JAPAN 



The Japanese shrimp catch in 195U totaled about 112 million 

 pounds. The principal shrimp-fishing grouxids are in Uchira Bay, Hokkaido; 

 the waters of northeastern Hokkaido; the Inland Sea; Osaka Bay, Ise Bay, 

 and Ariake Bay, Kyushu. The main fishing season is from June through 

 September, 



About 90 percent of the catch is taken by small trawlers of IS 

 to 20 tons* capacity. Most of the shrimp vessels also take other kinds of 

 fish with shrimp averaging about half of the total catch during the shrimp 

 season. 



The catch in recent years has been about double the prewar 

 catch. Catch statistics for 1952-5^1 are as follows (as reported in the 

 FAO Yearbook of Fisheiy Statistics): 



Thousand pounds 



19^2 96,760 

 1953 91,121 

 195U 112,071 



The predominant species in the catch are Penaeus japonicus , 

 averaging about 5 to the pound; P. semisulcatus , also averaging about 

 5 to the pound; and Metapenaeus "^oynerl , averaging iiO to the pound. 

 Many other species are also prevalent in Japanese waters, 



Japanese shrimp are boiled and dried, for the most part; some 

 are canned. Freezing and canning is done by plants which also handle 

 other marine products. Japanese production of manufactured shrimp 

 products in 19^3 and 19^h was reported as follows (in the United States 

 Foreign Service Despatches): 



Boiled and dried Canned 



Pounds Cases 



1953 8,ii02,88ii 587 



195U 7,187,591 7,698 



Japanese exports of shrimp have ranged as follows in 1953 and 

 195ii (reported in United States Foreign Service Despatches): 



Canned Frozen Dried V 



Cases Pounds Pounds 



1953 780 273,811 l,10i;,06U 

 195U 9k 291,228 1,386,693 



1/ Principal destinations for dried and salted shrimp 

 are Formosa, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. 



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