Studies of the pretreatment of chitin and its subsequent hydrolysis by Aspergillus carneus chitinase are reported. Ball milling was found to be the most effective way among the pretreatment methods tested. Data are presented describing the effect of enzyme and substrate concentrations on the rate and extent of the hydrolysis process. It was found that the successive addition of enzyme improved the saccharification yield. Significant product inhibition of the chitinase was observed when N-acetylglucosamine concentration was 3.6％ or higher. Adsorption of enzymes to the substrate occurred during a 24 hr hydrolysis period. An initial rapid and extensive adsorption occurred, followed by gradual desorption which increased during the time of reaction. Intermediate removal of the hydrolyzate and continuation of the hydrolysis by adsorbed enzyme on the residual chitin was also investigated. A total of 75.4 g/l reducing sugars, corresponding to 69.2％ saccharificaton yield (as N-acetylglucosamine) was obtained. In addition an increase in the amount of recoverable enzymes was observed under these conditions. Evidence presented here suggests that the technique, whereby the free enzymes in the recovered hydrolyzate are re-adsorbed onto the new substrate, may provide a means of recirculating the dissolved enzymes.