following pages describe some of the more important methods and gear 
used in the fisheries of the coasta?. waters, i.e. within 20 to 30 
miles of the shores of Japan proper. 29/ Some of these same methods, 
purse-seining and gill-netting, for example, were used farther from 
shore. 
Japanese fishing gear falls into two general categories, both 
of which were used in the coastal fisheries: (l) nets, including 
traps; and (2) hook and line. Japanese nets, in turn, may- be considered 
as of seven general types: 
1. scoop or dip-nets, designed to scoop or dip fish from the 
water. 
2. casting nets, designed to spread out over fish, capturing 
them as the weighted bottom is pulled together. 
3. laying nets, designed to catch fish by laying a net beneath 
fish, collecting them upon the net as it is lifted. 
4. dragging nets (hstul-seines) operated either from shore or 
from boats. 
5. trap or pound nets devised so as to entrap fish. The great¬ 
est yield of the coastal fisheries probably came from these. 
6. enveloping or encircling nets by which fish are enveloped. 
7. entangling nets spread across the path of fish so as to 
, f 
catch them by entangling them in meshes. 
29/ Many of the details for such operations are unfortunately sketchy 
or lacking. It should be recognized that there are numerous variations 
of the gear described here. 
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