508 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Not much change is noted in the total value of investment in the 

 fisheries, the increase being $14,794, The greater part of this is made 

 up by the increased number of boats and lines used. 



The total yield of the fisheries in 1903 was 3,515,850 pounds, which 

 sold for $373,819. So far as quantit}^ is concerned, lines occupy first 

 place in the fisheries, but in value of catch gill nets are first. Scoop 

 and dip nets occupy third place, followed by bag nets, hands, seines, 

 cast nets, fish baskets, spears, traps, opae baskets and pots, in the order 

 named. The most noticeable feature is the enormous falling otf in 

 the catch of malolo. In 1900 this species was the most important, 

 571,002 pounds, valued at $142,773, having been secured. In 1903 the 

 catch amounted to oidy 34,907 pounds, valued at $3,490, a decrease of 

 536,095 pounds in quantity and $139,283 in value. This is accounted 

 for largely l)y the fact that the natives, who prosecuted this fishery 

 on a large scale for many years, have been gradually dropping out of 

 the business, parth" because of the rapidh'^ increasing competition 

 of the Japanese, and parti}" because of their own indifi'erence. At 

 present the leading species in the fisheries of Oahu is the aku, although 

 the A^alue of the catch of this species is exceeded by that of the ama-ama, 

 akule and awa. 



The following tallies show the extent of the industry in 1903: 



T<i!)li' sJioicluy hij natioi)alUu'S (he nurnher of persons engaged in tin- fisheries of Oaliu in 



1903. 



Chinese 



Hawiiiian men. . . 

 Hawaiian women 



Italians 



Japanese men ... 



In shore 

 fisheries. 



197 



380 



153 



3 



684 



Japanese women . . 



Portuguese 



South Sea Islanders 



Total 



In shore 

 fisheries. 



Tdhle sitoning the boats, apparatus, fish ponds, and property used in iJte fisheries of OaJiu 



in 1903. 



Item. 



Number. Value. 



Boats 



Apparatus: 



Seines 



(Jill nets 



Bag nets 



Cast nets 



Dip and scoop nets. 



Lines 



Baskets (fish) 



431 838,326 



1,570 



10, 350 



1,930 



800 



• 349 



1,182 



500 



&496 

 29 

 80 

 133 



50 



Item. 



Apparatu.s — continued. 



Baskets (opae) 



Spears 



Pots 



Fi.sh traps or pens 



Fi.sh ponds 



Shore and accessory property. 



Total 



Number. Value 



56 



S21 



56 



20 



1,500 



154, 900 



3,835 



215, 338 



« 1,810 yards. 



''26,980 yards. 



