Geographical Studies of the Fishing Villages along the Kujûkuri-hama Coast

Abstract

The writer describes here the fishing villages along the Kiujukuri-hama coast, and explains the charaa teristics of this coastal district from the geographical point of view. The results are summarised as follows. 1. The Kujukuri-hama coast, situated in the northeast part of the Boso Peninsula, is a typical arched sandy coast, 56 kms long, and open to the Pacific Ocean. When the shore 'fisheries on this coast were very prosperous, sardine fishing with seines flourished in every village. As the shore fisheries declined, fishing on this coast generally declined, but with the rise of off-shore fisheries, the fisheries became more prosperous than ever in some of the villages. 2. The stages in th development of fishery in the coastal villages here are determined chiefly by the number of aguri-ami, a -sort of purse-net, in each village. Where the owner of aguri-ami are numerous, there the fisheries flourish. The number of aguri-ami in the villages differ, consequently the stages in the development of fishery in the villages also differ widely. 3. During the shore seine period, the fishermen of this coast live not farther than about 6 kms from the beach and engage mainly in farming. At present, however, they live closer to the beach (about 1 km) and. occupy themselves with fishing to a greater, extent than ever before. 4. The character of the settlements on the coast and those inland differ in many ways. The former are nothing but belts of very small, low-roofed houses, crowded on small areas; the reason being poverty and not physical causes.