464 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
sell to the association he is compelled to rent a stall in the market, 
should that be possible, and retail his catch. As the Japanese are the 
largest part of the fish-eating population and none of them will patro- 
nize other than his fellow-countrymen if it is possible to avoid it, the 
native finds it difficult, if not impossible, to sell more than a fraction 
of his catch at his own price, and is compelled eventually to sell what 
is left to the Japanese at a still lower figure than was offered in the 
first place, or else have it spoil on his hands. 
The association regulates the prices at which fish are retailed in the 
markets, and even in times of a glut the low price does not benefit the 
consumer, although the fishermen receive less. Should there be an 
oversupply, the surplus is peddled around to the different plantations 
by Japanese with small carts. 
There are serious inconveniences arising from these conditions other 
than the opportunity afforded for extorting exorbitant prices from the 
consumer. For three or four months of 1903 it was almost impossible 
for the people of Lahaina to buy any fish, because the association sent 
nearly all over to Sprecklesville, where they were sold to the Japanese 
at that place, presumably because better prices could be had there. 
This is likely to happen again at almost any time, and the people are 
thus at the mercy of an irresponsible association of alien dealers. 
WAILUKU, MAUI. 
At the time of the previous investigation there was a small market 
house here, owned by a private individual. It had only five stalls and 
was run principally by natives. Even this poor apology for a market 
ceased to exist in 1902, when it was transformed into stores, and since 
then the only means of securing fish has been from the peddlers who 
go from house to house on certain days if the week, or when there is 
a supply of fish landed from Molokai, or an extra large catch made at 
the Kahului fishery, a few miles away. It was not until the middle of 
19038 that this section had a government inspector of fish, which it 
sorely needed, and even this boon was withdrawn January 1, 1904, 
owing to the low condition of the finances of the Territory. 
HONOLULU, OAHU. 
At the time of the first investigation there was but one fish market 
in Honolulu—the government market in the square bounded by Allen, 
Richards, Alakea, and Halekauwila streets. This building was erected 
in 1890 at a cost, including the value of the land, of $155,000, and is 
one of the bhandsomest and most conveniently arranged fish markets 
in the United States: During 1903 20 Chinese, 2 Japanese, 3 native 
men, and 3 native women were engaged in selling fishery products, 
while 1 superintendent (who acted also as fish inspector), 1 market 
