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(4) The Sardine Purse Seine Exhibited by the 



P'ishery Confederate Association 

 of Hyogo Prefecture. 



It was twenty years ago that the purse seine was for the 

 iirst time adopted for fishing in this country. The practice was 

 modelled after that prevalent in America. At present as many 

 ■as 500 of these seines are used by sardine fishers in various 

 parts of the country. 



Sardines form one of the most important aquatic products 

 in Japan, the annual output reaching over 8,000,000 yen. The 

 ■sardine fishing appears to have been started early in our history. 

 Up to the present the fishing was done by means of ground seine 

 together with a gill net and drifter. Within recent years the 

 -output greatly decreased, the number of sardines which visit 

 the shore has considerably decreased, so that fishing was started 

 off the coast, which practice was followed by the American 

 method of using the purse seine. The ring in the pocket has 

 been improved producing a net which is generally known as 

 the improved purse seine and has finally come into use as it 

 is at present. 



The period of fishing varies more or less according to 

 districts, but spring and autumn are the best seasons for the 

 purpose. 



The purse seine is extensively used along the Pacific coast 

 •of Japan, the western coast of the Sea of Japan and the Inland 

 Bay of Seto. The method of fishing is carried on somewhat in 

 this way. When two fishing boats loaded with nets reach the 

 -fishing ground, and the shoals of fish are perceived, the direc- 

 tion of their swimming, the current of the tide and that of the 

 \wind are carefully taken into consideration by the fishermen 



