COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 455 
years they made a landing on the beach at Waiakea, a suburb of Hilo 
and about 14 miles from the center of the town. The dealers would 
gather on the beach at this place, and as fast as the boats arrived buy 
the fish and carry them to the market house. The conduct of this 
important part of the business in the open air was very trying at times, 
and eventually Messrs. Guard & Lucas, of Hilo, secured the necessary 
permit from the board of health and erected a small market house just 
inside the mouth of Waiakea River. This market house, with the land 
upon which it is located, cost $6,500, and was opened in August, 1902. 
The same people operate here and at the other market, as the principal 
part of the business is the buying of fish from the fishermen. As soon 
as a fishing-boat lands at the small wharf in front of the market the 
fish are brought in and dumped into one of the numerous bins scattered 
around the room. After being inspected they are looked over by the 
buyers, and when purchased are at once removed to make way for the 
next lot. A small commission on each sale is collected by the market 
owners. This market is also allowed to sell at retail, but this part of 
the business is insignificant, the town market proving the best retail 
selling place. 
An inspector is in charge of both markets, and he has also an assist- 
ant at the Waiakea market. These men are supposed to inspect all 
fish before they are sold, and have the power to condemn any which 
they may consider unfit for food. 
In order that the plantations along the railroad may be supplied 
with fish, the inspector permits a few of the more responsible dealers 
to carry fish from the Waiakea market and peddle them out to the 
people living on such plantations, who otherwise would be unable to 
get fish without making a special trip to Hilo for the purpose. 
The tables given below show by months the number of each species 
of fish inspected in the markets of Hilo during the calendar years 1902, 
1903, and 1904, inclusive. These are taken from the reports of the 
government inspector. One of the most interesting features of these 
tables is the possibility they afford of tracing the waxing and waning 
of the seasons of the migratory fishes, and the radical changes which 
sometimes occur among those apparently living permanently in 
Hawaiian waters. The figures on the mollusca, crustacea, etc., are far 
from complete, but the few data obtained have been shown in the tables. 
