The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-31
WILL SAVE
The FISH
An Association To Be
Formed.
PLAN BEING draft
Secretary Cooper Hopeful Of Inter-
esting the People and the
Government.

Secretary of the Territory Henry z.
Cooper is at work planning for the or
ganiZation of an association for the
preservation of the varieties of fish
which inhabit Hawaiian waters and for
Introducing Mainland varieties in the
Island waters. Mr.. Cooper yesterday
drafted call to be issued to persons in
terested in fisheries. and anticipates
that at least three hundred people will
join the society.
The purposes for which the associa-
ton is to be formed are set forth in
the call which reads as follows: We,
the undersigned, being DESTROYS of pre-
venting the wanton destruction of the
food fish living in the waters of the
Territory of Hawaii, and believing that
much can be done to increase the num-
Der of fishes for food by the intelligent
propagation of the species now living
in these waters, and by the judicious
importation of other species from the
waters of the Mainland, do hereby
agree to form ourselves into an asso-
citation for the above purposes under
such constitution and bylaws as may
hereafter be agreed upon by the sub
scriberS hereto"
Mr.. Cooper stated TO an Advertiser re-
porter yesterday that the idea of form
ing such an association came from OBJ
serving the destruction of SO many of
the small fishes which inhabit the shore
waters of Oahu by Japanese and Chi
nese fishermen. These have small re-
gard for the little fishes and spawn
which are hauled up In their nets and
tons of them are thus gotten rid of,
and made fit for nothing more than
fertilizer material.
Another matter which has been
brought to Mr.. Cooper's attention of
late is the increasing price for fish.
AS food supply for those who have
all their lives been accustomed to fish
for their daily needs, it is rapidly 60
ing beyond their reach and becoming
more and more a luxury which only
those of means left over from their alb
solute neeus can afforo to indulge in.
| Hawaiians, Japanese and other ma
tionalities who have literally patroniz-
ed the fishmarket in the past, are in
frequent visitors nowadays. The cause
of this is the diminution in the supply
of fish near at hand. The shores are
not so much visited by fish as in former
years, and deep sea fishing is becoming
more and more imperative.
| 1t is the plan of Mr.. Cooper and 9TH
erS who are enthusiastic on the sub
! 1ect, to have proper measures adopted
| for the preservation of fish and care
! of the spawn by legislative action
After the association is formed a sum
of money can be raised to carry out the
! ideas in a practical manner. Mr.. Coop
! er believes that through the efforts of
/ such an association a request to the
| United States Government for an ex-
| pert of the United States Fish Commits
sion to be sent here to look over
! the entire area of the island waters,
and see what features are adaptable for
| the introduction of certain Mainland
fish would receive favorable considera-
ton. The expert would have to take
note of the various temperatures of wa
] ter around the different islands, sound
| the shores for rocky, coral or sandy
| bottoms. Upon his findings of the con-
ditions here his report as to what
varieties of the finny tribe should be
| introduced would be based
| If the, Legislature can be prevailed
upon to look at the question of the
propagation of the fish industry around
the islands. an appropriation from that
| body for extending the preserves will
| do much toward having the United
! States Fish Commission send it's ex-
| perts here for experimental work. Mr..
| Cooper says there is absolutely no rea-
son why fish hatcheries cannot be sue
! cessful here, as every kind, salt and
brackish, to clear, sparkling fresh wa
| ter are obtainable in every locality.
There is desire to see what can be
done with the striped bass, and meas
ures will be taken by the association,
| when formed, to experiment with the
| toothsome fish which seems to stand
| transplanting with perfect success.
The association is not for the purpose
of merely serving its own needs, but IS
for the good OF the public at large.
A.