Production and Circulation of Hyomotsu (dried sea cucumbers, dried abalones, dried shark fins, etc.) in Yamaguchi Prefecture (Choshu-Han) in 18th and 19th Centuries

Abstract

Hyomotsu products were a very important export of the Nagasaki Trade to the Modern age Ch'ing dynasty (China). In China the demand for them was very great because they were first-class food articles and were imported from Japan, southeast Asia and the south pacific. Hyomotsu means commodities packed in straw bags; and among the main items are dried sea cucumbers, abalones, shark fins.Recently, some investigators have studied the production and circulation of Hyomotsu products of these areas. Collecting system of Hyomotsu by local feudal government was the center of historians' interest. But the organization and system of products remained to be studied. This is the present writer's second paper on this title. In the previous paper major periods of trading system were discussed; the monopolistic contract by Nagasaki merchants (1774∼1784), the direct purchase by Nagasaki Hyomotsu Products Office, the branch office of Shogunate (1785∼1806) and purchase by Hans government office (1807∼1865).In this connection, attention is focused upon how Hyomotsu were collected by fishers in a small island named Sago and monopolized under the feudal system; a developed system of fishery by the feudal ruler, the change in economic status of the people engaged in collecting sea products, etc.Subsistence crops (rice, sweet potatoes and some other coarse cereals) were cultivated in the island, but their products were not sufficient to feed the local people. In order to cover the expense for transported food and other expenditure, people pursued cottage industry and fishing. The cottage industry-cotton weaving-played the most important part in the commercial products of this island and fishing ranked second.Sardines, sea cucumbers, gray mullets, saurels and snappers were among the main sea products. In view of production, sea cucumbers ranked next to sardines which were most commonly used for fertilizer. However, sea cucumbers were beyond comparison with other sea products in view of commodities; sea cucumbers were collected by a special organization and transported as far as China.Sea cucumbers were gathered by fishers on boats. With the passage of time, this work was left to the poorer fishers only. This is the reflection of change in advance system of loan; previously fishers could operate their collection of sea cucumbers with an advanced loan but they degenerated to wage labours employed by a local subcontractor. This caused a 20% decrease in the production from 1770 to 1821.