COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



451 



The table below shows, by countries, the importation of fishery 

 products during the calendar years 1901, 1902, and 1903. Japan has 

 been rapidly forging to the front in this trade, which is not surprising 

 when one considers the rapid increase in the number of Japanese on 

 the islands during recent years. In 1897 the total importations from 

 Japan amounted to $11,242; in 1898, to $14,382; in 1899, to $30,862; 

 in 1901, to $53,59(); in 1902, to |54,110, and in 1903, to $67,249. In 

 the latter year the Japanese trade amounted to more than one-half that 

 of all foreign countries. China is now in second place, although for 

 a long time its trade exceeded that of Japan. In 1897 the total 

 imports from China amounted to $24,674, while in 1903 they amounted 

 to $18,081. A considerable part of this Japanese and Chinese trade 

 could be secured by the islands and on the Pacific coast if efforts were 

 made to prepare the peculiar products of which these two nationalities 

 are especially fond, such as dried abalone, beche-de-mer, oysters, cuttle- 

 fish, shrimp, and seaweed. A beginning has already been made in 

 this direction in both sections, and it is v'^ery probable that the industry 

 will soon be materially extended. Nova Scotia, British Australasia, 

 Germany, Belgium, British Oceania, England, Portugal, Scotland, 

 and Norway, in the order named, follow in importance of their fishery 

 trade. 



Table showing by countries the imports of fishery products during the calendar years 



1901, 1902, and 1903. 



