VI
PRODUCTION
Fisheries
The main primary product of Hong Kong is fish, the Colony having probably the largest fleet of any fishing port in the Colonial Empire. It is estimated that there is a seafaring population of about 60,000 engaged in this industry and the figures for quantities marketed given below also indicate the magnitude of the operations.
The fishing fleet is essentially owner-operated and consists mainly of sailing junks of Chinese type constructed locally from China fir and hardwoods imported from outside sources.
The waters around Hong Kong being susceptible to typhoons, wind-driven off-shore fishing craft, such as trawlers, are compelled to tie up during the typhoon season between July and September. Because of this, fishermen realize the great advantage to be gained through mechanization of their craft. 56 vessels were mechanized during 1950 and 28 vessels during 1951, the total mechanized fleet being 139 vessels at the end of December 1951. The decrease in the number of vessels mechanized during the year is mainly due to the fact that practically all the long-liners in the fleet have already installed engines. The majority of the 28 vessels mechanized during 1951 are vessels which collect fish from sail-driven craft at sea, thereby increasing greatly the fishing time of such vessels.
The desire to mechanize has recently spread to fishermen owning small craft such as purse seiners. A considerable number of these vessels installed outboard petrol-driven motors which are illegal owing to fire risks in the congested anchorages around the shores of Hong Kong. There is therefore a growing demand for small diesel engines suitable for small craft and already a number of such engines have been installed.
One great obstacle stands in the way of effective mechanization. Chinese fishing vessels are essentially sailing craft and it has been found that they need higher powered engines to propel them mechanically than it is really economical to install. The possibility of producing a
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