The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-31
FISHING RIGHTS Will
EXPIRE BY LAW SOON

siderable vaue, owing to the easily ac-
cessible market afforded by the city. on
the other islands the population is too
scattered to make the fisheries valuable.
The owners of fishery rights usually
lease them to japanese, Chinese and Ha-
waiians.
The abolishment of these fishery rights
will, in some instances, work very seri-
Gus damage to the commercial fisheries
II proper laws are not provided to take
the place of the old restrictions. Under
the laws governing these fisheries at
present, the owner can, and in some
places does, protect certain species, par
ticularly the mullet, during the spawn
ing season by placing a taboo on them,
and as everybody had to account to him
when fishing he could easily prevent the
use of destructive forms of apparatus or
fishing.
| The fisheries of Honolulu are rapidly
falling off In amount, with correspond
ing rise in the price of fish, which are
now perhaps higher than in any other
seaport town in the world. one cause
of the falling of is to be found in over
fishing within a limited area. The mar
kets of Honolulu are supplied by resi-
dent fishermen, by fishermen along the
line of the Oahu Railway at Waialua and
Waianae. and by fishermen on the north
side of the Pail, about the village of He
| tld. -Nblt VI lHtSt men 81 ihtp
deep water, or to any Rreat distance
from Honolulu. Their equipment is on
relatively small scale, and thus far larg
er equipments have not been found profit
able. NThe high nrre of labor. its rele
tive untrustworthy character. and the
ease of overstocking the market have
brought attempts at fishing on a large
scale to comparative failure. Native
fishermen work when they feel like
IN ThinnGn nGharnnn
afraid of new situations and be-
set by superstitious fears. Japa-
nese fishermen enter into combinations
with their competing fellows. thus de-
feating the purpose of large fishing
plants to control the markets themselves.
The most valuable element in the Ha-
waiian fishes is the amaama or mullet.
The system OF fencing OFF arms OF the
sea for the formation of mullet ponds
Is practically in American territory, con-
fined to Hawaii. The recognition of pri-
vate ownership in such ponds is contrary
| to American precedents. If ii be found
impracticable to recognize such private
ownership. these ponds may be condemn
ed by the United States government and
again leased to private persons. The
best interests of the fisheries will be
served by leaving their present owners
in undsturbed possession. The matter
Grafton. as the action of Congress will
constitute permanent precedent. Un-
der Hawaiian law the sea between the
land and the barrier reef Is also held as
personal property. The act establishing
the Territory of Hawaii wisely provided
, for the extinction of such titles.
After the fishery rights are abolished in
1903 here will be almost no restrictions
: on the general fisheries. At the present
time very fine-meshed seines are used
n especially around Honolulu and Hilo and
G immense numbers of very young fish
e such as the mullet. ulua and akule, from
8 two inches in length up, are caught ant
n sold, although 1t is against the law t.
n sell young mullet under four inches II
!. length. Unless this great drain on tn
' young Is stopped the fisheries are boun,
, to suffer severely.
II The use of fine-meshed nets and tn
n sale of small fish should be absolutel.
e prohibited.
= The same remark applies to the variou
t species of mulldae, known as weke ma
a ano muno, kumu. umu, etc. Two o
= these species, the munu and the umr
- stand among the very first quality o
:, Hawaiian food fishes, ranking with tn
famed red sur-mulet of Europe.
u The large shore fishes known as ul
/ are worthy of similar protection Hun
y dreds of young too small to be of an
Sc food value are taken every day In tn
IF seines in Pearl Harbor and in the Ba
lie OF Hio.
ts For the adequate protection of tn
M fishes of the Hawaiian Islands the fol
"A lowing regulations are suggested.
a. REGULATIONS SUGGESTED.
81 l. The size of the meshes of seine
IL should be limited. No seine with a mes
less than three inches in extension shoul
n be used An exception may be mad
to which will lallow the use of senes not eX
le ceed!ng so feet in length and with mes
lie not under three-eighths OF an inch in eN
"a tension for the purpose OF taking bait
ia, .. The capture or taking in any mar
- ner whatsoever or the selling, offerin
10 for sale, or having in possession an
ie amaama, weke. moano, kumu, or nun,
es or other fish of the family mullidae
+, less than eight inches in length shoul
ty be prohibited
r 3. The minimum size limit for the ulu
" and related species of the family carai
gidae should be IL inches.
"A 1. The minimum size limit for all sp,
- cies other than those specifically mel
toned above should be five inches
's 5. The amama, or mullet, is of gref
rs Importance on the islands of oahu an
lg Molokai, and in order to properly col
n serve the supply the catching Of thel
I'd during their spawning season should |
of prohibited. Their principal spawnir
season is from the latter part of Octob,
ar to the early part of February.
a. 6. Ine selling OF female ula Qocal
H. known as lobster) when carrying egi
an should be strictly prohibited. While the
~ is no present sign of n decrease in Il
- supply of this crustacean, II Is bett
S. to start now than when It is too late.
ms 7. As the waters of Pearl Harbor see
p- TO be favorably adapted to the raising
oysters ii would be well If this indust
,id could be established and fostered by {
en- passage of a law permitting the leash
of of small plots of land under water, a
ON jacent to the shores, for the purpose
ay planting and raising oysters. There a
- at present a few beds of small natl
.te oysters scattered through Pearl Harb,
ne but very little dependence can be plac
DO upon these TO supply the demand. Sc
ie- eral efforts have been made to introdu
red oysters from the eastern portion OF I
re- United States and from California, a