154 



BULLETIN (IF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

 OUTPUT AND PRICES OF KOMBU. 



Official figures are available showing- the quantity and value of the kelp gathered, 

 dried, and sold by the fishermen during recent years. In 1901 the output was over 

 76,000,000 pounds, for which the fishermen received S4ti4.i 



There appear to be no statistics of the quantity and value of prepared konibu 

 put on the maket, but the addition of <>o to 75 per cent to the cost of the raw materials 

 would doubtless approximate the value of the manufactured article. 



In Osaka the output of green-dyed kombu in 1902 was as follows: For home con- 

 sumption. 4,728,640 pounds; for export to China. 7,092,960 pounds; total, 1 1,821,600 

 pounds, valued at $132,968. The operations of one Osaka manufacturer in 1902 are 

 represented by raw materials used, 9,900 busbels, costing $4,950; green-dyed kombu 

 made, 600,000 pounds, valued at $8,550. 



Following are the average wholesale prices of the various kinds of kombu in 

 Osaka in 1903: Green-dyed kombu. good quality, 5 yen per 100 kin (133 pounds): 

 black pulpy kombu. from 0.35 yen for cheapest to 0.70 yen for best per kamme(8.28 

 pounds); white pulpy kombu. from 0.80 yen for cheapest to 1. 10 yen for best per 

 kanmie. white hair kombu, from 0.50 yen for cheapest to 0.80 yen for best per kaunne; 

 finely powdered kombu. 2 yen per kamme; filmy kombu, from 0.60 yen for cheapest 

 to 1.30 yen for best per kamme; tea kombu, 1.20 yen per kamme; kombu chips (dried 

 on tire), from 1.80 yen to 2.40 yen per kamme; sweet cake kombu, from 1.50 yen to 

 L.80 yen per kamme; kombu chips in soy sauce, 1. 10 yen per kamme. The powdered 

 kombu sells at wholesale for 0.08 yen per quarter-pound tins, and < ». 10 yen for quarter- 

 pound bottles. 



A very large part of the supply of green-dyed kombu is exported to China. 

 Official figures of the quantity and value of the exports for the eleven years ending 

 in 1902 are here given. It appears that in 1901 the foreign trade was larger than in 

 any previous year, the shipments exceeding 81,000,000 pounds. 



