448 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Hawaiians are in the lead in the industry, 1,658 being so engaged. 

 The Japanese are second with 1,255, followed by the Chinese with 244. 

 South Sea Islanders, Americans, Portuguese, and Italians follow in the 

 order named. The island of Oahu leads in the number of fishermen, 

 with 1,478, Hawaii is second with 827, followed by Kauai, Molokai, 

 Maui, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe, respectively. 



The total investment in the fisheries amounted to $309,217. Of this 

 Oahu has $215,338, or more than two-thirds of the total investment. 

 Hawaii is second with $37,912. Oahu leads in the number of gill nets, 

 dip and scoop nets, baskets, and fish ponds operated; Hawaii in the 

 number of cast nets, spears, and in the value of lines; Kauai in the 

 number of traps or pens; Maui in the number of bag nets, and Molokai 

 in the number of seines. 



The total catch in the islands was 6,972,735 pounds, valued at 

 1677,897. Of this Oahu furnished 3,515,850 pounds, worth $373,819, 

 or" more than one-half of the grand total. Hawaii was second so far 

 as quantity is concerned, but was exceeded in value of catch by Maiu. 

 Kauai was third, followed by Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. 



So far as quantity is concerned, the akule was the most important 

 species, 1,410,729 pounds, valued at $75,458, having been secured. 

 The ama-ama had the greater value, however, the 714,705 pounds of 

 that fish being worth $132,347. Aku was second in quantity and sixth 

 in value of catch, with 761,448 pounds, worth $31,232. Other impor- 

 tant species were ulua, awa, opelu, oio, kawakawa, ahi, kumu, moi, 

 awaawa, hapu'upiVu, u'u, weke, opihi, hee, papai, and ula. 



The only species occurring in the commercial fisheries of all the 

 islands is the moi. The ama-ama, kala, oio, uku, ulaula, and ulua occur 

 in all but Kahoolawe, while the akule and kumu occur in all but 

 Niihau. The china fish, kihikihi, maka'a, omilu, and olepe occur only 

 in the fisheries of Oahu; the i'i, laipala, maumau, ohua, o'ililepa, pakai- 

 kawale, poupou, conch, and pupu only in Maui; the lupe, oopuhue, 

 pauii, uwau, and frogs only in Hawaii; the ea only in Niihau; the ehu 

 only in Kauai, and the ukikiki only in Lanai. 



COMPARISONS WITH 1900. 



The table below presents a comparison of the extent of the fisheries 

 in 1900 and in 1903. All of the islands except Lanai and Maui show 

 increases in the number of persons employed, the gain in Molokai 

 alone being 134 per cent. The net increase in persons employed on 

 all the islands is 896, a gain of 38 per cent. In the matter of capital 

 invested every island shows an increase, that of Niihau alone being 

 170 per cent. The net increase of capital is $36,626, or 13 per cent. 

 All the islands but Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai show increases in quan- 

 tity of products taken; the decreases in Lanai and Molokai are quite 

 heavy, being 38 per cent in Lanai and 27 per cent in Molokai; Oahu 



