COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
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the whole length, and about 16 inches wide in the center, running to a sharp point at 
each end. On the outward trip about two-thirds of the box is submerged, and as the 
sides are perforated, water is admitted freely. On the return, however, as the box 
is empty, it is unlashed and placed on top of the cross pieces, in order not to impede 
the progress of the canoe. After the aku fishing is over the box is either hauled out 
on the land until the next season, or moored close to shore in a sheltered position and 
used for keeping bait temporarily, but is not taken out to the grounds, as it is too 
big and unwieldy for one canoe to handle. Much smaller boxes of the same general 
style are frequently employed, also square and oblong boxes of varying sizes, per- 
forated, or with slats set close together. 
The Japanese frequently use small boxes about a foot long by 8 inches wide by 8 
inches deep, perforated on the sides and ends with small holes. These are attached 
to the boat by a short piece of twine and allowed to tow alongside. 
Some of the Japanese also carry bait in one of the smaller of the wells in the 
bottom of their sampans. 
VESSEL FISHING. 
In view of the fine fishing grounds in deep water and on the reefs and shoals 
within reasonable distance from the islands, it is surprising that there are no vessels, 
engaged in fishing. Several attempts have been made to establish vessel fisheries, 
but for various reasons they have met with failure. 
The last attempt was in 1898, when a number of persons in Honolulu formed a 
company and, at a cost of $6,600, had the gasoline schooner Malolo built to engage in 
this business. She was fitted out with six seines and one bag net, at a cost of $1,000, 
and carried a crew of four men. The fishermen were Japanese, who were hired at 
Honolulu. They had their own boats and lines, and the schooner towed them to the 
fishing grounds. A station was established at Palaau district, on Molokai, and an old 
fish pond there was purchased with the purpose of cleaning it out and using it for 
catching fish which came in through the entrance. It was the intention of the com- 
pany to hire fishermen on the islands to work the nets, while the Japanese would 
engage in line-fishing, and the schooner would make regular trips to Honolulu with 
the catch. The fishing was to be done on the reefs about the west and south sides of 
the island of Molokai. 
Difficulty was at once encountered in the unreliability of the Japanese crew, who 
would go to Lahaina and other places and sell their catch. Another crew was col- 
lected, composed largely of white men, mostly beach combers, and they were taken 
to the fishing grounds, to work the nets principally. This plan also failed, owing to 
ignorance of the business on the part of the crew, and a third effort was made, this 
time with a crew of native Hawaiians and South Sea islanders secured at Lahaina. 
Twelve of these men were put on the island of Lanai and supplied with boats, nets, 
lines, and provisions. After a few hauls the vessel left for Honolulu with the catch, 
the understanding with the fishermen being that they were to continue fishing to 
secure a second cargo during her absence. When the vessel' returned, however, half 
of the fishermen had deserted and the few remaining were carried to Lahaina. The 
whole business was abandoned in August, 1899, after the failure of an effort to get 
another gang on Maui. 
