THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 105 
ANGLING IN THE FLOWERY KINGDOM 
By Dr. M. H. Oyamana, of Portland. 
Four thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean there is an island 
country called Japan and spelled N-I-P-P-O-N. Full of mountains, 
streams and lakes allow her inhabitants to fish within one’s striking 
distance. As far as I know there is no country that has so many 
different kinds of fish as Japan has. One going for an outing gen- 
erally brings home ten or more kinds of fish, all good eating. The 
country is thickly populated, and fish being the common food, there 
are no fish laws or limit. Of course, for hunting there are laws much 
the same as here, but anglers get off easy (even foreigners) not hav- 
ing to have a license. In spite of everybody indulging in fishing the 
supply is abundant. The fish are extremely cunning and you must 
use the lightest tackle available. For instance, the line must be 
fine, mist colored silk with ten or eight feet of knotless leader and 
hooks are tied with single horse hair (gray hair of the tail). You 
can make the rods to suit your case, for bamboo sticks are easy to get. 
No bright trimmings are welcomed on the rod. Usually the rod is 
smoked somewhat to make it dark. In reels avoid bright metal or 
the click. Hooks are rather small and sinkers and float about the 
same as used here. Now the tackle is ready. 
For bait angleworms, insects, silk worms (dried), flies, frogs 
and wood worms in river fishing, and shell fish, fish meat and rock 
worms for the ocean. One peculiar way of fishing is to use one of 
the species alive as a fighter or champion. Pass two lines through 
both sides of its gills and tie them at the tail, putting a small tripple 
hook at the end of the line, then turn the fish loose in the river using 
a fine line. Fish of the same species will come and strike him with 
‘the result that they are snagged. In this kind of fishing the angler 
must be skilled in handling the champion or he will be overcome by 
the enemy and play out. 
Night fishing with the bell-rod is another interesting sport. Small 
silk net casting and various ways of trapping are common there. 
Spearing in the winter is great sport too, but I have not the time to 
explain all. Now I will tell you a true fish story. If it sounds 
fishy in any way the reader can take it as he sees fit. 
Two years ago I took a trip to my old home, not forgetting to take 
along the Heddon rod and accessories so I could try the old pastime, 
fishing. I was busy calling on old friends whom I had not seen or 
heard from for seven years when I first left Japan for the United 
States. I found most of them were married and rearing families and 
their conversation dwelt more of politics, housekeeping, irrigation 
and money making. You know fishing over there is more for the 
youth and grandpa’s pastime. One April day I visited a friend 
whom I used to go to school with and found him to be the head of 
the agricultural department of the county headquarters. He said he 
did more hunting than fishing but would go fishing the next day for 
my sake. I got full information of funa (wide-mouth fish of the bass 
family). Coming home I met an old man called Jiu, who used to fish 
a great deal and cared for nothing in this world but to fish and eat. 
He sleeps but little and could talk of fishing all night and would 
be the first one to be at the spot where we had arranged to meet next 
morning and then fish all day. Well, when I met him he hardly 
recognized me, but I spoke first and asked him to join our party the 
next day. He said he would not miss the pleasure of the trip at any 
cost. I told him to meet us at our home at 4:30 in the morning. 
