348 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

 HAWAIIAN FISHES: PART TWO. 



The scope of this brief account of the fishes of Hawaii will not permit of more 

 than passing notice of some of the more interesting, curious, valuable or 

 common species. It is left for those who are especially interested in the sub- 

 ject to either fish for themselves or to visit the Honolulu Aquarium, the mar- 

 ket, or the Bishop Museum, where extensive collections offer opportunity for 

 an exhaustive study. 



Food Fish in the Markets. 



Some idea of the fish resources of Hawaii can be gained from the fact that 

 of the six hundred or more species that scientists have found in the island 

 waters, more than three hundred and fifty are sold in the markets of Honolulu 

 for food, each species having a Hawaiian name by which it is usually desig- 

 nated. Often several dozen species may be seen in the market in a single day 

 — a fact which adds not a little to the confusion and difficulty of the inexperi- 

 enced person when attempting to select a choice specimen for table use from 

 the many fish of various sizes, shapes and colors. 



Unfortunately, though the number of species to select from is very large, 

 (as is usual with animals in warm countries) the number of individuals of any 

 one species is not liable to be so plentiful in the tropics as in the colder cli- 

 mates. As a result fish are not as abundant nor as cheap in the markets as 

 one could wish, where sea food should form the basis of a wholesome and 

 cheap diet. 



As many species run in scliools and arc liable at times to be very abun- 

 dant and cheap at certain seasons and entirely wanting at others, it behooves 

 the prudent housewife to be able to take advantage of bargains at the market 

 as well as in the shops and stores. 



For the benefit of those who may care to vary their fish order for one 

 reason or another, the writer has secured, tlirough the cooperation of a num- 

 ber of friends interested in the culinary side of the problem, the accompanying 

 list 1 of especially useful food fishes, all of which are worthy of trial in any 

 home. All of the long list of fish offered for sale are wholesome; the brief list 

 appended serves simply as a suggestion and is offered with the view of encour- 

 aging readers to explore further on their oavu account. It will be noted that 

 twenty species are enumerated which are used by all nationalities, which 

 are regarded as the favorite fish of Europeans in the islands. Other columns 

 show the various fishes used by tlie several principal nationalities visiting the 

 Honolulu market. As an aid in identifying the choicest food fish, fourteen 

 species are figured together on a single plate. 



IMPORTANT HAWAIIAN FOOD PISH. 



^ A list of sixty-five of the more important food fish found in the Honolulu market, showiiiK the species 

 preferred by the various nationalities in the city is shown in the following table. The culinarv uses 

 made of twenty of the species most frequently purchased by Europeans is also shown, bv the following 

 designation marks placed after the native name, i. e., * = baking: f = boiling: J = pan fish." 



(Continued on opposite page.) 



