754 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



developing the fisheries of these places. The fishermen on tlie eastern and southern 

 sides of the island, however, are still coiupelled to bring their catch to the market in 

 carts and as a result bring in only the higher-priced species. 



3. The fish ponds are principally in the hands of two Chinese firms of Honolulu, 

 and these firms, by working in harmony and having control of the principal source 

 of supply of the amaama and awa for a considerable part of the year, are enabled to 

 keep up the prices for these species. 



4. The Japanese now do the greater part of the line fishing for the Honolulu 

 market, and they have organized a companj-, including most of the fishermen of that 

 nationality, with the object, among other things, of securing as high prices as pos- 

 sible for their catch. 



5. The indiscriminate use of fine-meshed seines has undoubtedly caused a falling 

 off in the catch, although to what extent is a rather difficult jiroblem to solve, owing 

 to the lack of statistical data for pre\ ious years. 



6. Shortly after the fall of the monarchy a boom in the islands, especially in 

 Honolulu, caused the prices of everything to rise. The price of sugar has largely 

 controlled everything on the islands, and as this has been quite high for some years 

 it has accordingly affected the prices of other commodities. This boom is on the 

 wane now, and it is probable that conditions will become more normal in the course 

 of a few yeai's. 



HILO. 



The market house at Hilo, which is owned by private interests, was opened for 

 business on April 1, 1899. During 1900 the number of stalls occupied was 27, the 

 rents of which varied from ^5 to $15 per month. These stalls were not occupied 

 continuously, however, dealers frequently giving up their business after a week or 

 a month. There are 32 stalls in all. The persons emploj'ed around the market 

 numbered 22 Chinese, 18 Japanese, and 14 natives. During the summer of 1901 a 

 syndicate of Chinese and Japanese bought up the stalls and began to take advantage 

 of their position liy shutting out the other dealers and compelling the fishermen to 

 sell to them at a low price. There was of course no limit to what they could charge 

 the townspeople, as fish could not be sold on the streets. As a result, a number of 

 fishermen carried their catch by carts to Olaa, about 11 miles away, and established 

 a temporary market there. 



The territorial government leased the market in August, 1901, and this broke 

 up the combination. An inspector was appointed also, who will have complete 

 charge of everything about the market. Previously there was no inspection, and 

 large quantities of tainted fish were foisted upon the people. 



As at Honolulu, every effort is made to dispose of the catch the same day that it 

 comes in, as no ice is used. Owing to the heavy surf close to the market house the 

 fishing boats can not land there, and are compelled to go to Waiakea, a suburb of 

 Hilo, about a mile away. The fishing boats usually land here during the morning 

 and are immediately boarded hy the dealers, who begin to dicker for the catch. 

 When a boat with a large catch comes the confusion is excessive, as Japanese 

 Chinese, Portuguese, Hawaiian, English, and variations of these languages are hurled 

 back and forth, each man trying to outdo exery other in the amount of noise made. 



