In the Engi era there were 7 Ukai houses on the bank of the Nagara-gawa River, and FUJIWARA no Toshihito, Kokushi (a providence governor), made the 7 Ukai houses present ayu to the Emperor, who appreciated it and gave him seven villages of Katagata District as compensation for Ukai, so that they came to be called the seven Ukai villages.
延喜年間には長良川河畔に7戸の鵜飼があり、国司藤原利仁は7戸の鵜飼にアユを献上させ、時の天皇の気に入り、方県郡七郷の地を鵜飼に要する篝松の料としてたまわり、鵜飼七郷とよんだ。