Historical Development of Fisheries Oceanography in Japan

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biology
• Main Author: Uda, Michitaka
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1972
• Subjects: General Engineering; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Pacific
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0080455x00002423; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0080455X00002423

The visit of Commander Perry's American fleet in 1853, followed by visits of European oceanographic research vessels, initiated Japanese interest in oceanography. Fortunately, because of a long maritime history and experience, such advanced sciences were speedily and easily absorbed in Japan. The U.S.S. Tuscarora (1874) discovered the Tuscarora Trough in the Japan Trench during her trans-Pacific sounding cruise as a preliminary to laying a submarine cable. During her epoch-making scientific expedition around the world (1872–76) the British Challenger visited Japan in 1875 and surveyed parts of the Inland Sea. This was followed by the Swedish Vega Expedition (1879) which first cruised across the Arctic Ocean to Tokyo, the Russian Vitiaz Expedition (1886–89) in the Japan Sea, etc., and the USA Albatross Expedition (1888–97) in the northern waters and Japan Sea.