Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-25
FISH PRICES AND TIE FISH COM
MISSION


Editor Honolulu tar-Rullctin.
Sir In these days Of national peril
when, throughout the entire country
Is being Wanted the cry q prepare
against an impending food shortage.
and when the whole world IS rising as
one man TO confront the most serious
problems ever presented TO humanity
1t IS bIt meet and just that we, in
Hawaii, should take under consider
alton local conditions that affect Us
vitality
OHr government. has aTpoint"d a
food commission, with extraordinary
lowers. to regulate the prices and
quotations on the commodities Of lie.
This commission has before it a. 70
spOnsibility that Will mean much StO
to good or to the detrim"nt Of the
comMunit.
For, if it be Ian in tie d.:ti4s to
uhirh it Is incHmhent and is k"g}l-
cent in tie Performance Of mattors
entrusted 10 its discretion, them all
that has been said and done for the
good Of the community shall haV"
cen in vain.
home TO the average person OF aver
age means is the excessive and u1War-
Tanted priCe on fish. This very neres-
sarv and important staple is the cost
hest among all other fOOdstnffs, in
proportion
The casual observer. who visits our
markets. is Immediately struck by
the prices advanced. The asking per
pound is greater on fish than on flesh
meat Now the supply Of the former
exceeds that Of the latter by a rather
wide margin; transportation charges
that apply on meat have no bearing
on fish; the demand for fish equals
or even exceeds that on meat-but
the exorbitant, or | might even say,
impudent prices asked are beyond
understanding.
We might be inclined to sympathize
with the fish-mongers in the event Of
the ocean running dry or the fish
going on a protracted strike. This
would not be more ridiculous! than
the prices that are so boldly Haunted
before US.
The Oriental who placidly as ks SOC
lOT ululISI luhly PlOOoOiED 80 V 49,
only zoe Is hardly to blame. 1t is
likely, extremely so, that he Is a mere
tool In the hands Of the exalted inner
circle There is current information
regarding a trio composed Of our emf
nent citizens who for pecuniary ends,
have sought to combine for their mu-
tual benefit and relief Hence, the
prices Of today.
1t is plain, yes, clearly evident, that
there is a monopoly on our Ideal sup
ply Of fish. The prices are uniform,
there is absolutely no competition
and the various dealers seem to be
bound together by some mutual I'm,
derstanding The asking on various
kinds of fish maintains throughout
the entire market and fluctuations, If
any, are kept on an even basis. There
is no relief for the average consumer,
no means for him to obtain favorable
quotations. The combination that to-
day controls our fish markets has
been worked up into a high degree
of perfection.
And this extends noticeably to the
fishermen themselves. These MIN
rods of the deep, bringing large boat
loads of fish to the markets, willingly
sell to the stall-keepers but stanchly
refuse outsiders to bid 1t is decided
ly impossible to buy fish at the pier
and the only recourse to be had is
by purchasing from the Oriental stall
keepers.
To maintain the ever increasing
prices, fish that are not readily dis
posed of are placed in cold storage
until the demand warrants their
return to the counters. 1t is a fact
that the fishermen, on the markets
being flooded by large supply, will
leave with matches teeming with fish
and either throw these back into the
sea or cut them up for bait. A ready
sale for these fish could be easily
accomplished but the controlling in
terests, fearing low prices, are diff
dent as to the waste incurred.
Smoked herring that is transported
from 5000 miles or more, and that
undergoes considerable handling and
care, sells for sc apiece; while mullet
and the great number of edible fish
that are found in our local waters are
at prices that are, altogether, disprO-
portionate. On the mainland fish
sells in the neighborhood of 10c
pound, and this holds true equally
with those cities or districts far re-
moved from the ocean.
But here in Hawaii, where the mar
kets are favOrably located, where
transportation is negligible and where
operating expenses are at minimum
prices are elaborate in the extreme.
The fish are not weighed as sold, but
are counted out into so many and a.
such a charge.