COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 499 
ous species of these Holothurians are quite generally distributed in the 
Pacific Ocean, and the traffic in them was started among the South Sea 
Islands in the early years of last century, China and Manila being the 
principal markets. Up to 1861 no attempt was made to take up the 
industry on the islands. In that year Messrs. Utai & Ahee, a Chinese 
firm in Honolulu, advertised in the local papers that they would pur- 
chase cured béche-de-mer from the natives if it could be found. This 
stimulated the natives and they soon found it in large numbers. Since 
then the custom-house reports show the following exports for certain 
years: 
Pounds. Pounds. 
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Asa commercial fishery the industry did not last very long for some 
reason or other. It is still quite abundant, however, especially around 
Oahu and Maui. The only island where any were sold in 1900 was 
Maui. It is frequently eaten by the natives, who half boil the large 
ones to make them soft, while the small ones are eaten fresh. The 
boiled ones are chopped up in slices and mixed with the meat of the 
wana (sea egg). 
