COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 505 
away there is no convenient market, for, with the exception of the 
settlements on the reservation, which contain about one-third of the 
total population of the island, there are very few people living on its 
northern side, the most of the inhabitants being on the southern, or 
leeward, side. To reach these by water would necessitate a long jour- 
ney around one or the other end of the island, while to go overland to 
the nearest settlement would necessitate an 11-mile journey on foot 
after the cliff at the back of the reservation had been surmounted. 
In 19038, in order to fill out the very small catch of their own fisher- 
men, the board of health purchased 15,753 pounds of fresh fish from 
the fishermen of Halawa, a small nonleprous settlement some few 
miles to the westward of the reservation. Even with this addition the 
total amount to be distributed among an afflicted population of 855 
yas pitifully small, amounting virtually to 30.35 pounds per year to 
each person. There has been complaint by persons unacquainted with 
the circumstances that the board of health was making fresh fish too 
important an item in the diet of the lepers, but the above would cer- 
tainly indicate that this contention was not well founded. Some salted 
and dried fish is also distributed among the lepers, but I am informed 
that the amount is quite small. 
THE FISHERIES OF NIIHAU. 
This, the most westerly of the inhabited islands of the group, is 
15 miles from Kauai, and has an area of 97 square miles. The greater 
part of it is a low plain composed of an uplifted coral reef and sub- 
stance washed down from the mountains, while the hilly portion is 
destitute of peaks and ridges. It has a population of 172, is used 
exclusively as a sheep ranch, and fishing is carried on in a very desul- 
tory manner by the employees of the ranch and their families. Should 
more fish be caught than they can consume the surplus is carried 
across the strait to Waimea, on Kauai, and sold there. A portion of 
the catch is dried and sold. 
The following tables show the condition of the fisheries in 1903: 
Table showing the fishermen engaged and the boats, apparatus, and shore property used in 
the fisheries of Nithau in 1903. 
| 
Item. ERS Value. 
. ral | awe a) : | 
Fishermen: | | 
ELS AERTS oe frSs= Grats Sle aiclc epee ae noe ee cee ee ee eetee em melee ee ace Riemer oe | UA er enctate ashe 
ISAS) copceticee CC GHUL EO OEE EEE BECO ASO Geta S ATNOSAOS Baie AB ee yo en aes, See | 10 | $750 
Apparatus: | | 
CRISIS). Ge codte Se ee Sener e Ha COD ECO RE Sco Oto Due C ono SOLES aS CEA aR ee San eee ah 70 
MENUS Seen yet a a wtevs =o 3)-rc myn nie areTelae oS meee ero re ie Be eolnnle en eeile meet cuise cee. Statatajetevaserete 30 
SMONe ALA AeC CSSOLVEDLO PEL bein ince meee cee ohne none Cacho nica cece fee wn bees cercee | 20 
