The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-11-29
THE ENr1Rr ISLAND RrroRMrn.


In the northern part OF the Sea of Japan.
tome iorty miles distant from the large isl.
ana OF Eso, lies u tiny island called Oku-
sniri Its soil is fertile Trees of VARYING
proportion cluster thickly over its surface,
me agriculturist and the lumberman might
% nnu prontaoIe occupations there. But the
chlet pursuit OF the people is fishing Every
spring great shoals Of herring approach the
Cuast ana the hsh are easily captured in such
Quantities that this one bountifl disnensa-
non OF nature suffices to feed and clothe the
hpaoNants from years end TO years end
Living thus IN ease and plenty the people
might be expected To develop qualities usu-
ally Incidental TO such circumstances and
they appear TO have fallen pretty freely into
the vice OF drunkenness. In 1885 there were
some 260 souls in the island. They possessed
only four fixed nets. They lived in houses
matched with coarse grass they had scarcely
any roads, and they could boast only a sin
gle school. Yet they consumed annually
SS,OOO worth OF sake in addition TO shochu
aud other strong drinks. In short, these
common fisher folks spent upon Intoxicating
BEVERAGES moro than 81 per month for every
uhu OF their number, including women and
children. The same ratio OF intemperance
applied to the whole of Japan would signify
an annual expenditure OF $500, ,000, 900 on in
toNicattng beverages alone. In the fnce OF
TINS reckless outlay for liquor the people
often suffered severely from hunger and cold
curing the winter, the price of rice ranging
very high In the midwinter months and the
dwelling houses being ill adapted to exclude
the inclement atmosphere Tho local au-
thorltles prevailed upon them to adopt a sys-
TEN OF storing provisions against times of
scarcity, but their sources, re iuced by paw
ments on account of sake. were insufficient
10 accomplish anything effective in that line.
1hese circumstances induced some bold
men among them to openly denounce the ex-
cessiVe Use OF alcoholic beverages as the
cause OF all the peoples sufferngs and TO
preach the necessity OF applying 10 useful
purposes the funds thus squandered The
crusade provoked violent opposition, but in
1884 the inhabitants were induced TO enter
INTO the following agreement,
covenant made by the people OF Okushiri
Island concerning the sale and purchase OF
alcoholic beverages and the use OF the same
In the island OF Okushiri
"Ihls land which we Inhabit is a lonely
island IN the Pacific Ocean. Its inhabitants.
numbering ninety families, find almost their
only means OF amusement in drinking alco-
hol. Nine out of every ten are addicted to
sake, the sums annually spent upon which
aggregate heavy amount.
Debtors are unable TO meet their engage
menus, ana some are even compelled TO de-
pend on official aid for supplies OF food We
are Threatened with misery and some extra
ordinary measure is necessary TO save us
Frugality must be the rule of our conduct.
and every kind OF excess must be avoided.
We, therefore, hereby resolve to abstain from
the luxury which we relish above all others,
namely, sake, so as to terminate the importa-
hon OF the liquor into the island The money
hitherto devoted to the purchase OF sake shall
be applied TO lay in stocks OF rice and other
grain as provision against future want on
The one band. and TO increase the capital
available for fishery purposes on the other.
'lSIdSATUREs Or THE PRoMorERs.
"Dated July, 1881
''Articlc I've, the inhabitants OF Okus-
hiri Island, jointly and severally, in accord
ance with the ctvenant hereby signed, do
pledge ourselves to abandon wholly the sale
purchase, and use Of alcohic beverages
(Signed) III OKUsHIRI islanders"
The consequences of this covenant were
very marked. /: was vigorously observed.
Even Government officials, whatever their
rank, had to give up sake drinking when
they visited the island and, as a matter OF
course, every dramster who could not re-
form was compelled to take his departure.
Order thenceiorth reigned completely, and
prosperity came with rapid strides. The
population increased five iold In Ave years
and the capital invested in the fishing indus
try ten fold. Reed thatches were replaced
by shingles. Four large granaries were kept
full OF rice, and in addition, each house had
a store OF its own. II Is stated that there is
now stored in the island rice sufficient to
support the people for three or four years,
even thongn tne herring nshery should fall
entirely. Roads have have been constructed
in places where nothing of the kind existed
before. The principal school has been
greatly improved, and several branch schools
have been established.
New lands have been brought into cultiva-
tion. and hemp to the value OF $4,000 is
grown annually for the manufacture OF fish
ing rets, which. before the signing OF the
covon ant, had 10 be imported entirely from
the mainland. Statistics also show marked
decrease OF crime, and so famous did the
success OF the experiment become that a
large community Of settlers in the neighhor-
ing island of Ezo pledged themselves to
covenant similar to that OF Okushiri, and
with similarly happy results. Finally, we
may add that when the Ave years originally
contemplated by the covenant expired IL was
renewed for another term of five years, des-
pte the opposition Of an influential local o.
Mail.