The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-11-20
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. OVEMBER 20.
transactions i'm whalcbone.


transactions In whalcbone.
During the past week or two there have been
some lively, if not reputable, transactions in
whalebone. Several natives, said to be boat boys,
and two foreigners, have been convicted of snug
Cling and stealing whalebone, and have been in
some instances heavily fined, and in others bound
over for trial ut the Supreme Court, as will be
seen by an item on this page. The slight
ing manner in which the Gazette treated the
matter, and its evident desire to screen the party
who purchased the stolen property, and the feel
ing in the community that justice has been dealt
out in a most partial manner, has led US TO make
some enquiries respecting the facts.
We are informed that the stealing and snug
Cling of whalebone has been going on for at least
two, and perhaps three years, and that the par
ties who smuggle Or steal it have been in the
habit of selling it to Mr.. L. c. Heuek. who has
paid for it from forty to ~forty-five cents, while the
consular and market rates have been from fifty to
sixty-eight cents a pound, and the foreign quota
tons at about one dollar in gold. 1t is said that
another merchant was offered bone, and upon
questioning the would-bc seller ascertained that
the bone was not his, that he was somewhat
ayerse to saying to whom it did belong, and how
it was obtained, and moreover that it could only
be delivered at night, and very properly refused
to have anything 10 do with it, and took occasion
to inform the leading shipping houses of the fact,
and warn them to take care of their whalebone
and walrus teeth.
Nakookoo, the native who seems to have been the
business man of the whalebone and ivory 81 ring"
says that he told Mr.. IIeuck that he would have
20 br.py tho bona aftar business haurs and thai
Mr.. ii. agreed to leave the gate of his premises so
that it could DC opened but az none of the others
corroborate this statement, it is perhaps advisa-
bic not to place too much dependence upon this
point, although being the business man, it is
probable that no other party of the ring was wit
ness to the conversation. Nakookoo also says lie
obtained from Mr.. IL. personally, forty cents a
pound for the whalebone this season, while it
will be remembered that the consular rate is sixty
eight cents, and it is quoted in American papers
at one dollar n pound, in gold, and probably rules
Mt about the same figure in Europe, where it
would probably be shipped. The natives state
that they have been in the habit of buying it of
men on board of whalers, and during the early
morning running it into Mr.. HIS premises. 1t
required some skill and address to accomplish this,
uo - POAANNhs1b -
by Mr.. IL. One native says that they used to
wait until the policeman went of of his beat,
while another says that the policeman was given
a quarter to go and get his morning cupof coffee,
and during his absence the plumber was safely run.
1t is difficult to believe that Il man occupying a
high official position, of acknowledged respecta-
bility, should Willingly be guilty of the act of
purchasing stolen property. and we are not pre-
pared to believe it, but We do believe that the
conditions under which the purchase was made
should have put II merchant upon his guard.
Any one who has resided here a few years must
know that it is not customary for natives to re-
ceive bone or ivory in payment for services, on
board whalers or traders that if so paid off they
would not be likely to sell it for thirty to fifty per
cent. less than the market rate; that it would
not be bundled in shipping order and marked with
The vessels name, as was the case with the bone
found upon Mr.. HIS premises. AS the seamen
have been prosecuted for theft, the natives for
smuggling and theft, it would seem only right and
ust that the bone be followed to it's final deposit
md the party in whose possession it was found be
to prove his innocence, as would have
been the course in case a person of less
'espectability had been involved in the transaction.
If the matter is allowed to rest where it is, the
ceiling must prevail that owing to a want of re-
probability a sailor may be prosecuted for theft,
natives for receiving the stolen property, but that
he party who in turn receives from them may,
wing to his responsibility and position, go scot
rec. From this condition of affairs there must ,
rise a feeling of distrust towards officers of JUS t
ice that a classification of society is recognized 4
the courts and the authorities, which must be l
to the best interests Of society.
Since the above was written We learn that Z
fr. III. has requested an investigation, and moth '
ng now remains but For the Attorney General to
o his duty. :