29 



GEOLOGICAL SUBTLY. 



Finally, it would be of great importance, not less in respect of mining tlian 

 of many other branches of industry, if a systemetical thorough geological survey 

 were made, having for its object, not merely the rendering of the topography of 

 the country and the study of its geological condition in general, but also register- 

 ing all hitherto known places, where useful minerals occur, searching for new 

 ones, explaining the local laws of the occurrence and formation of ore-deposits, 

 indicating those places, where further explorations are to be made and those 

 where not; in short, collecting and making accessible to the general public all 

 the information, that can be of interest for mining. Besides it would have to 

 embrace all the examinations concerning the development of the country from 

 an agricultural and general technological point of view. 



There has been made a beginning already iu regard to a geological survey of 

 some places of the main island and of Yesso, the examination having chiefly 

 been conducted from a topographical, geological and mining standpoint. It 

 seems that the government has now in view to extend the researches to such 

 a degree that all the branches of a modern geological survey are fully 

 investigated. 



In the subjoined plates, which have been prepared by Mr. Ota after sketches 

 made by my assistant Mr. W. YVatanabe, the principal mining and smelting 

 apparatus and tools are represented. 



ENUMEEATION OE THOSE MINES, WHICH ALEEADY AEE 

 WOEKED ON MODELN SYSTEM. 



After having iu the foregoing remarks examined the traditional native min- 

 ing, I desire here to repeat, that, as far as technics are concerned, the state of 

 things has already, especially in the Government-mines, in many eases been 

 considerably improved. 



The following mines, the production of which appears from the tables inserted 

 below, are worked on modern system : 



