752 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
HONOLULU. 
Previous to 1851 the only market place for fish, vegetables, etc., was an open 
space in the vicinity of the present location of the Honolulu Iron Works. In 1851 
the first regular market house for the sale of fishery products was erected on the 
wharf, and a law passed May 12 of the same year provided that this building and the 
adjacent grounds seaward of Pulaholaho, belonging to the Government, should be 
the public market. By a later act, under date of June 25, 1855, the space between 
the old flour mill and the water, at the west end of Queen street, was reserved for a 
market. 
In 1890 the present market house was erected on the square bounded by Alakea, 
Richards, Halekauwila, and Allen streets, at a cost, including the value of the land, 
of $155,000. It is built almost entirely of iron, and is open on all sides except one, 
where there are a number of closed booths for the sale of fruit, vegetables, meat, etc. 
In design and workmanship this building is one of the best in the United States. 
The stalls all have wooden sides with marble tops. There is always plenty of fresh 
water, and the drainage facilities are of the very best. Its location, about 100 yards 
from the wharf where the .Japanese fishermen land, also is convenient. The market 
is owned by the territorial government, which pays the salaries of the officials in 
charge of it. The market keeper, who is also the fish inspector, receives a salary of 
$30 per month as keeper and $60 per month as inspector. There are also an assistant 
market keeper at $25 per month, an assistant fish inspector at $40 per month, and one 
laborer at $1.25 per day. All fishery products must be sold in the market house, as 
hawking through the streets of the city is not permitted. All fish must be inspected 
before they go upon the stalls, and the market is open every week day and up to 9 
a. m. on Sunday. 
There are 20 stalls for the sale of fresh fishery products, with rents varying 
from $15 to $30 per month, according to the location. Only 15 of these- stalls were 
occupied in 1900. Of this number 11 were run by Chinese, 3 by Japanese, and 1 by 
natives, the total number of persons emplo} 7 ed, exclusive of the market officials, 
being 40 Chinese, 6 Japanese, and 2 natives. The usual wage of the help is $12 to 
$15 per month, including food and lodging. In addition, 6 stalls were occupied 
b}f 6 native women on Saturday, and sometimes Sunday morning, for the sale of 
limu (algse). The charge for these tables is 50 cents on Saturday and 25 cents on 
Sunday. Three stalls also were devoted to the sale of dried fish from the island of 
Hawaii during most of the week, and were run by three native women. On a few 
days in the week when fish are scarce certain of the dealers sell also pickled California 
salmon, for which they pay an additional license fee of $10 per }^ear. 
The fishermen bring their catch to the market at whatever hour is convenient to 
them, and the dealers sell for them on a basis of 10 per cent commission. Fish 
brought in prior to noon must be sold before the market closes the same evening, 
but if brought in after noon and not sold before night they can be kept in a cold- 
storage house close by, at a cost to the owner of 2 cents per pound, and be placed 
on the stalls again the next morning; in that event, however, they must be distin- 
guished by a small placard bearing the words “iced fish,” The inspector is directed 
