The
preparations for
a
new
season (maesaku)
usually
started
in
September
and
included
a
range
of
activities centered
on
the
land station (nayaba).
Large
quantities of hemp
were
brought in, often from
a
considerable
distance,
as
raw
material
for
ropes
made
by
women
living
in
the
host and neighbouring
villages.
Male experts
(ami-daiku)
used
the
ropes
to
make
new
nets since many
of
the
old nets had to
be
replaced
every
year.
These experts
were
usually recruited from
villages
that
specialized
in this trade, often
from
distant
provinces. Every
year
some of the oldest boats
had
to
be
replaced
by
new
ones
built
by
specially
em-
ployed
boat builders
(funa-daiku),
while
harpoons,
knives,
containers
and
so
on
were
made
by
smiths
and
coopers.
The
working
sheds had to be
repaired
or
rebuilt,
new
furnaces made and
firewood
collecte