Because freshness is limited, as it contains about fourty percent water, the amount of the product was less than for dried bonito which could be stored for a longer time, and product can only be distributed near the place of production, a little larger area than for fresh fish until transportation by railway began.
水分を40%程度含み、保存期間に制限があるため、長期保存が可能な鰹節よりも生産量は少なく、鉄道での輸送が始まるまでは生産地周辺の地域、鮮魚より少し広い程度の範囲にしか流通させることができなかった。