ones must succumb, unless a remedy be applied betimes. Already now several 

 mines, belonging to the last named category, how had to be abandoned, and 

 if the total produce from the mines of the country has not decreased, but has on 

 the contrary increased, this is solely due to the larger production from those few 

 mines, which are either entirely or partially worked on modern system. 



Although, as we have just seen, the pi - ospect is only small, that Japan will 

 ever realize the former dreams in regard to its production of precious metals ; 

 although the experience hitherto made leads to the belief, that the produce of 

 lead, tin, cobalt, quicksilver, petroleum never will reach any considerable figure ; 

 although the developemeut on a large seale of the iron-industry, according to 

 the latest researches, must be considered problematic, — there can be no doubt, 

 that copper-mining within certain limits, but especially coal-mining, is pregnant 

 with a great future. While the increase in the copper-produce depends princi- 

 pally upon the development of the already existing mines, partly in working 

 order partly flooded with water, and while the prospect of discovering virgin 

 lodes is only small, a rich field offers itself for coat-mining in the opening of 

 existing and already discovered seams, particularly those iu Yesso, which are 

 now actually taken in hand by the government. It may also be assumed with 

 certainty, that a general geological survey of Nipon will reveal formations, from 

 which the presence of coal-beds may be inferred, whose actual existence then 

 has to be proved by trial-borings. 



Mr. B. S. Lyman, formerly chief-geologist under the Kaitakushi, in his 

 geological report on Yesso * estimates the quantity of the there existing accessi- 

 ble coal at about 150,000 million tons, an amount, which would enable the said 

 island during 1000 years to furnish the coal-supply at present derived from 

 great Britain. Although the time is still far off, that such quantities of coal, 

 when supplied, could find use here, and although the average quality of the 

 Yesso coals may be inferior to that of the English, there can from the above said 

 be no question, that coal mining here has a great future. 



I must for a future lecture reserve the the detailed treatment of the several 

 here occurring minerals, and of the mines in general, as well as of those 

 mines, which are at present worked on modern system, in special, and my 

 intention to-day is merely to consider in a general way the anoient, national 

 methods of mining, dressing and metallurgical operations, and to suggest means 

 of improvement. I shall here observe, that Mr. H. Munjioe, in his excellent 

 article : "the Mineral wealth of Japan," has treated the same subject, although 

 only briefly, and that several repetitions therefore become unavoidable. After 

 the description of the traditional working methods, I shall add some statistical 

 notes and conclusions drawn therefrom. 



* A general Report on the Geology of Yesso hy Benjamin Smith Lyman Tokei 1877. 



