The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-12-09
TO SAVE THE
ISLAND FISH
National Fish Commits
sioner Sends Susses.
tons to Governor.

1t becomes more and more apparent,
day by day, that the administration at
Washington is going to take kind OF
working interest in Hawaii that will re-
suit III the highest possible devel-
opment of those resources of the Terri
tory whose care car properly be foster
ed by the National government
Yesterday Governor Carter received
from Fish Commissioner Geo &c NJ.
Bowers, of the Bureau OF Fisheries OF
the Department of Commerce and La
Dor, the letter which follows herewith
Hon. George r. Garter. Governor OF
the Territory of Hawaii. Sir AIR.
John n. Cobb, who as a member OF the
party from this Bureau which investi-
gated the fish and fisheries of the Ha-
waiian Islands in 1901, had charge OF the
commercial INQUIRIES, and made second
canvass of those fisheries during the
present year, has called attention to the
urgent need for cetrain changes i'll the
present fishery laws of the Territory so
that commercial fisheries, which are at
present quite valuable, may be preserved.
He refers particularly to the use OF fine
meshed nets, by means of which many
small and immature fishes are needless
y destroyed.
As you requested of him TO be adj
vised of any changes in the present / err
ritorial laws which the investigation
might indicate as desirable, cannot do
better than to repeat the suggestions
contained in the preliminary report OF
Messrs. Jordan and Evermann upon the
1901 investigation, as follows:
The size OF the meshes OF seines
should be limited. No seines with a
mesh less than 3 inches in extension
should be used An exception may be
made which will allow the use of seines
not exceeding thirty feet in length and
with mesh no under three-eighths inch
in extension for the purpose of taking
bait
The capture or taking in any man
ner whatever, or the selling, offering
for sale, or having in possession any
amaama, woke, moano, kumu or NUM-,
or other fish OF the family Mulidae of
less than eight inches in length should
be prohibited.
"The minimum size for the uua and
related species of the family Carangidae
should be twelve inches.
The minimum size limit for all
species other than those specifically men
toned above should be rve inches.
The amaama, or mullet, is of great
importance in the Islands of Molokai
and Oahu, and in order to properly con-
serve the supply the catching of them
during their spawning season should be
prohibited. Their principal spawning
season is from the latter part OF Octo-
Der to the early part of February
THE selling of female ula locally
known as lobster) when carrying eggs
should be strictly prohibited. While
there is no present sign OF dec ease
in the supply of this crustacean, it is
better to start now than when it is too
late.
LAS the waters OF Pearl Harbor seem
to be favorably adapted to the raising
of oysters it would be well if this in
dustry could be established and fostered
by the passage OF law permitting the
leasing of small plats of land under
water, adjacent to the shores, for the
purpose of planting and raising oysters,
"An efficient force of fish wardens
should also be provided for in order to
see that the laws are properly enforced
1T is also recommended that the ma
tive birds of the islands should be pre-
served.
GEORGE NJ. BOWERS"