Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25


japanese Influence" in South Man.
churia, which probably is destined to
become one of the most productive
regions in the world. Formosa, secured
from China after the war Of 1894, Is
another source of supply"
But it is not in foodstuffs alone that
Japan Is deficient with relation to her
needs. Principally she must have raw
cotton, the soil and climate of Japan
not being suitable for the growth of
that staple. She must also have iron,
to exc out her own supply, and rubber.
and timber. Machinery of various kinds
are also necessary, and automobiles. the
latter at least for the present. Wool
and yarn are required as well. for sheep
grazing is not feasible in land where
the tillable area is only about 20 per
cent of the total.
Intensive cultivation has brought the
Japanese closer to the point of self
support than would have been possible
by the broad-acred methods of America.
The total area of Japan, not including
Korea and Formosa. Is $4,000 square
miles, or about one-twentieth of the
United States. Yet the population is
about 60,000,000 or one-half that of
our country. Japan cultivates the land
by inches. rather than by rods. The
small land area unit is the tsuba, or
six feet square. this being more suit
able for the calculation of spaces than
the larger measure used at home. The
next larger Is the cho, which Is about
two and half acres.
Government Extends Area.
Government works for the extension
of the land available for cultivation are
constantly in progress, it being esti-
mated that in addition to the 5000, 600
acres now possible for tillage. half as
large an area may yet theoretically be
converted into rice paddles. Year by
year the terraces are creeping up the
hillsides, veritable engineering works
of the most skilled character being
conducted to create the little fields. OF
course, there is possible limit to the
height to which these works can be
carried. In the first place. the soil
must be right, and secondly. and of
greatest Importance, water supply
must be assured, for the rice grows in
standing water.
But even with such works carried to
the utmost, with every possible cho
under cultivation, every tsuba planted
with grain, Japan cannot produce
enough to feed her own people, and
hence Korea and Formosa and Man
churia are being developed-the last
named as far as the sphere of influence
extends-in an effort to reduce the
quantity of cereals and other food ma
terials bought abroad. Meats are sup
piled to some extent from Hokkaido,
the large northern island, and from
Korea. Still. much of that staple comes
from Australia and New Zealand.
But the japanese are not large con-
sumers of meat. Their chief flesh food,
II 1t may be so called. Is fish. And the
japanese are and have been for Gen.
turtles, remarkable fishermen. They go
far for their catches, even as far as the
Philippines, though in, those waters
market. Their boats dot the seas
around Japan. The inland waters are
thick with them. One hears constantly
that this or that now large dourishing
city was once mere fishing village"
Today these same colonies of fishermen
are strewn all along the coast. Accord
ing to the latest available figures more
than 100000 Japanese are employed
professionally and occasionally as
fishermen.
Fishing Industry Is Conserved.
The government is carefully conserv-
ing and developing the fishing in
dustry, granting bounties to the owners
of fishing craft at rates varying &C
cording to tonnage and engines. Stead
ilv the use of motor craft is increasing,
under the influence of this provision,
with the result of adding materially
to the annual catch. Regulations are
strictly enforced regarding the protec-
ton of spawning beds.
In 1925, the statistics for which year
are the most definitely available, the
total haul of fish in Japanese waters
was valued at l70,000,000 yen, or
roughly s80,000,000 But it is not alone
in food fish that the piscatory industry
is valuably productive. Various fertil-
tiers. oils, and other commodities OF
urgent need come from the seacoast
establishments where the fishing boats
deliver their hauls.
Formosa has proved most valuable
source of supply. In the little over 80
years since Japan took over the island.
it has been developed into great
granary for the homeland. In 1897,
two years after the acquisition, the Inn
port and export trade amounted to
only 100000 yen. In 1928 1t had
reached the total Of 100000. 1000 yen:
In that latter year the production OF
rice, for export, was valued at more
than Iii ,0000 yen, most OF 1t going
to Japan. In one item there Is point
of great interest to the japanese, cotton.
Japan is a heavy consumer of cotton.
The clothing of the greater part OF the
people is made of cotton. Millions OF ,
yards are used yearly. Wool is rarely
found on the backs of the working peo-
pie, partly because they do not like
heavy clothing, but chiefly because of
the cost. Cotton spinning and weaving !
mills are found in all the large cities,
giving employment to about 100000 per-
sons But the industry Is not to be
measured by the number Of people oc-
cupied in it, for the present tendency
is toward reduction Of the personnel,
while through the adoption of improved
machinery and addition to the number
of spindles per hand" the output is
increasing steadily.
Imports Of U. s. Cotton Are Heavy.
During the first half Of 1928 Japan
imported 86,554.000 yen worth of raw
cotton, mostly from the United States.
In the same period 1t exported I'll $685.
900 yen of cotton fabrics. 1t is possible
to appreciate from these figures how
much cotton in the finished form stays
at home. Hence the experiment In COT
ton raising in Formosa is attracting at
tention. In 1925 little less than 4,000,-
900 yen worth of cotton textiles formed
a factor in the export trade of that
island, the policy being to manufacture
there rather than ship to Japan for
manufacture here. Formosa has the
climate and the soil, but inasmuch as
sugar constitutes the chief crop OF the
island it is doubtful whether cotton
growing will ever become material
factor in the supply Of the Japanese