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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
district agricultural officers operating from the district stations. The extension staff is aided by two teams concerned with pest control and survey duties. 1957 saw the opening of the first training course for young farmers in practical crop and animal husbandry. There were 17 students on the course, which was held at Castle Peak Agricultural Station.
The Animal Industries Division is concerned primarily with the control of animal diseases. Animal husbandry is also a function of this Division which is endeavouring to improve the pigs and poultry raised in the Colony by crossing the local stock with exotic_breeds.
The Fisheries Division. Two motorized inshore fishing boats, 'Olenka' and 'Yuen Ling', were used for experimental fishing by the Division. 'Ölenka' was engaged mainly in otter and beam trawling while the 'Yuen Ling', a new and much improved type of boat, did not become fully opera- tional until towards the end of the year. The local fisherfolk and native junk builders showed great interest in the design, construction and performance of this new boat. Of particular interest has been the manner in which the new idea of a wheel-house has been accepted, and how a modified version of this has already become common practice in the case of new boats built by the more progressive of the local fisher- men. The advances being made with a prototype winch, constructed from a second-hand motor-car's back-axle and gear-box, were also being watched closely.
Following the appointment of a Craft Technician the Division has been able to assist in the education of native junk builders and the development of better boat types. The response and progress made by the industry in these fields has been most satisfying. Native junk builders and fishing boat owners have shown an ever increasing interest in line plans and the construction of hulls strictly in accord- ance with previously prepared plans. For the first time new boats have been subjected to properly conducted trials. The traditional method of bending timber in all the primitive