REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 135 
FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
The commercial fisheries of the Hawaiian Islands were investigated 
in the early part of 1904, all of the larger inhabited islands being 
visited and the work continuing for about two months. The purpose 
of the canvass was to collect statistics for the year 1903, and also to 
note any changes that might have occurred in the methods or otherwise 
in connection with the fisheries since the first investigation in 1900. 
There were 2,345 persons engaged in the industry in 1900, while in 
1903 there were 3,241, a gain of 896; a large percentage of these was 
Japanese, whose numbers have increased from 485 to 1,571 during that 
interval. In 1900 the total investment amounted to $272,591, while in 
1903 it was $309,217, a gain of $36,626. The total catch in 1900 was 
6,222,455 pounds, valued at $1,083,646, while in 1903 it was 6,972,785 
pounds, valued at $677,897, a gain of 750,280 pounds, but a loss of 
$405,749. The principal increases were in the aku, akule, aweoweo, 
gold-fish, hapuupuu, kumu, laenihi, moi, opelu, weke, and papai fish- 
eries. The principal decreases appear in the amaama (mullet), hauliuli, 
~kawakawa, kole, malolo (flying-fish), moano, oio, uku, ulua, opibi 
(limpet), and ula (crawfish) fisheries. The decrease in the malolo fishery 
is especially noteworthy. In 1900, 573,082 pounds of malolo, valued 
at $145,085, were secured, while in 1903 the catch amounted to 86,175 
pounds, worth $3,678, a decrease of 536,907 pounds and $139,407. The 
natives are the only fishermen engaged in catching malolo, and in 1908 
they made but little effort. 
Commercial! fishing is carried on from the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, 
Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Nihau, and Oahu, the list being 
increased since the last inquiry by the addition of Kahoolawe, for 
which no fisheries were reported in 1900. The fishermen from these 
islands visit certain other small and uninhabited members of the group, 
but the catch has been credited to the islands on which the fishermen 
live. The Japanese are rapidly acquiring control of the fisheries and 
fish trade, and on certain islands are now able to fix prices at almost 
any figure they wish, which explains the high price at the markets. 
The fish ponds on Oahu, however, where they are most numerous, are 
monopolized by the Chinese, who control the prices for amaama 
(mullet), the principal fish food for the white portion of the 
population, 
An unfortunate feature of the fisheries of certain islands, notably 
Maui, Molokai, and Kaui, is the absence of inspection of the fish as 
landed. During the last half of 1903 there were inspectors at Wailuku 
and Lahaina, on the island of Maui, but for financial reasons their 
services were dispensed with on January 1, 1904, and there is now no 
inspection at those important points. Fish become tainted very 
quickly in such a warm climate, and the Japanese, unless they are 
watched closely, dispose of such with the fresh ones. 
