Fish watching - Uomi

The role of a fish watcher is to watch over the coming and movement of schools of fish from small hills facing the sea or on boats. Usually, they judge by the flocking of seabirds, the movement of the water surface, wind direction, etc., but it is a difficult role that requires experience and intuition. In fishing villages, especially when collective fishing is conducted using beach seine nets or fixed nets, a fish watcher is often appointed. When a school of fish enters the bay, they will notify the fishing boats and the net workers by shouting loudly or using flags as a signal to have them put their nets in. In some places, the fish watcher not only acts as a watcher but also takes command of the entire fishing operation. In the case of the village-wide beach seine net fishing for sardines conducted in Nonami, Shimane Town, Yatsuka District, Shimane Prefecture (Matsue City), the net master (kariya), who works in shifts, also acts as a fish watcher and directs the fishing. As a result, he is given twice the share of the catch as an ordinary net worker.

[Takenori Noguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

海に面する小高い所や船上で魚群の来遊や動静を監視する役目。普通は海鳥の群がりや水面の動き、風向きなどによって判断するが、経験と勘がものをいうむずかしい役目である。漁村でとくに地引網や定置網などによる共同漁が行われる場合に魚見がつくことが多く、湾内に魚群が入れば、大声で叫んだり旗などを合図として漁船や網子(あみこ)に知らせ網を入れさせる。所によっては魚見は監視役だけでなく漁労全体の指揮を務めることもある。島根県八束(やつか)郡島根町野波（松江市）で行われていた村共同のイワシ地引網の場合、交代制で務める網元（カリヤ）自身が魚見を兼ね漁の采配(さいはい)を振るった。それゆえ漁獲物の配当も一般の網子の倍が与えられた。

［野口武徳］

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