Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/469

obliged to a greater extent than ever before to venture into the open sea and even to the distant coasts of Corea and the South Sea Islands.

The presence of two different sets of sea currents along the coasts, while affecting the distribution of sea life, also contributes to its diversity, for although the habits of the fauna are closely related to the condition of the bottom of the sea, the relative density of the brine, the nature and quality of the food, etc., the temperature of the sea exerts above all the greatest influence in this respect. This applies with especial force to the habitat of the migratory fish, which change their abode with the movement of the sea currents.

One side of the whole length of Japan faces the Pacific Ocean, covering, including Formosa, 29 degrees of latitude; but not only in climate are these two extremes of Japan widely distinct, but in the temperature as well, as in the depth of the sea itself, there exists a great diversity. To the north of Kinkazan, in the north-east part of Honshu, is situated the greatest sea depression in the world, Tuscarora. A warm current passes to the south of this part, so that the vicinity is very rich, both in fauna and flora. A cold current runs to the north of this depression, in consequence of which the fauna and flora living to the north of Kinkazan are quite distinct from those living to the south. In the sea between the southernmost archipelago of Japan and Formosa there exists a strong warm current. The result is that in this vicinity there is abundance of migratory fish of many varieties. The Pacific shore of Formosa is precipitous, with no good anchorage for ships, and the sea is, moreover, very deep. On the other hand, the sea on the western side is of moderate depth. Through the Sea of Japan runs a branch of the Black Stream. At high tide the current moves northward through the Straits of Corea, but on the coasts of Japan the tides are very weak, and their movement irregular. Migratory fish, such as tunny, bonito, etc., enter this sea along the course of the southern warm current, but in the northern part of the sea, where the influence of a colder current predominates, the principal fish are herring, cod, and the like. Of the inland sea fisheries the largest and most important is the Sea of Okhotsk, which is generally shallow, and as the temperature varies considerably, according to the seasons, many fish which come in during the summer leave as autumn advances. The river fishing, which is also good, furnishes salmon in the northern districts of Honshu and in Hokkaido, while of fresh-water fish there are carp, eels, etc.

The fishing-boats, both for inland and deep-sea fishing, are all open and without decks, and even the largest do not exceed 50 feet in length, while the great majority do not measure