NOTE REGARDING THE PROMOTION OF FISHERY TRADE 

 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN. 



By Hugh M. Smith, 

 Deputy Fish Commissioner. 



Both the United States and Japan are so well supplied with fishery 

 products of all kinds that they are to a very great extent independent 

 in this respect, and it has been believed that the possibilit}' of build- 

 ing up an extensive fishery trade between them is ver}^ remote, A 

 personal inquiry into the conditions in Japan, including consultation 

 with the imperial and local fisher}' officials, confirms the belief that no 

 great development of the general fisher}'- trade can be looked for at 

 this time, but there appear to be opportunities for establishing a 

 mutually beneficial trade in some special products. 



The consumption of water products in Japan is enormous. Fish is 

 not only the staple animal food in all parts of the empire, but is the 

 only animal food that enters into the dietar}' of a ver}' large propor- 

 tion of the population. In no other country are so many persons 

 engaged in fishing. In a total population of 50 million, 3 million 

 people are engaged in this industr}", and fuU}^ 10 million men, women, 

 and children are directly dependent on it. A large part of the catch 

 is sold fresh, but considerable quantities of certain species are smoked, 

 dried, salted, canned, or otherwise prepared. No ice is employed in 

 the preservation of fish. This, however, is not serious, as the prose- 

 cution of fishing on all parts of the coast, the long coast line, the 

 shape of the islands, and the transportation facilities permit nearly 

 the entire population to receive daily supplies of fresh fish in good 

 condition. 



The establishment of a satisfactory export trade with Japan in 

 fishery products depends chiefly (1) on the cheapness of the products, 

 and (2) on their adaptation to the peculiar needs and ideas of the peo- 

 ple. It would be futile to send high-priced goods, because the pro- 

 spective consumers — the masses — can not aflord to pay for them, and it 

 would be equally futile to try to force the Japanese to surrender their 

 predilections and tastes and long-established customs, and adopt fishery 



foods prepared according to western ideas. 



241 



F. C. 1904—16 



