village where dealers' profits have been unusually high, a small consumers' co-operative association has also been formed. During 1947, the small co-operative associations combined to form a federation in order that fishermen of the different villages could mix together and exchange information. One of the outcomes of the formation of this federation is a monthly news service letter which gives, inter alia, details of quantities of fish caught in the various fishing areas by members of the association. Although this information is not always reliable it should prove of use to the Fisheries Research Station.
One of the most remarkable features of the post-war fishing industry in Hong Kong is the ardent desire of the fisherfolk for education. Very shortly after the scheme was set in motion, urgent requests for the opening of schools were made in every village. Every effort has been made to meet the demand; schools have been opened in all the main fishing villages, and writing classes and discussion groups are held nightly in each district syndicate. The aptitude and intelligence of the young fisherfolk are most encouraging, and in the spring of 1947, a Fisheries Senior Class began at Aberdeen where Fisheries, Navigation, Meteorology and other related subjects were added to the normal syllabus. Entrance to the class was by competi- tive examination and the candidates were from villages all over the New Territories. Impromptu classes are also held frequent- ly aboard the fisheries launches that collect fish from the villages and bring it to the market for sale. Unfortunately, the fishing season of 1947 has been a bad one and this has adversely affected the attendance at fisheries schools. The bad season and the low price of fish caused financial hardship to many fishermen, and there has been a tendency for them to take their children away from the school and put them to work on the junks rather than employ outside workers.
The opinion was expressed by a leading British fisheries expert who visited the Colony during 1947, that progress in the local fishing industry was only possible through mechanisation. The first step in this direction was taken when two junk trawlers were equipped with diesel engines. The advantages are obvious. No longer dependent upon the wind, the junks spend less time in reaching the fishing areas and are able to trawl both up and down wind; but it has not yet been possible to assess with any degree of accuracy the economic effect upon the fishing. The present cost of mechanising a fishing junk is high, and unless the returns can be substantially increased the advisability of mechanising a junk will remain in doubt. The trawling season of 1947 was a bad one and comparison with previous years is therefore liable to be misleading; it should be left to another year to pronounce a verdict on this question. The effect of the mechanisation of the fleet on large numbers of the present floating population has not escaped the attention of the Fisheries Department and investigations are now being made. as to the possibility of finding alternative employment in sub- sidiary industries should mechanisation create an unemployment problem among fishermen.
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