COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
By Joun N. Coss, 
Agent of the United States Fish Commission. 
INTRODUCTION. 
On May 1, 1901, the writer was detailed to accompany the party 
which was to make an investigation of the fish and fisheries of the 
Hawaiian Islands under the direction of Dr. David Starr Jordan and 
Dr. Barton Warren Evermann, in order to make a thorough canvass 
of not only the present condition of the commercial fisheries of the 
islands, but also of their past history and ‘‘the changes in the methods, 
extent, and character of the fisheries in historic times, as shown by 
records or traditions, particularly since the coming of Americans, 
Europeans, and Asiatics.” The history of fishery legislation and the 
possibility of improvements in the present laws were among the ques- 
tions which received careful consideration. 
The investigation of these subjects at the islands occupied a period 
of three months, during which all of the larger inhabited islands were 
visited. A careful perusal of all available official and private docu- 
ments, newspapers, and publications relating to the islands was made, 
and oral statements were gathered from the older fishermen and others 
conversant with the subjects in question. I am greatly indebted to 
the early files of the Honolulu newspapers for much of the historical 
matter in this report, and especially to Zhe Friend, The Sandwich 
Islands Gazette, The Polynesianand The Pacific Commercial Gazette. 
Every courtesy was extended by the officials and citizens of the 
islands, among whom I would mention the following: Governor San- 
ford B. Dole, Secretary H. E. Cooper, who was acting governor during 
the greater part of my stay in the islands; Attorney-General E. P. Dole, 
Prof. Albert Koebele, territorial entomologist; Dr. J. B. Pratt of the 
board of health; Prof. W. D. Alexander, of the Coast Survey; Mr. E. 
R. Stackable, collector of customs at Honolulu; Mr. Joseph Swift Emer- 
sonand Mr. W. E. Wall, of the Coast Survey; Miss M. A. Burbank, 
librarian of the Library Association and of the Historical Society of 
Honolulu, who placed at my disposal the large collections of both 
societies; Mr. E. L. Berndt, inspector of the fish market at Honolulu; 
Mr. F. G. Smith, of the Oahu Railway and Land Company; the officials 
of the Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company and the Wilder Steam- 
ship Company; Mr. S. M. Damon, Mr. Thos. G. Thrum, and Hon. 
Henry H. Waterhouse, of Honolulu: Mr. W. S. Wise, Mr. J. M. 
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