COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 455 



years they made a landing on the beach at Waiakea, a suburb of Hilo 

 and about 1^ miles from the center of the town. The dealers would 

 gather on the beach at this place, and as fast as the boats arrived buy 

 the fish and carry them to the market house. The conduct of this 

 important part of the business in the open air was very trying at times, 

 and eventually Messrs. Guard & Lucas, of Hilo, secured the necessary 

 permit from the board of health and erected a small market house just 

 inside the mouth of Waiakea River. This market house, with the land 

 upon which it is located, cost $6,500, and was opened in August, 1902. 

 The same people operate here and at the other market, as the principal 

 part of the business is the buying of fish from the fishermen. As soon 

 as a-fishing-boat lands at the small wharf in front of the market the 

 fish are brought in and dumped into one of the numerous bins scattered 

 around the room. After being inspected they are looked over by the 

 buyers, and when purchased are at once removed to make way for the 

 next lot. A small commission on each sale is collected by the market 

 owners. This market is also allowed to sell at retail, but this part of 

 the business is insignificant, the town market proving the best retail 

 selling place. 



An inspector is in charge of both markets, and he has also an assist- 

 ant at the Waiakea market. These men are supposed to inspect all 

 fish before they are sold, and have the power to condemn any which 

 they may consider unfit for food. 



In order that the plantations along the railroad may be supplied 

 with fish, the inspector permits a few of the more responsible dealers 

 to carry fish from the Waiakea market and peddle them out 'to the 

 people living on such plantations, who otherwise would be unable to 

 get fish without making a special trip to Hilo for the purpose. 



The tables given below show by months the number of each species 

 of fish inspected in the markets of Hilo during the calendar years 1902, 

 1903, and 1904, inclusive. These are taken from the reports of the 

 government inspector. One of the most interesting features of these 

 tables is the possibility the}^ afi^ord of tracing the waxing and waning 

 of the seasons of the migratory fishes, and the radical changes which 

 sometimes occur among those apparently living permanently in 

 Hawaiian waters. The figures on the mollusca, Crustacea, etc. , are far 

 from complete, but the few data obtained have been shown in the tables. 



