抄録
The Seto Inland Sea Area may be divided into two parts, east and west, by a line connecting Onomichi and the Takanawa Promontry. The eastern part is better fitted for salt-making industry. Formeroly this industry was active at Arai and Matogata, but since the middle of the 17th century, the salt fields in such localities as Ako, Ajino, Sakaide and Muya have made a rapid progress, and at the present time they still keep the representative position in this area. Among these, the development of the Ako salt field has been the most remarkable.
Studying the process of the development of the Ako salt field since the 17th century, we can find 6 epochs:
(1) Expansion of the salt field on a large scale in 1646-1653.
(2) Adjustment of the salt transaction business in 1661-1703.
(3) Use of coal for fuel in 1823.
(4) Enforcement of the monopnly-system in 1905.
(5) Modernization of the salt-making factory in 1938.
(6) Reconstruction of the salt field since 1952.
The investigation of the procss of the development of the salt-making industry at Ako brings us to a conclusion concerning the regional progress of this line of industry.
The chief causes of rhe development of the salt-making industry in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, especially at Ako, are; that the climate is suited to it, that the feudal lords protected it during the Edo Era, that the facilities of communication made it convenient to send salt to the various places in Japan.
