Change of Form of the Primitive Fisherman's Community

Abstract

There are two patterns in the development of the primitive fisherman's community. The one is found, for example, in Siriya, Shimokita-gun, Iwate prefecture, where the number of houses is limited to 33 to maintain their livelihood holding the equal distribution of the cooperative beach fishery. The other is found, for example, in Kuki and Kosode, both in Kunobe-gun, Iwate prefecture, where the fishery such as set net was distributed equally to each door so that the branch of families increased rapidly. So for the latter, the villager knows the limitation of a catch; extension of the fishing ground in the neighbouring waters; much profit by the progress of the method of fishing; maintenance of the traditional way of equal distribution; these are the reason why the branch family has increased.Kuki and Kosode are the northern limit of the fisherwoman's fishery in Japan, called “Katsugi”. Development of the beach fishery to the inshore fishery had made declined the fisherwoman's fishery, and they have been obliged to cultivate the farm on the coastal terrace. But the fishing-ground has been developping to the Northern Sea.The village was attacked by the tidal wave in 1896 and 1933, when many houses were washed away. Since then the village has moved to Uwamura on the plateau, 80 meter high, which has more number of houses than Shimomura. I tried to study the change and development of the fisherman's village by the name of residence. The name of residence moves with movement of residence and its dweller. So, for example, Sukabata, originally on the beach, is found in Uwamura. I think it moved due to damage by the tidal wave. By study of the name of residence, we can understand the form of the old village and its changing process. On the development of a fisherman's village, we can understand the fishing-ground, development of the method of fishing, damage by the tidal wave and change of the livelihood by organization and form of the village, especially the name of residence.