754 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
developing the fisheries of these places. The fishermen on the eastern and southern 
sides of the island, however, are still compelled to bring their catch to the market in 
carts and as a result bring in only the higher-priced species. 
.3. The fish ponds are principally in the hands of two Chinese firms of Honolulu, 
and these firms, by working in harmony and having control of the principal source 
of supply of the amaama and awa for a considerable part of the year, are enabled to 
keep up the prices for these species. 
4. The Japanese now do the greater part of the line fishing for the Honolulu 
market, and they have organized a company, including most of the fishermen of that 
nationality, with the object, among other things, of securing as high prices as pos- 
sible for their catch. 
5. The indiscriminate use of fine-meshed seines has undoubted^ caused a falling- 
off in the catch, although to what extent is a rather difficult problem to solve, owing 
to the lack of statistical data for previous years. 
6. Shortly after the fall of the monarchy a boom in the islands, especially in 
Honolulu, caused the prices of everything to rise. The price of sugar has lai’gely 
controlled everything on the islands, and as this has been quite high for some years 
it has accordingly affected the prices of other commodities. This boom is on the 
wane now, and it is probable that conditions will become more normal in the course 
of a few years. 
HILO. 
The market house at Hilo, which is owned by private interests, was opened for 
business on April 1, 1899. During 1900 the number of stalls occupied was 27, the 
rents of which varied from $5 to $15 per month. These stalls were not occupied 
continuously, however, dealers frequently giving up their business after a week or 
a month. There are 32 stalls in all. The persons employed around the market 
numbered 22 Chinese, 18 Japanese, and 14 natives. During the summer of 1901 a 
syndicate of Chinese and Japanese bought up the stalls and began to take advantage 
of their position by shutting out the other dealers and compelling the fishermen to 
sell to them at a low price. There w-as of course no limit to what they could charge 
the townspeople, as fish could not be sold on the streets. As a result, a number of 
fishermen carried their catch by carts to Olaa, about 11 miles away, and established 
a temporary market there. 
The territorial government leased the market in August, 1901, and this broke 
up the combination. An inspector was appointed also, who will have complete 
charge of everything about the market. Previously there was no inspection, and 
large quantities of tainted fish were foisted upon the people. 
As at Honolulu, every effort is made to dispose of the catch the same da}" that it 
comes in, as no ice is used. Owing to the heavy surf close to the market bouse the 
fishing boats can not land there, and are compelled to go to Waiakea, a suburb of 
Hilo, about a mile away. The fishing boats usually land here during the morning 
and are immediately boarded by the dealers, who begin to dicker for the catch. 
When a boat with a large catch comes the confusion is excessive, as Japanese, 
Chinese, Portuguese, Hawaiian, English, and variations of these languages are hurled 
back and forth, each man trying to outdo every other in the amount of noise made. 
