opinion oi some, retard the enterprise that mi^ht otherwi 
se 
Pearl 
Oyster 
"beds. 
indicated. 
Stops at 
high water 
mark. 
develop in Alaska. Hawaii fortunately has "been free from 
this misfortune, due to the foresight of the framers of the 
Organic Act of Hawaii in giving the Territory very complete 
local control in matters that are obviously better served by 
♦ ^ 
officials located at the capital of Hawaii. 
The fishing company in developing their food fish 
operations found that there are pearl oysters in certain areas 
* *■ 
of the Pearl and Hermes Reef. The company then made inquiry, 
from what bureau or branch of the government it should obtain 
authority to develop a pearl oyster fishery. 
The Department of Agriculture discovered that its, 
authority stopped at the high water mark. From the high water 
mafk, presumably ta the three mile limit * the Territery of 
Hawaii has full jurisdiction. Therefore the fishing company 
would have to deal with the Territory of Hawaii in relation 
i 
to the pearl oyster fisheries. 
In the course of the discussion, someone in Washington 
conceived the idea that the Bureau of Fisheries of the Depart¬ 
ment of Commerce, might control the pearl oyster fisheries. 
Thus the fishing company was faced with the ridiculous 
<* 
possibility, though it afterwards proved an improbability, of 
seeking authority from the Department of Agriculture, five 
thousand miles away, to establish buildings on the Pearl and 
Hermes Reef, and then, on going to the shore, seeking authority 
from the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce, 
for the purpose of developing a fishery of pearl oysters. The 
v 
