lo Observations Concerning the Fisning Situation 



Eo History 



The "tuna" referred to in this paper is the black tuna, Ihunnus 

 ori en talis (Temminck & Schlegel): The drift-net fisnery for this species 

 began when the llsh were taken mixed in vdth the_ catch of rakudazame 

 / Isurus nasus J (called nezumizame at Tokyo, moka in the Sanriku area, 

 katozame in Hokkaido, and nezumizame in the following paragraphs) » It 

 is in a flourishing condition at present at Kushiro, Urakawa, Muroran, 

 and Akkeshi. The long-line fishery operates in the waters between 

 Erimosaki and Shiriyasaki and at times near Shikotan Island, Trolling 

 and harpooning are sometimes carried on in conjunction with these fisherieso 

 Setniet fishing is chiefly carried on in Funkawan, where it has the longest 

 history, but in recent years it has also been established at Etorofu Island. 

 The fisheries of each region will be discussed below. 



Drift-net Fishery 



Kushiro (1) 



In 1905 the Shiranuka Fishing Guild made a trial of long-line fishing 

 for nezumizame and caught one tunao In the same year one Taumi, basing 

 his operations at Akkeshi- To kotan, fished a Niigata-type drift net off 

 Daikoku-jima and made good catches of tuna and nezumizame , In I9O6 at 

 Kushiro one Ikeda began fishing on June 20 and caught one large tuna. 

 He was joined by a number of otners until the boats fishing totaled 17o 

 In the following year, 1907, there were 38 vessels fishing; these were 

 all sampans, but in I9IU two powered vessels entered the fisheryo Good 

 results were obtained, and the following year, 19159 saw the establishment 

 of the Kushiro Tuna Drift Net Guild, In 1920 this organization was ex- 

 panded and became the Kushiro Powered Fishing Boat Guild, In 192^ this 

 Guild became the owner and operator of a fish and vegetable market, and 

 the number of vessels fishing reached U3, forming the basis of today's 

 prosperity. Fishing was good the next year, 1926, and from 192? on the 

 number of vessels participating rose above 200 and the value of the catch 

 exceeded a million yen, 



Urakawa 



The year I905 saw the beginning of the drift-net fishery for nezumizame , 

 and the number of tuna included in tne catch reached quite a figure, Ihe 

 number of t\ma taken was particularly high in 192^, and the following year 

 specialized drift-net fishing for tuna began. After 1928 the number of 

 vessels participating rose ?bove 30 and the value of the catch exceeded 

 100,000 yen. 



