knoim, but in the latter half of 1941 there were local shortages and 
irregular supply of fish which led to various systems designed to 
achieve fairer distribution. For example* in August 1941 an ordinance 
was issued for I§rogo Prefecture outlining a plan for the distribution 
* 
of fish 21/ and in February 1942 rationing of fish was instituted in 
Tokyo, 22/ 
Early in 1942 the Food Control Bill, which established the basis 
of wartime food control in Japan, provided for complete control of ric6 
and other grains and the partial control of other foods, including 
marine foods. The purpose of this law was to: (l) strengthen the govern- 
/ 
ment control of food; (2) readjust the distribution of food; and, 
(3) to preserve and store food for emergency use. Although the structure 
for control set up under this law was national in scope and under the 
general supervision of the Bureau of Food Control of the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Commerce, the actual operation for marine products was 
by control associations established by prefecture! governments. Accord¬ 
ing to the announcement in February 1942, marine products were to be 
regulated in accordance with the following general plan: 23 / 
1. Prefectural governments were to establish control regulations 
through designated local control organizations which were in turn to give 
v 
directions to those concerned with the selling and distribution of 
21/ Japan Weekly Chronicle , Kobe, August 7, 1941. 
22/ Report of returned repatriates. 
23/ I.D.C. Abstract, March 1942. 
