C. Harpoon Fishery 



The spearfishes are the principal objective of this fishery. However, besides the 

 spearfishes, tunas, sharks, rays, porpoises, sunfish, turtles, and indeed anything of use or value 

 which appears on the surface of the sea may be harpooned in this extremely primitive but heroic 

 fishery. 



It is of great interest that a fishery exactly like this one is carried on in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea around the island of Sicily. The harpoon fishery of the Mediterranean Sea is very 

 old, its origin being said to go back several centuries before the Christian era. In this region 

 the objective of the fishery is principally the broadbill swordfish. On the fishing boats, a 

 crowsnest is rigged at the top of a tall mast from which a look-out surveys the surrounding 

 waters. When a broadbill is seen swimming on the surface, the boat is headed toward it and the 

 harpoon is thrown as the fish comes within range. It appears that natives of southern regions 

 catch fish with bows and arrows, but I know of no details concerning this fishing method. 



There are no complete records of the history of the harpoon fishery in Japan so its 

 details are not clear, but in view of the character of this fishery it is not difficult to imagine that 

 it must have a long history. 



The gear consists of a harpoon head, shaft, harpoon line, and leader or sekiyama. 

 As the figure shows (Translator's note: figure 7 is omitted.), a steel shaft is fitted to the tip of 

 an oak pole of 12-15 (usually 15) feet. Sometimes there is a single iron rod but ordinarily there 

 are 3 prongs. On the tip of each of theprongsa harpoon head is fitted. 



The harpoon head is of steel and is about 4 inches long. A sharp triangular blade is 

 fixed to its tip. A rod is attached at the center of the wing-like part of the blade which slopes 

 back from the point, and the posterior part of this rod is hollowed out and expanded so that the 

 end of the shaft will fit into it. The back edge of the socket is bent out into an oblique projection. 

 A leader of high quality hemp is attached to the neck of the harpoon head and is connected to the 

 harpoon line with se kiyama. 



The boats used in this fishery have a simple observation platform above the bridge, 

 and here a lookout stands and keeps constant watch on the surrounding water. Boats which engage 

 in this fishery only part-time do not usually have such a lookout platform. At the bow there is 

 a platform called the pulpit, amd it is here that the harpooner stands. On boats which specialize 

 in this type of fishing, the pulpit is large cind can accommodate 2 harpooners at a time. 



Spearfishes have the habit of swimming with the upper lobe of the caudal fin pro- 

 truding from the surface of the water. Sometimes a portion of the dorsal fin also protrudes from 

 the water. Fish swimnming in this manner can be seen at all times, but it is said that they are 

 particularly numerous in cases where the wind and the current are running in opposite directions 

 causing waves on the surface. It appears that this phenomenon is also often seen during spawning 

 when the fish are chasing each other. 



In Japanese coastal waters the fishing season is from April to September. The Hyuga 

 Nada, and the waters off Kishu, Izu, and the Boso Peninsula are famous fishing grounds. The 

 coastal waters of eastern and northeastern Formosa are also fannous as a fishing ground for this 

 fishery with 14-15,000 spearfishes of various species being taken. The fishing season is from 

 October to April, during the northeast monsoon. White marlin are most numerous, making up 

 40-50 percent of the total catch. 



When the lookout sights a spearfish, the boats give chase at full speed. Arriving 

 within range, the harpooner in the pulpit throws the harpoon. If a hit is scored, the harpoon 

 head comes off the shaft and remains in the body of the spearfish, which is then hauled in by 

 hand by mesins of the harpoon line. 



21 



