758 



BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



1876 they amounted to onl^' S17,s91.81. ruder reciprocity the imports rapidly 

 increased, until in 1899 they amounted to $130,071.83, the greater part of which came 

 from the United States. 



The following- table shows the value of dried and salted fish imported into the 

 islands from 1865 to June 14, 1900: 



Value of dry 



and salt lish 



imported. 



Value of dry 



and salt fish 



imported. 



FISHERY EXPORTS. 



Owing to the large home demand, the islands have exported but little. The 

 beche-de-mer and shark.s' fins have usually been shipped to China or to the Chinese 

 residents in California, while the gold-fish were sent to California, where they were 

 probably used for ornamental purposes. The exporting was carried on in a small 

 way during the period from Is.'i3 to 1876, though in some years nothing was shipped. 



The following table shows, by years, the exports of each species: 



PRIVATE FISHERY RIGHTS. 



Probably the most peculiar feature of the Hawaiian fisheries is the well-developed 

 principle of private ownership of the fishes found in the open sea and baj's to within 

 a certain prescribed distance from shore. In order clearly to understand this condition 

 of affairs it will be necessary to revert to the early hLstoiy of land tenures in the 

 islands. 



