REPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 135 



FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



The commercial fisheries of the Hawaiian Islands were investigated 

 in the early part of lOOdt, all of the larger inhabited islands being- 

 visited and the work continuing for about two months. The purpose 

 of the canvass was to collect statistics for the year 1903, and also to 

 note any changes that might have occurred in the methods or otherwise 

 in connection with the fisheries since the first investigation in 1900. 

 There were 2,31:5 persons engaged in the industry in 1900, while in 

 1903 there were 3,241, a gain of 896; a large percentage of these was 

 Japanese, whose numbers have increased from 1:85 to 1,671 during that 

 interval. In 1900 the total investment amounted to $272,591, while in 

 1903 it was $309,217, a gain of $36,620. The total catch in 1900 was 

 6,222,455 pounds, valued at $1,083,646, while in 1903 it was 6,972,735 

 pounds, valued at $677,897, a gain of 750,280 pounds, but a loss of 

 $405,749. The principal increases were in the aku, akule, aweoweo, 

 gold-fish, hapuupuu, kumu, laenihi, moi, opelu, weke, and papal fish- 

 eries. The principal decreases appear in the amaama (mullet), hauliuli, 

 kawakawa, kole, malolo (flying-fish), moano, oio, uku, ulua, opihi 

 (limpet), and ula (crawfish) fisheries. The decrease in the malolo fishery 

 is especially noteworthy. In 1900, 573,082 pounds of malolo, valued 

 at $145,085, were secured, while in 1903 the catch amounted to 36,175 

 pounds, worth $3,678, a decrease of 536,907 pounds and $139,407. The 

 natives are the only fishermen engaged in catching malolo, and in 1903 

 they made but little efi'ort. 



Commercial fishing is carried on from the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, 

 Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Nihau, and Oahu, the list being 

 increased since the last inquiry b}^ the addition of Kahoolawe, for 

 which no fisheries were reported in 1900. The fishermen from these 

 islands visit certain other small and uninhabited members of the group, 

 bu<^ the catch has been credited to the islands on which the fishermen 

 live. The Japanese arc rapidly acquiring control of the fisheries and 

 fish trade, and on certain islands are now able to fix prices at almost 

 any figure they wish, which explains the high price at the markets. 

 The fish ponds on Oahu, however, where they are most numerous, are 

 monopolized by the Chinese, who control the prices for amaama 

 (mullet), the principal fish food for the white portion of the 

 population. 



An unfortunate feature of the fisheries of certain islands, notablj^ 

 Maui, Molokai, and Kaui, is the absence of inspection of the fish as 

 landed. During the last half of 1903 there were inspectors at Wailuku 

 and Lahaina, on the island of Maui, but for financial reasons their 

 services were dispensed with on January 1, 1904, and there is now no 

 inspection at those important points. Fish become tainted very 

 quickly in such a warm climate, and the Japanese, unless they are 

 watched closely, dispose of such with the fresh ones. 



