The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-17
OWNS NO
SAMPANS
Edmunds Specu-
Iates on Govern
ment Property.
Fish Company Promoter
Seeks to Control
Industry.
How He Obtained Federal and
Territorial Moorins
Privileges.

W. H. S Edmunds, the manager Of
the Live and Refrigerated Fish Com
pany, whose arrest on a warrant charg-
ing him with obtaining money under
false pretences was noted in yester-
days issue, appeared in the police
court yesterday morning, but the case
was continued until today.
The defendant stated to an Adver-
tiser reporter that he was much mis-
understood in the transactions between
himself, or the company he represents.
and the japanese fishermen. In sup
port of his right to charge the fisher
men for the privilege of mooring their
boats either in the Waikiki end or the
Eva end of the harbor, Mr.. Edmunds
produced a number of letters, permits
and sundry correspondence which bear
the signatures of Admiral Terry, U. 5.
N, Superintendent of Public Works
Holloway and c. NJ. White, chief clerk
of the Public Works Department.
In brief, Mr.. Edmunds claims to
have the right to charge for mooring
privileges used by Japanese at the
places mentioned. Those who refuse
to pay may go elsewhere.
But there is practically no else
where about the harbor, ana the sit
uation in a nutshell is that Mr.. Ed
munds has secured a monopoly on
t. in n
control almost the entire fishing bust
ness. Mr.. Edmunds gave evidence Of
the desire of his company to exercise
such control, as markets are to be
started all over the city, and all the
fish coming into the hands of the COM
pany from the Japanese fishermen,
whom they claim belong to their as
sociation,'' are to be distributed at
these markets.
The markets are to be placed as fol-
lows: L, Punahou, opposite the tram
ways headquarters; 2, corner Makiki
street and Wilder avenue: 3. South and
Queen SITS. 4, Kinau and Emma Sts.;
5. Beretania, near Maunakea; 6, Aala,
opposite Oahu Railway station; 7, Pa
tenn; 8. Kalihi, at terminus of Rapid
Transit line; one each at the various
plantations on Oahu. In addition, sup
ply stations are to be established at
.4>ahuku, Kahawa, Heeia and Wanna
nalo, in conjunction with the general
he Z quarters at Honolulu, and twelve
fish ng sampans are to be maintained
at Molokai, the catches to be brought
to Honolulu in the small steamer Ia
lula and possibly the gasoline schooner
Brothers, under charter from Young
Brothers. The company also has the
right to several fishing ponds on Mo-
lokai.
Mr.. Edmunds states that there are
about $50 fishing sampans in and about
Honolulu, and of these 120 are said by
him to belong to his association"
leaving only 80 to supply the general
market Mr.. Edmunds claims that the
association boats average catches of
about 5000 pounds of fish per day. A
refrigerator tank has been installed by
the company in the city market, foot Of
Alakea street and there are other
tanks at the headquarters of the COM
pany in Kakaako. between the makai
end of the Channel wharf and Young
Brothers house.
Last December Edmunds obtained
permission from Admiral Terry to util-
ize for the company the space between
the Channel wharf and Young Brothers
house. and the sea wall, which is con-
trolled by the Navy Department. In
the permit signed by Admiral Terry,
IL, I. -;srl,%
py the mooring grounds above men,
toned. with the privilege of putting in
fishing stakes to be num-
bered from to 100 or over and to erect
a signboard with the name of the COM
pany thereon. The Admiral reserved
the right to withdraw the privilege at
any time the ground was required for
government purposes.
About this time Mr.. Edmunds claims
that a delegation of japanese fisher
men voluntarily came to him and pro-
posed. that he form an association"
with them as members, he to put in
stakes supply water pipes,
electric lights. etc. and they would be
willing to pay rental, in addition to
Dledging themselves to turn over their
catches to the company which he had
formed. They agreed. so Mr. Edmunds
claims. to pay him ten per cent of the
amount received from the market
men," or purchasers, for their fish.
Mr.. Edmunds denied that he had
made the initial overtures to the fish,
armen. but claims that it was a vol
lntary act on their part.
II told the Admiral when I received
permission to use the grounds said
he. that 1 would not charge the fish
.rmen for anchorage. 1t was thorough
" understood we were not TO make any
money for anchorage. We charge for