1G2 Thirfi/-s('rrnf]i Annud] Meeting 



for the sale of the fisli, also somewhat to the disinclination of the 

 ])eo])le to pay rent. The only fishery on Maui for which any- 

 thing more than a merely nominal rent was exacted was at Ka- 

 hului, one of the most ])rodnctive and best managed of the terri- 

 torial fisheries. Merely nominal rents were exacted for the use 

 of the fisheries around Molokai. Although numerous attempts 

 were made by the owners to collect rent from the fishermen who 

 frequented the waters around Lanai, they were almost uniformly 

 unsuccessful. 



Under the old laws the "konohikis,'' or landlords, were con- 

 sidered to hold these private fisheries for the equal use of them- 

 selves and of the tenants on their respective lands. The kono- 

 hiki had power each year to set apart for himself, after due no- 

 tice, one given species or variety of fish natural to his fishery. 

 The specific fish so set apart was to be exclusively for the use of 

 konohiki if caught within the bounds of his fishery, and neither 

 his tenants nor others were at liberty to appropriate such re- 

 served fish to their private use, and if one did so that konohiki 

 could compel him to pay five fish for each one so taken wrong- 

 fully. Any person, not a tenant, fishing would be fined upon 

 conviction. It was not lawful, however, for the konohiki to 

 taboo more than one kind of fish upon fishing grounds which 

 were adjacent to each other. It was competent, however, for the 

 konohikis, on consultation with their tenants, in lieu of setting 

 apart some peculiar fish to their exclusive use, to prohil)it during 

 certain indicated months of the year all fishing of every descrip- 

 tion upon their fisheries ; and during the fishery season to exact 

 of each fisherman among their tenants one-third part of all the 

 fish taken upon their private fishing grounds. The more en- 

 lightened konohikis made excellent use of this provision to pro- 

 tect the more important species, notably amaama (the mullet, 

 Mugil dohvia), from pursuit by the fishermen during the spawn- 

 ing season. 



In Hawaii, as in many other countries, there were what were 

 known as "royal fishes." The list was a long one and comprised 

 the following: 



The bonito ( Gi/'nuwsnnJa pelamin) when off any ])art of the 

 coast of Lanai. 



The albicore (Genua sihi) of Hawaii. 



