378 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 
Commercial fishing is prosecuted on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, 
Maui, Molokai, Kauai, Lanai, and Niihau. Fishing is also carried on 
about some of the smaller islands of the group, but it isdone by fishermen 
from the above-named islands. While the fisheries are of considerable 
importance now, they could easily be expanded if the proper efforts 
and attention were given to them. For many years the native Hawaii- 
ans held a monopoly of the business, but of late years the Japanese 
have engaged in it in large numbers. The natives fish spasmodically 
as a rule, while the Japanese give to it their whole time and attention, 
and asa result they are doing much better financially than the former. 
It is probable that the commercial fisheries will be entirely in the hands 
of the Japanese on certain islands within the next ten years if they 
increase at the rate they have during the past six or seven years. 
A great variety of apparatus is in use in the fisheries, the principal 
forms being gill nets, seines, bag nets, cast nets, dip nets, lines, bas- 
kets, and spears. No effort is made to work the deep-sea fisheries 
except with hook and line, the greater part of the fishing being done 
on the reefs or close inshore. It is probable that the beam trawl 
could be used to advantage in the deeper waters. This apparatus, which 
is an immense bag, with wide flaring mouth, the bag running to a 
point at the end, could be worked from the deck of a sail or steam 
vessel. In working it, long cables are attached to the sides of the 
mouth and the trawl dropped overboard while the vessel is in motion. 
The trawl sinks to the bottom, and as the vessel moves forward it is 
drawn along the bottom and scoops up everything in its path. When 
it has been down a sufficient length of time the vessel is brought wp 
into the wind, the trawl raised to the deck, where it is emptied, and 
then dropped overboard for another try. 
Sharks are very destructive to nets used in the deeper waters, 
and also eat the fish out of them; but with the beam trawl it would be 
impossible for them to do any harm. 
Pound nets made of fine wire could be used to advantage on the lee- 
ward side of the islands and in the bays. Netting could not be used, 
as the sharks and larger fishes would tear it to shreds while struggling 
to get in or out. 
Fyke or hoop nets would probably prove profitable in the bays and 
rivers. They could be set and left without further attention until it 
was convenient for the fisherman to raise them. 
The high prices prevailing for many species forms a very noticeable 
feature of the industry. In the Honolulu market 25 cents per pound 
is not an uncommon price for some, while on certain of the other 
islands even higher prices are realized. Judging solely by this feature, 
many persons jump to the conclusion that fish are becoming scarce, but 
this apparently is not borne out by a close investigation of the industry 
