latter type of marketing was done chiefly in cases where the product 
was to he canned or otherwise processed and was not very common among 
fishermen who were producing for domestic consumption. 
Fish markets were located in both the productive coastal districts 
and in the large consuming cities. The total number of fish markets in 
Japan in 1934 was 934; in addition 253 markets selling fruits and vegetables 
also handled fish. Thus, there were 1,187 markets handling fish through¬ 
out Japan proper in 1934. The ownership of some markets was public, of 
others private and of still others cooperative. The public markets were 
municipally operated, most of the private ones were operated by fishery 
companies and most of the cooperative markets were small ones operated by 
$ 
village fishery associations in the coastal areas. 
1 
In 1923 the Central Wholesale Market Law provided for Jfche establish¬ 
ment of markets for fresh foodstuffs (fish, vegetables and fruits). Under 
this law markets were to be established first in the large urban centers 
and later in all cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Such central 
wholesale markets were established in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, 
Kochi, Kagoshima and Sasebo, but apparently none were established in 
other cities. These central markets were modem with excellent facilities 
for handling, sales and storage. Space was rented to wholesalers wbp, 
conducting their business on a commission basis 82/ , sold to brokers who, 
in turn, sold to retail dealers. The value of fish sold in the city 
82/ In prewar years the commission received by wholesalers was about 
10 percent. 
- 148 - 
t' 6 - 03 !i P 173 bu 
