18 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
For the rest, Japanese oyster-culture proved to he worthy of careful study, not 
only for its merits, but because of the suggestions it affords for cultural experiments. 
One may frankly doubt whether it can at once be employed profitably — for example, 
at many points on the Oregon coast — in view of the expense for labor which it 
entails, but I believe that there is a reasonable chance that it could be made profitable 
if employed in a favorable locality. In any event, so far as the Pacific coast is 
concerned, the Japanese methods are the most practicable, and experiments with 
them could be made readily and at little expense, and would soon demonstrate 
whether artificial oyster-culture can here be employed commercially. 
The Japanese industry is largely seated along the north shore of the Inland Sea 
near Hiroshima, in the gulf-like Sea of Aki, famous for its oysters. From what 
period, indeed, this oyster-culture has been carried on is not known accurately, but 
from its present condit ion it is evidently the product of centuries. As early as 1708 
records show that concessions at Osaka were granted to an oyste r company or to 
oyster companies of Aki for storage of their output pending the final marketing.® 
Regarding the origin of the oyster-culture in this region I may here quote a 
paragraph from a tract on fishery matters published by Hiroshima-Ken. 
In ancient times certain shellfish, Tapes , were gathered in great numbers on the flats of Aki; 
and while awaiting their shipment to market the fisher people came to keep them in shallow-water 
inclosures, the fences of which they formed of bamboo stalks. The discovery was then made that 
the brushy fences became incrusted with young oysters, and thus it soon became evident that 
under certain conditions and at certain places it would be more profitable to plant bamboo and to 
cultivate oysters than to continue the Tapes industry. This was the first instance, it is said, that 
bamboo collectors, or “ shibi,” were employed in oyster-culture. 
The first detailed report upon the oyster industry of Aki was prepared for the 
Japanese government by Prof. K aki chi Mitsukuri, the head of the department of 
zoology of the Imperial University of Tokyo. It was published in 1894 (Tokyo) by 
the department of agriculture and commerce, a royal octavo of about 50 pages, 
containing many figures and several plates. * * 6 Unfortunately for the foreign reader 
it has not yet been translated into a European language. My own knowledge of it 
is due to my friend (who has also kindly drawn for me the text figures here repro- 
duced), Mr. Naohide Yatsu, Rigakushi, a pupil of Dr. Mitsukuri. I have availed 
myself freely of its substance, and if there is anything of value in the present paper 
it owes its merit to my Japanese colleague. He has, moreover, given me generous 
assistance in connection with my visit to Aki, advising me as to ways and means 
and providing me with personal and official letters to the local authorities. 
In Hiroshima I was courteously received by his honor Governor Senshi Egi, of 
the prefecture of Aki, and to him and to his staff I am indebted for favors extended 
me in many ways. To Mr. Shinobu Suda, official engineer of the oyster properties, 
and to Mr. Masugi Shiraishi, a government expert in oyster matters, I am under 
especial obligation for information regarding details in cultural methods; and 
finally to Mr. Y. S. Murai, for many personal courtesies. 
a A probable trace of this early privilege is seen at tlie present day, for the people of Aki are granted the test 
places in the river mouths of Osaka. 
6 All the present text figures, except fig. 27, are reproduced with unimportant changes from the Japanese i eport. 
Plates f and 5 are from photographs taken by an artist in Hiroshima, and are copied by Dr. Mitsukuri; Plates 3 and 
(j are original. 
