rld War U was concentrated largely In the coastal inters of Jaoan 

 Proper, but operations were conducted also In the Yellow and China seas, along the coasts pf Korea and 

 Karafuto, around the margins of the Okhotsk Sea, and In the Antarctic whaling grounds. Fisheries of the 

 Bering Sea and tropical Pacific waters, and off Mexico and South America were of minor importance from the 

 standpoint of production. 



3. This report presents a statistical review of the Japanese fishery pro-iuctlon from 190fl through 

 191^, It is designed to provide the quantitative Information concerning the production of the Industry as 

 a whole and its component parts, which is necessary to any understanding of Japanese fls>-lng activities. 



If Since the fundamental objective of the Japanese fishing industry is to provide food, the re- 

 ports en specialized, non-edible products have been removed from the statistics. Coral, pearl, pearl 

 shell, and seaweed used only for industrial pumoses were deleted from the data. The statistics thus rep- 

 resant the marine products which could be used for food purposes l/. 



5. Although emphasis is placed upon production statistics, data concerning fishing boats and 

 fishermen are included. Statistical treatment is also given to fluctuations of the catch of herring and 

 sardines, and overfishing, two problems of the Japanese fisheries considered significant in futiire plan- 

 ning for sustained production. 



1/ In most years a considerable part of the "edible" catch Tras used for fertilizer. Tho non-edible items are 

 ~ very small in quantity (5-11 metric tons In recent years) so that the data presented in this report approx- 

 imate the total production* 



This report was preoared by Ada V. &spenshade. Fisheries Dlvfslon, Caot John L. KasV began the compilation 

 of material, and Dr 7. Hiyama of Tokyo University assisted in the preparation of the report. 



