These figures probably cover those working in large units but not the 
large number of small-scale processors. Table 43 summarizes the 
data available concerning the factory operations. 
TABLE 43 
Processing of Fishery Products in Factories, 1938 
Production of 
Canneries Aquatic Products 
Number of factories 
642 
2,008 
Number of operatives 
20,700 
17,400 
Production 
Total, million yen 
105 S/ 
55 
Per factory, thousand yen 
164 
27 
Per operative, yen 
5,720 
3,160 
Working hours, million 
59.1 
36.0 
Wages, million yen 
5.6 
4.5 
Raw material consumed, 
million yen 
151.3 
34.7 
Source: Orient Yearbook^ 1942. 
a/ Products of fish and shellfish canning were according 
to the same source valued at 38 million yen in this year — 
more than one-third of the total. Other sources give a 
much higher production figure for canned fishery products 
(Table 46). 
Drying, Salting and Smoking 
About 66 percent of the value of fishery products processed 
for food was dried, salted or smoked fish (Table 40). Drying, salting 
and, to a lesser degree, smoking are important in Japan; together with 
fresh fish, the products processed in these ways formed the bulk of 
the marine products consumed domestically. Although in the large cities, 
especially among higher income groups, frozen and canned fish had be¬ 
come familiar items, in the villages and towns and among the masses 
125- 
16'03 t P15 o bu 
