Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-02-21
Japanese Fisheries
The Importance OF The Industry.

National Geographic Magazine. TIL
Japanese farmer has been called tn
root of the empire. The Japanes
fisherman is a hardly less importan
member OF the body polite, and as !
is quite likely that fishing antedatet
agriculture as an industry in Japan, /
is not inappropriate that the fisher
mans story be heard before th'
farmers this evening:
Recent developments on land ant
water in the Far East have led to ID
creased study Of things japanese, ant
We have learned of so many matters
In which the Japanese people are emil
nent and preeminent that we are
perhaps prepared for the statement
that Japan in various important re
spects is today the leading fishing ma.
ton and has many branches of tae
fishing industry which are unique.
Probably in no other country OF
equal rank has fishing occupied a more
prominent place in the material and
aesthetic development Of people.
A mere glance at the map of Japan
suggests the role which would be
lation, combined with a very limited
area of arabic land, at very early
period led to the development of ins.
portant maritime interests. Centuries
ago the Japanese had become the
Phoenicians of the Far East. Their
fisheries grew side by side with their
navigation and shipping and became
relatively more and more important
with the more complete occupation oil
the agricultural land, so that at The
dawn of the twentieth century we
have seen the nation blossom out not
only as a leader. In the coastwise and
foreign shipping trades and in fish
ing, but as one of the great naval
powers of the world.
To quote an American student
long resident in Japan, Japanese art,
poetry, romance and folklore arc full
OF the sea, its wonders and its posi-
bilities for man. Even the ancient
Shinto liturgies celebrate the blue
plain of the sea. the ship and her
equipment, the fishers and their spells.
OF the two gods of daily food seen in
nearly every Japanese house one sits
on two bags of rice. the native staff OF
life. and the other holds tai or
Dream fish under his left arm, while
his right hand grasps fishing pole
These gods are not Buddhist or cont
mental, but are of pure Japanese orr
gin"
The fisheries of Japan are less val
liable than those OF several other
countries. but they take first ranl
over those of all other nations Cd In
the actual number of people making
a livelihood thereby; (2) in the rela
tive number Of persons engaged in and
dependent on the industry; ca in tn,
quantity Of products taken annual,
from the waten; (4) in the relativ,
Importance OF fishery products in tn,
domestic economy; CD In the ingeni
ety and skill shown by the people II
devising and using fishing appliance.
and preparing the catch for use 6
In the extent to which all kinds q
water products are utilized; ca il
the extent TO which the fisheries o
foreign countries have been studio,
and the best methods adapted I,
home conditions; (S) in the extent /,
which agriculture has been carried
CD In the zeal and intelligence Iis
played by the government in promot
ing the development of the fisher !e
and the welfare of the fishing popu
lation
From the earliest times down /,
the present day, fishing has supple,
the staple animal foods and a larg,
portion of the vegetable and mnera
foods consumed In Japan, and none o
the great powers is now SO dependen
on the water for subsistence. So i'm
portant are water products aud SO M
merous are their kinds and the meth
DDS of preparation that venture tn
assertion. from what have seen o
domestic life in Japan. that every da,
In every Japanese family some forn
OF fishery food is served--I am almos
ready to say at every meal.
The Japanese fishermen as elias
are hardy, skilful. energetic, sober
selfreliant. to which qualities is super
added spirit of intense bravery am
patriotism. which makes them inyal,
able, indeed Indispensable. In the ci.
sis through which Japan is now pas,
ing. With ingenuity and defines
which, 1t seems to me, are unsu
passed by any other people, the Jap.
nese have devised apparatus and Il
veloped methods whsch centuries ~
brought their fisheries to a very hig
degree OF effectiveness; but not COZ
tent with this, they have within on
own time superimposed upon an
adapted to their own already wel
nigh perfect fisheries all that Is nei
and most useful in those OF 9th,
countries. so that today fishing wit
the Japanese is more than n mere 4
dustry--it Is almost fine art.
A striking feature OF the Janaues