508 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Not much change is noted in the total value of investment in the 

 lisheries. the increase being $14,794, The greater part of this is made 

 up bv the increased number of boats and lines used. 



The total yield of the tisheries in 1903 was 3,515,850 pounds, which 

 sold for $373,819. So far as quantit}^ is concerned, lines occupy tirst 

 place in the lisheries, but in value of catch gill nets are tirst. Scoop 

 and dip nets occupy third place, followed by bag nets, hands, seines, 

 cast nets, tish baskets, spears, traps, opae baskets and pots, in the order 

 named. The most noticeable feature is the enormous falling oli in 

 the catch of malolo. In 1900 this species was the most important, 

 571,002 pounds, valued at $142,773, having been secured. In 1903 the 

 catch amounted to only 34,907 pounds, valued at $3,490, a decrease of 

 536,095 pounds in quantity and $139,283 in value. This is accounted 

 for largely l)y the fact that the natives, who prosecuted this fishery 

 on a large scale for many 3^ears, have been gradually dropping out of 

 the ])usiness, partly because of the rapidly increasing competition 

 of the Japanese, and partly because of their own inditference. At 

 present the leading species in the tisheries of Oahu is the aku, although 

 the value of the catch of this species is exceeded by that of the ama-ama, 

 akule and awa. 



The following tables show the extent of the industry in 1903: 



T(iJ)le slioirliig hi/ naiioiialities (he number of persons engaged in tlie fislieries of Oahu in 



1903. 



Chinese 



Hawaiian men... 

 Hawaiian women 



Italians 



Japanese men ... 



In sliore 

 fisheries. 



197 



380 



153 



3 



084 



Japanese women . . 



Portugnepe 



Soutli Sea Islanders 



Total 



In shore 

 flsherie.s. 



Table shoiriiig tlte boats, apparaiio^, fi.vi ponds, and j>roperiii used in. tJie fisheries of Oalin 



in 1003. 



Boats 



Apparatus: 



Seines 



(iill nets 



Bag nets 



Cast nets 



Dip and scoop nets. 



Lines 



Baskets (fish) 



Apparatus— continued. 



Baskets (opae) 



Spears , 



Pots 



Pish traps or pens 



Fish ponds 



Shore and accessory property. 



Total. 



Number. 



n 1,810 yards. 



626,980 yards. 



Value. 



S21 



56 



20 



1,500 



154,900 



3,835 



215, 338 



