Prefecture! Government. Mach of the actual regulation of the 
fisheries was handled, hy the prefecture! governments. Through authority 
given them hy the central government they promulgated and enforced laws 
relating to fishing and regulated the various societies concerned with 
the industry. They licensed fisheries under their jurisdiction (see 
page 163) and also engaged in research, conservation measures and educa¬ 
tional work. 
These activities were handled under the H economic sections" of 
the prefecture! governments. In 1939, 23 of the coastal prefectures where 
fishing was a major industry had separate fisheries divisions within the 
economic sections; the other prefectures had no separate fisheries division, 
hut all had officials who were concerned with the industry. 
Governmental Activities 90/ 
Licensing . All Japanese fishing was licensed — some types hy the 
central government and others hy the prefecture! governments. By the 
Fishery Law of 1901 "licensed fishing” was established according to four 
categories: (l) "exclusive right" fishing; (2) "fixed place" fishing; 
(3) "limited sphere" fishing; and (4) "special" fishing. The first type 
of license, that of "exclusive right," provided the right to fish within 
given areas to the exclusion of all others hy methods not included in the 
other three classes. These licenses were granted only to fishermen's 
societies (Section 4 of the Fishery Law, AppendixC ) which settled among 
|o7 See Appendix C for laws and regulations relating to fisheries. 
■167- 
r6-03l Pl93 bu 
