The fish that used to throng in the Edo-mae shallows of Tokyo Bay haunt fishermen today.

"Gobies, flounders, conger eels, black porgies -- there were so many, boats couldn't carry all they caught," sighs Kenichi Yasuda, 62, who has fished in the bay all his life. "Even children could catch as many as they wanted."

During the 16th century, the less than 3-meter deep shallows occupied vast expanses of Tokyo Bay, reaching as far as what is now Yurakucho, Shimbashi and Marunouchi. With plenty of sunlight to maintain food, they drew hordes of fish.