22 



JAPANESE MINING LAW. 



The Japanese Mining Law is an offspring of modern times, and carries unmis- 

 ifilinLle traces of Euro] can influence ; it is therefore, strictly speaking, foreign 

 to a description of native mining, hut as it is so closely connected with the 

 latter, I have thought it my duty to give an extract of its principal [clauses, 

 which I here subjoin : 



All minerals, with the exception of those used as Luilding stones and for 

 agricultural purposes, are the property of the government and no one has the 

 right to win the same, until he has ohlained permission from the former. 



To carry on exploration works, a license must he applied for ; for the opening 

 and working of a mine, a mining lease. Either of these is for the whole 

 empire — with exception of Yesso, which is under the Kaitakushi — to he obtaiu- 

 ed from the Mining Department. 



- Any person, who opens and works a mine, has the right of expropiiation 

 with regard to the land requisite for erecting buildings on the surface and for 

 making roads. 



Explorations upon another man's land are lawful upon payment of a proper 

 indemnification. 



Eor every 500 tsuhos eontaind in a mining sett (1 tsubo = 6 ; square), produc- 

 ing metalliferous minerals, except iron, a yearly tax of 1 yen is to he paid; for 

 every 500 tsuhos in a mining sett producing irou-ore or non-metalliferous 

 minerals (coal, sulphur &c), the tax is yen 0.50. » 



When working over old slag heaps, the same amount of tax is to he levied on 

 every 1,000 tsubos contained in the mining sett. Eor each unit of measure 

 (respectively 500 or 1,000 tsuhos) contained in the mining sett leased, proof 

 must he given every year, that a quantity of work has been executed, equal at 

 least to the work of one hand during 300 days; otheiwise the lease is for- 

 feited. 



Besides the above tax, every mine has to pay a royalty to the Mining Depart- 

 ment, not exceeding 20 % and not less than 3 % of the value of the produc- 

 tion. 



The amount of the royalty within these limits is to he fixed yearly by the 

 Mining Department, separately for each mine. 



The lessee of a mine shall twice a year, that is, in the l 6t and 7 th month, 

 forward to the Mining Department a report showing the quantity and name of 

 the metals obtained, the number of hands employed, the working expenses, in 

 fact the results of his mining operations. 



Understatements in these reports, with the intent to avoid payment of the 

 royalty or to pay less than due, are visited with proportionate fines. 



