COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF TPIE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



501 



appears to be wholesome when properly prepared, it is sparingly eaten. 

 The skin and gall bladder are thought to contain the poisonous prop- 

 erties, and if these are properly removed the flesh is said to resemble 

 in Havor the white meat of chicken or turkey. In April, 1903, a pow- 

 erfully built native of Kamalo, aged about 45 years, died within one 

 hour after eating an oopuhue. According to Dr. A. Mouritz, of 

 Mapulehu, who treated the patient, the symptoms of oopuhue poison- 

 ing, which manifest themselves very quickly, are as follows: 



Tightness and obstruction in breathino; ; giddiness, tingling, burning, and creep- 

 ing sensations; nausea, vomiting, involuntary purging ; rapid and irregular heart 

 action; tendency to syncope; cold hands and feet; failing voice, vision, and hearing; 

 body bathed in cold perspiration ; pujDils markedly dilated ; face pale ; great 

 prostration ; delirium ; convulsive twitching of limbs and muscles of face and 

 body. * * * The poison resembles aconite in large doses. 



In 1900 there were 128 persons engaged in the Molokai fisheries, 

 while in 1903 there were 300 so employed, a gain of 162. This gain is 

 exclusively among the Hawaiians, the number of Chinese and Japanese 

 having decreased. There is also a con.siderable increase in the number 

 and value of l)oats and each form of apparatus used, ))ut the number of 

 tish ponds used commercially decreased by three. 



The total yield of the fisheries w as 271,331 pounds, valued at $32,389, 

 a ver}' material decrease since 1900. So far as quantity of catch is 

 concerned seines lead, but in value of catch lines slightly exceed the 

 seines. In value of catch gill nets are third, although they are pre- 

 ceded in quantity of catch by bag nets. Cast nets and spears follow 

 in the order named. The principal species taken in the fisheries are 

 akule, ama-ama, aku, oio, and ulua. 



The following tables show the condition of the fisheries in 1903: 



Table shoiriixj l>y luitionaUtles tin; numher of persons engaged in the fisheries of ilolokai 



in 1903. 



