The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-06-23
Correspondence of the P. C. Advertiser.
Sax FRANcIsco. May 2Sth.

AhN a hNNRSNt @A's -thhs wv
Mr.. EDITOR: Dear Sir w last at your isl
ands I was struck with their poverty as regards
shell-fish and edible marine animals. Situated on
the edge of the tropics, with a large extent of sea
coast. the island shores should have teemed with
marine animal life, forming a cheap and valuable
addition to the food of its inhabitants. Believing
that some of the most valuable Of the species could
safely be introduced from this coast, l sent you per
Bherilg, in care of Mr.. Sanford, Qatcly chief en-
gineer of the Ajar.) n few of our best variety OF
large crabs. and trust that they have reached you
safely. The Comet sailing in a day or two, | will
send YOU bv her some of our hard she'll clans in
care of IL. W. Severance, and hope that they will
prove as valuable an article of food TO your people
as with us. The native oyster of California is
small and of inferior flavor, but we have lately
been in receipt of a fine variety of large ones from
the coast of Lower California. If possible. | will
get a few to send with the CLANS. You can use
your own Judgment in planting ont the shell-fsh,
but | would suggest that wherever you plant them.
to see that they are guarded from the attacks of
fish their native enemies who would otherwise
destroy them. The worst enemy to shell-fsh on
this coast is the star-fsh. oystermen having TO picket
fence. as it were, their oyster beds. to prevent at
tacks.
also send YOU sample of cotton grown from
Sea Island seed at Tahiti by Messrs. Soares II Co.
an English firm who are engaging largely in its
cultivation there and with ii Il fair sample OF our
best California grown short staple or upland cot
ton. All lots of the latter (some 400 ac1ss sown)
so far marketed have been used in the manufacture
of coarse sheetings and drillings for flour sacklng
purposes. The price has ranged from 30 to 20 cts.
per pound. the latter price now prevailing. There
promises to soon be a demand for "A finer and bet
ter grade of cotton than the upland variety Tor
manufacturing in this city in new styles of cotton
and mixed goods. | have Il commission already in
hand 10 anropn If poSSihlp from = OOO to 10 600
pounds cotton similar to the sample of Tahiti cot
ton sent you, the price to be based upon the same
grade of cotton in New York and three cents per
pound added for freight To this place. railing OF
engaging it from Tahiti an order will be sent 10
New York for the quantity needed to try the pro-
posed experiment in manufacturing in this city.
Perhaps your cotton growers may have some similar
grades that would answer, and it might prove
profitable to ship to so near a market.
You will see by the prices current that sugar is
ruling very low in our market. | do not know the
reason for the low price. but think it can in part at
least be attributed to the keen rivalry that has
sprung up between the sugar retineries, the Older
one apparently string to force the market down by
sales at auction. How long this state of things
will exist is hard to conjecture, trade being very
light and supplies of raw sugar continuing to
accumulate.
officials regarding the Sandwich Islands and the position they
occupy relative to California ard the United States. lie seemed
Impressed with the importance Of your islands in both "A COM
merciai and political relation to the United States Pacific posses
sions, and stated that lie was using his exertions to have a reci-
procity treaty entered into between the two countries by which
the productions and manufactures Of either should be imported
free of all duties. The prosperity of all your material. interests
would be greatly enhanced by such treaty TAR beyond what we
should get in return. At present import duties are as follows,
against your principal productions, VIZ: Sugar from 3 TO 81
cents, coffee 5 cents. cotton 5 cents, rice Ii to q cents per
pound, moIasses S cents per gallon, besides a great variety Of
articles on which adUdtoTem duties are charge. All Of these
would be done away with in case of a reciprocity treaty, thus
virtually giving your islands a monopoly for the sale of its pro-
ducts to the exclusion of others up to the amount Of their pro-
ducton. IL would virtually give your people all The advantages
of annexation to the United States without bearing their proper
ton of the latters present onerous taxation. The main advan-
tage to be gained by the United States would be an increased
concern IN the Hawaiian Islands through the joint interests OF
both countries, thus afording as it were a guarantee that the
government of the latter should not pass into the hands Of an
unfriendiy power; ut the same time a sort Of moral protectorate to
the islands would be afforded which would prevent in future
the arrogance of other and more powerful nations, as has hereto
fore been the case. Yours, very truly, AJAX.
TThe crabs and clans sent by our correspondent
all died on the passage. We hope he will repeat
the experiment, as a second trial may result with
better success. The Sea Island cotton from Tahiti
is similar to some received by us a few weeks ago
by the Constitution. 1t is not so fine nor of so long
staple as our Hawaiian, and much inferior to the
Carolina grown cotton. The sample of California
upland sent us is good. and we see no reason why
the culture of this staple may not succeed in some
favored parts of that Statc.-EDs.l