718 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
FISHERMEN. 
Owing to their location between the continents of Asia and America, the islands 
have been securing recruits from each direction as well as from the numerous islands 
to the south. Europe, too, has furnished immigrants, until at present the islands 
present quite a cosmopolitan appearance. An idea of the extent of this admixture 
may be gained from the fact that public notices in the fish markets and other places 
are usually printed in five languages — English, Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and 
Portuguese. 
In numbers the native Hawaiian fishermen surpass all the others combined, but 
this is partly because so many women and children engage in the hand fishery for 
octopus, algie, etc., and these have been counted in the total. Some of the natives 
are at the head of quite important fisheries, and for . many y 7 ears held a monopoly of 
the industry 7 , but more recently 7 the Japanese have been engaging in it in large num- 
bers and now occupy second place. The natives fish spasmodically, as a rule, while 
the Japanese give to it their whole time and attention, and as a result are profiting 
much more. They are especially 7 numerous on Oahu and Hawaii, most of them being 
engaged in deep-sea line fishing, which they virtually monopolize. They have 
several companies at Honolulu, Lahaina, and Hilo, and in this way control certain 
features of the fishing industry, thus enhancing the cost of the products to the 
general public. 
Only six Americans have a direct connection with the fisheries, and they princi- 
pally as managers of the large fishery rights on Kauai and Maui. The few Chinese 
fishermen confine themselves to the fisheries immediately along the shores. A few 
y 7 ears ago they began leasing the fish ponds still in use on most of the islands, and 
now have practically a monopoly 7 of this part of the industry. They also quite gen- 
erally control the selling of fish in the markets. A number of South Sea Islanders, 
mainly" from the Gilbert, Caroline, and Marquesas islands, are engaged in fishing, 
principally at Honolulu and Lahaina. They are more industrious in this business 
than the natives and are quite expert. They are the principal users of fish baskets. 
The -Portuguese are not largely engaged in fishing. The Italians have made some 
efforts in this pursuit, but none are now thus employed. 
LAY OF THE FISHERMEN. 
The native fishermen usually make an equal division of the fish taken, or of the 
proceeds, among all engaged in it. In a few instances they 7 are hired and paid 
regular wages. 
At Hilo, on Hawaii, in the gill-net and line fisheries the Japanese work on the 
following basis: The owner of the boat furnishes the lines, nets, etc., and takes 22 
per cent of the gross proceeds. The balance is then divided equally among the owner 
and others who participate in the fishery 7 . Should the owner not go out in the boat 
he does not get anything in the final division. 
In the seine fishery at Hilo the owner of the boat and net receives from 30 to 35 
per cent of the gross proceeds, this being regulated by the size of the net and boat, 
while the balance is divided equally among the fishermen, the owner, if he accom- 
panies them, receiving his share with the rest. When the fishermen work on salary 
they 7 receive $15 per month, with their board and lodging. 
