Fishing in general
If around the islands of Japan and throughout the empire, along the coasts and river mouths, several species are fished, such as herring, cod and anchovies in England and Holland.
If we extract from these types of fishing some products that the Japanese trade at home or abroad. [?]
If certain species of fish are dried, as cod is in Canada and Northern Europe, and if they are salted, how this is done and in what ways, and what species of fish are prepared in this manner, how these preparations are made in Japan, if they exist there, and what species of fish are prepared in this way.
If these species of fish have regular seasons, when do they begin and when do they end?
How are the fishing boats used there constructed, what is their shape and equipment, and how many men are in the crew?
And if the crew fishes, in certain lands far out to sea, in what seasons and in what places of the Empire is this practised?
And the fishermen travel far from the coast to fish at sea.
What instruments do they use for these types of fishing? [?]
Fortuitous and accidental fishing.
Are whales often seen on the coast of Japan, are they fished, and what uses are made of the remains of this fish?
If it is true that some have been caught, as with European species. [?] Where do the Japanese believe these fish come from? Is there a specific method of fishing for them, or are they caught by chance? How large are the biggest whales that the Japanese sometimes catch? How do they fish for them and what instruments do they use? Are there large numbers of porpoises around the islands and are they fished? Are there sometimes sea monsters and extraordinary and rare fish in these other seas that are unknown in European waters?
If any have been seen or caught, similar in shape to those known as tritons or mermaids, describe them as accurately as possible and note, if possible, when this occurred.
Whether ambergris is sometimes found in the seas near the coasts of Japan, and where the Japanese believe it comes from.
If herring, sardines, tuna, mackerel, cod, trout, salmon and sturgeon are sometimes seen in these seas, and if they are caught, in which seasons they are fished and whether the quality of their flesh is good.
Whether beavers are known to exist on the coast of Japan, and if so, whether they are hunted and what use is made of them.
What small-scale fishing is practiced by the Japanese living on the coast for their food.
Whether it is customary to transport sea fish brought ashore, as is done in France.
Are there established fisheries on the quays by the sea, and what kinds of fish are caught there? Do the Japanese consider fish to be good food?
A list of fish that come from the coast and small fishermen, marking those that are found there in great abundance and those that are said to be of better quality.
Whether Japanese fishermen fish for birds at river mouths as is sometimes done in Europe, as is done with cormorants. What kinds of birds are these, when and how is this type of fishing done?
If they hunt sea turtles off the coast of Japan, how and in what seasons do they do so, and what species do they hunt?
Do Europeans or other navigators bring to Japan any goods from their fishing or from elsewhere? What are these goods, where do they come from, and are they traded in Japan?
Are these goods in high demand in the empire?
Whether large quantities of coral, amber and grey amber are brought in, whether these goods are valued there, whether trade is lucrative and advantageous, how these materials are used by the Japanese, and whether coral is sometimes valued there.
What kinds of goods from Japan do sailors and merchants exchange for the products of the fisheries that they can bring back? Details of anything that may be relevant to this trade, which can be done in Japan with these foreign fishery products.
Of the rocks and shells
Whether the coasts of Japan are laden with many shellfish. Which neighbouring islands have the most valuable and rare varieties?
Do the Japanese gather oysters and mussels for their own use, as many people in Europe do? Are these species found in Japan? [?]
If they fish for pearl shells there, as they do in the islands of Bahrain and Mannar (?), How this fishing is done and whether the oysters bear large, beautiful pearls.
A list of the names of sea birds and seabirds. The best known on the coast of Japan and whether these types of birds are fished as they are in Europe, such as scoters.
Whether sea grass, seaweed, dried kelp or seaweed have any uses and note which ones are used by coastal dwellers. A look at the equipment and gear used by Japanese fishermen. Compare with that of fishermen from other nations.
The person who will be responsible for responding. Taken from the rest at the bottom of the Surat memorandum.
