The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-11-18
REPORT ON
FISHERIES
Write Of
the Hawaiian
Product.

/ TtpDIl VI DdNlu
Starr Jordan and Barton w. Eyermann
upon their investigation OF the fisher
ies OF the Hawaiian Islands, which be-
gan in June, 1901, and continued for
three months, has been printed at
Washington, copies being sent to Ho-
nolulu. Accompanying Is a report OF
even more Importance by John y.
Cobb on the Commercial Fisheries of
the Hawaiian Islands" and which con-
tains information of much value.
The report is given in neatly bound
volume OF $50 pages, which has many
fine illustrations of the subject matter
and also few maps.
! The report of Jordan and Evermann
starts out with list of the food fishes
Of Hawaii, there being then resume
of the fishery laws, and something
concerning the introduction of addi-
tonal species of fishes from foreign
countries. There are also several
pages relating to the fish ponds and
concerning the methods of bringing
fish to market
The report of special agent Cobb of
the United States Fish Commission
tells of the physical and geographical
features of the islands, with very
cradle concerning the history, religious
beliefs and superstitions of the fisher
men. His story of the boats and nets
OF the fishermen is particularly inter-
esting, being accompanied by the
methods and means of fishing, giving
also illustrations of the various kinds
OF nets and hooks in use.
Mr.. Cobb also goes at length into the
nf
account of the markets in each OF the
cities, and dealing also with the whole
sale and import trade.
Mr.. Cobb also goes into the question
of private fishery rights, and then
gives an outline of the fishing industry
of each island.
One of the interesting subdivisions
in the report is that devoted to the
early whaling voyages, and to the seal
and sea-otter fisheries.
Professor Cobb has the following to
say of the old oyster beds at Pearl
Harbor:
Formerly there were quite ex-
tensiye beds of native oysters in
Pearl Harbor, but of late year
little attention has been given to
the gathering of these, and 1t is
not known whether they are to be
found in abundance now or not. The
mounds of oyster and other shells
found at various places around the
harbor indicate that oysters were a
favorite and common article Of food
many years ago. For considerable
period they were practically forgotten,
until in 1871 Captain e. Wood, of Ho-
nolulu, discovered some beds while
surveying around the harbor; since
then natives have gathered them In
limited quantities for sale at the Homo
lulu market. They are said to have
very good flavor.
Prof Cobb also gives some valuable
data concerning the pearl fisheries OF
early years at the same place, the name
Pearl Harbor" evidently being derived
from the pearl. The report has the fol-
lowing bearing upon the subject:
During the early years OF last cen.
tury pearl oysters were first discovered
in the locality now bearing the name
of Pearl Harbor. about nine miles from
Honolulu-a magnificent sheet OF wa
ter. running about ten miles back into
the interior, and about four miles
across in the widest part. 1t is divided
into two parts by an island and mar
row strip Of the mainland running
down about the center of it, The BEDS
were located at the head of the harbor.
As the value OF the discovery soon be-
came manifest, the king declared 1t
royal monopoly, and he employed
divers to bring up the oysters, which
were found in great plenty.
Speaking of the marine fauna, James
Jackson Jarves, the historian OF tho
Islands, says:
Edible shell-fsh are also abundant
Of which the pearl oyster Is very palat-
able. Pearls are abundant, but OF no
great size or beauty. They formerly
constituted profitable branch OF
trade and were monopolized by the
king.
The shell, or mother-of-pearl, formed
the more valuable part OF the product
and was usually shipped to China,
where it found a ready sale, but the
business was so vigorously prosecuted
that before 1850 II had ceased to exist,
ewing to the exhaustion of the bed.
Pearls have been found on the Puma
coast, on Hawaii, inclosed in large
nollusk shaped like a pearl oyster,
and called pa" by the natives. The
pearls are OF but little value, owing To
the dark streaks in the center OF them,
The natives use the portion OF the
shell around the valve in making fish
hooks, as this part has the rough out
line OF hook already and is easily
worked. This mollusk is quite rare
now and is highly priced by the ma
tiyes when fOuul