Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the state and characteristic of seafood marketing in Korean West Coast during the colonial period ruled by Japan. To accomplish the purpose, we tried to set the fisheries statistical database by reviewing of $\boxDr$Statistical Annual Report of Chosun Chongdokbu$\boxUl$ and $\boxDr$Official Report of Chosun Chongdokbu$\boxUl$. A trend analysis was carried out with the data. Also, by reviewing of articles related to the state of seafood marketing via $\boxDr$Daehan Maeil Newspaper$\boxUl$, $\boxDr$Maeil Newspaper$\boxUl$ issued at the period, we could find out some meaningful findings which backed up the statistics in realistic facts. For numbers of businessman in seafood marketing, it was clear that the number of Japanese businessmen increased more quickly than that of Korean compared with other sphere of fisheries. That means Japanese grasped Korean seafood market in a short time. In price of seafood in terms of cities, Kunsan was comparatively higher than Incheon and Mokpo. In price of seafood in terms of species, ‘Snapper’ was mostexpensive, and ‘Mackerel Pike’, ‘Anchovy’, ‘Mullet’, ‘Eel’, ‘Flatfish’ followed in that order. In price of a species in terms of ‘Yellow Croaker’, which was famous in West Sea, ‘Croaker with salt’ was more expensive than dried and fresh one. For the transition trend of number of fish market, we could ascertain that the number of market increased until 1919, however, it decreased slowly from 1932. That means Japanese government went to war against China from 1931. Of the West Coast, the number of fish market in Chungnam province was most high, but that of Chonbuk outrun from 1940. At that time, the number of fish market in West Coast reached to 34% out of that of whole country. In 1919, the proportion of seafood sales amount of West Coast neighboring provinces, such as Kyunggido, Chungnam, and Chonbuk, was 23% of whole country which rose to 28% in 1929, and 29% in 1939. Therefore, we could assure that seafood marketing was very active at that time in the region. When we consider the trend of seafood export at the main ports of West Coast, in 1910's, the export through Mokpo and Inchon port was very live but that of Kunsan was very tiny. However, in 1920's, the export amount of Inchon port did not much change, but that of Mokpo decreased, whereas, that of Kunsan increased. In the early and middle of 1910' s which was around beginning of Japanese ruling period, we realized that the imperialist Japan was very eager in political efforts to enhance the mind of seafood's quality improvement through the opening of several fisheries competitive shows and fairs.