COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 501 



iippcars to be wholesome when properly prepared, it is sparingly eaten. 

 The skin and oall bladder are thought to contain the poisonous prop- 

 erties, and if these are properly removed the flesh is said to resemble 

 in flavor the white meat of chicken or turkey. In April, 1903, a pow- 

 erfully ])uilt native of Kamalo, aged about 45 years, died within one 

 hour after eating an oopuhiie. According to Dr. A. Mouritz, of 

 Mapulehu, who treated the patient, the symptoms of oopuhue poison- 

 ing, which manifest themselves very quickly, are as follows: 



Tightness and obstruction in breathing ; giddiness, tingling, burning, and creep- 

 ing sensations; nausea, vomiting, invohmtary purging ; rapid and irregular heart 

 action; tendency to syncope; cold hands and feet; failing voice, vision, and hearing; 

 body Jjathed in cold perspiration ; pupils markedly dilated ; face psiie ; great 

 prostration ; delirium ; convulsive twitching of limbs and muscles of face and 

 body. ■» * * The 2>oison resembles aconite in large doses. 



In 1900 there were 128 persons engaged in the Molokai flsheries, 

 while in 1903 there were 300 so employed, a gain of 162. This gain is 

 exclusively among the Hawaiians, the number of Chinese and Japanese 

 having decreased. There is also a considerable increase in the number 

 and value of boats and each form of apparatus used, but the number of 

 tish ponds used commercially decreased b}" three. 



The total yield of the iisheries was 271,331 pounds, valued at $32,389, 

 a ver}^ material decrease since 1900. So far as quantity of catch is 

 concerned seines lead, but in value of catch lines slightly exceed the 

 seines. In value of catch gill nets are third, although they are pre- 

 ceded in quantity of catch by bag nets. Cast nets and spears follow 

 in the order named. The principal species taken in the fisheries are 

 akule, ama-ama, aku, oio, and ulua. 



The following tables show the condition of the fisheries in 1903: 



Tabb; showiix/ hi/ natioiiaUtles the number of persons engnged in the fisheries of iloloJcai 

 * " ' in 1903. 



In shore 

 fisheries. 



Chinese . . . 

 Hawaiians 

 Japanese . . 



Total 



6 



290 



4 



300 



lable Khowing the boats, apparatus, fisJi ponds, ete., in the fisheries of Molokai in 1903. 



Items. 



Boats 



Apparatus: 



Seines 



Gill nets. 

 Bag nets. 

 Cast nets 

 Lines 



' Number. 



o57 



&84 



11 



52 



Value. 



80, 165 



2,355 



1,440 



1,450 



520 



50 



Items. 



Apparatus — Continued : 



Spears 



Fish ponds 



Shore and accessory property. 



Total 



Number. 



Value. 



«24 

 4,050 

 1,100 



17, 154 



a 5,833 yards. 



f> 12,720 yards. 



