Vladivostok, Jan. 13
Mr. S. Nakamura and Mr. I. -Akimoto, representatives of the Society of Japanese Fisheries in the "Waters of the Russian Far East, -arrived in Vladivostok on board the Hozan. Maru on January 9.
In an interview published in the "Wiadivostok press, Messrs. Na-komura and Akimoto stated that they had come to. Vladivostok as representatives of the Japanese fishing industries, with the object of deciding with the Russian; authorities the question of Japanese fishing in Russian waters. They had no fixed project with regard to the conditions which the Japanese would desire, but intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Russian authorities. On the result of these conversations would depend further negotiations. They expressed themselves optimistically with regard to the result of the negotiations.
Asked on what conditions they proposed to work, in view of the unpleasant impression of the Russian fishery industry that Japanese capital bore the character of conquest and the desire to attract foreign, capital only for the purpose of financing their own labours, the Japanese delegates replied that the industry could be exploited by capitalists, contractors and workmen. The Japanese fish-dealers, like the Russian, were simply: contractors and should not be confused with financiers. Financiers, if the Russian Government would guarantee the safety of their capital, might also finance Russian fish dealers, but Japanese contractors had also themselves to seek financial assistance and could. therefore, not finance anyone. Russian fish-dealers were naturally afraid of foreigners gaining strength in Kamchatka and the Maritime region, fearing competition. If Russian and Japanese fish-dealers could only understand one another, they could easily work side by side, without competition.
THE QUESTION OF POACHING, The delegates declared that there was a serious misunderstanding with regard to poaching by: Japanese in Russian waters. A few Japanese fish-dealers had indulged in poaching last year, but they had worked solely at the request of Russian fish-dealers. The Japanese Society had suggested to these dealers that they should cease work, but in reply. had received a protest from the Russian dealers and the work continued.
Japanese dealers had not atiiended the auctions for the leasing of fishing grounds last year, as this was forbidden by their Government, The delegates stated that they needed a market for fish and that,
fish} in Vladivostok, it was possible as there was no duty on imported that they would send the majority} of it there. The Japanese Society:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.