NOTE REGARDING THE PROMOTION OF FISHERY TRADE 
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, 
By Hucu M. Smira, 
Deputy Fish Commissioner. 
Both the United States and Japan are so well supplied with fishery 
products of all kinds that they are to a very great extent independent 
in this respect, and it has been believed that the possibility of build- 
ing up an extensive fishery trade between them is very remote. <A 
personal inquiry into the conditions in Japan, including consultation 
with the imperial and local fishery officials, confirms the belief that no 
great development of the general fishery trade can be looked for at 
this time, but there appear to be opportunities for establishing a 
mutually beneficial trade in some special products. 
The consumption of water products in Japan is enormous. Fish is 
not only the staple animal food in all parts of the empire, but is the 
only animal food that enters into the dietary of a very large propor- 
tion of the population. In no other country are so many persons 
engaged in fishing. In a total population of 50 million, 3 million 
people are engaged in this industry, and fully 10 million men, women, 
and children are directly dependent on it. A large part of the catch 
is sold fresh, but considerable quantities of certain species are smoked, 
dried, salted, canned, or otherwise prepared. No ice is employed in 
the preservation of fish. This, however, is not serious, as the prose- 
cution of fishing on all parts of the coast, the long coast line, the 
shape of the islands, and the transportation facilities permit nearly 
the entire population to receive daily supplies of fresh fish in good 
condition. ; 
The establishment of a satisfactory export trade with Japan in 
fishery products depends chiefly (1) on the cheapness of the products, 
and (2) on their adaptation to the peculiar needs and ideas of the peo- 
ple. It would be futile to send high-priced goods, because the pro- 
spective consumers—the masses—can not afford to pay for them, and it 
would be equally futile to try to force the Japanese to surrender their 
predilections and tastes and long-established customs, and adopt fishery 
foods prepared according to western ideas. 
241 
F. C. 1904—16 
