Shingu, on the northern shores of Kyushu is today a suburb of Fukuoka City. Fishing is a slowly-dying occupation and this volume analyses how the fishermen adjust to changing circumstances. Although Japan is the largest fishing nation in the world, when originally published this book was the first to be published in English which focussed on the composition and role performance of the crews and larger net-groups.

1. Introduction 2. The Setting 3. The History of Shingu 4. Household and Community 5. Technology and Annual Cycles 6. The Fishing Boat as a Management Unit 7. Net-Groups as Management Units 8. Organizational Changes in the Fisheries 9. Recruitment of Fishermen 10. Conclusion. Appendix 1 The Fishing Household (1.1.1976). Appendix 2 Merchant Houses in Shingu-Ura. Appendix 3 The Catches in Shingu in 1950. Appendix 4 The Relative Value of the Monthly Catches in Shingu. Notes, Glossary, Bibliography.