758 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
1876 they amounted to only $17,891.81.. Under reciprocity the imports rapidly 
increased, until in 1899 thej^ amounted to 1120,374.83, the greater part of which came 
from the United States. . 
The following table shows the value of dried and salted fish imported into the 
islands from 1865 to June 14, 1900: 
Owing to the large home demand, the islands have exported but little. The 
beche-de-mer and sharks’ fins have usually been shipped to China or to the Chinese 
residents in California, while the gold-fish were sent to California, where they were 
probably used for ornamental purposes. The exporting was carried on in a small 
way during the period from 1853 to 1876, though in some years nothing was shipped. 
The following table shows, by years, the exports of each species: 
Pounds. Cases. 
Sharks’ fills. 
PRIVATE FISHERY RIGHTS. 
Probably the most peculiar feature of the Hawaiian fisheries is the well-developed 
principle of private ownership of the fishes found in the open sea and bays to within 
a certain prescribed distance from shore. In order clearly to understand this condition 
of affairs it will be necessary to revert to the early history of land tenures in the 
islands. 
