抄録
1. Numerous islands scattering in “Setouchi” or inland sea present many facinating problems in terms of land utilization.
2. The necessity of providing cheap grass fertiliser to agricultural islands induces the utilization of many islands exclusively for the cultivation of grass.
3. The irregularity of roads pattern as well as the sectional limitation of the extension of roads are explained by the sectional isolation of the economic entity due to the irregular relief of the islands.
4. Small islands adjacent to the mother island have no permanent habitation provided the shortness of the distance enables the easy access by boat.
5. The lack and the existence of permanent habitation in small islands may be often explained by the relation of the seasonal demand of labor power. For while some of the islands that are exclusively utilized for paddy fields have no settlement, those for day farm have permanent dwellers without exceptien.
6. Most of the small islands are, contraty to the general expectation, primarily agricultural, and fishing is carried on merely as a subsidiary business. Thus the existence of arable land is the vital factor for the dwellers of the islands.
7. Farms are reached rather by boat than on foot. Thus each island has always some landing ports, although occassionally lacks in road. The farms are distributed in a most profused manner, as the location is mainly determined by the easy accessibility by boat.
8. Each island though uninhabited or without farm land, has a shrine without exception. “Benten” the sea goddess, is enshrined here. Shrines which are surrounded by sacred forests, are located at the tip of the promontries, whic, before the introudction of the light house, served as the important marks for the sea going vessels.
