112
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
British registered, are based in the Colony. There is a sea-going fishing population of about 80,000, chiefly Tanka people, and the main fishing centres are Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, and Castle Peak, Tai Po and the Tolo Channel area, Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, Tai O and Cheung Chau in the New Territories. Junks are built locally from imported timber, China fir being the most popular material, but in recent years continued shortages of fir have led to the increased use of teak and yacal. About 95 per cent of the fleet is owner operated, while the rest are directed by fish dealers and fishing companies.
Purse seiners, gill netters, shrimp trawlers and other inshore vessels operate mainly to the south of the Colony inside the 20 fathom line. The larger junk-type trawlers and long liners have gradually extended their operations and now work mainly in 30 - 70 fathoms along the coast of Kwangtung. Many of these deep-sea vessels still depend on sail and their activities are severely cur- tailed during the typhoon season from June to October. The re- strictions imposed by the Chinese People's Government in 1958, requiring fishermen based on Hong Kong who sail in Chinese inshore waters to land a quota of their catch in China, were continued throughout the year. Quotas were varied from time to time and the restrictions were enforced with varying degrees of rigidity.
There was a substantial increase in the mechanized fleet during the year. Nine hundred and forty-five vessels, the majority newly built, joined the fleet which is now 5,199 strong.
Landings by the local fishing fleet were generally good through- out 1962. Imports of both fresh marine fish and fresh water fish from China remained low, as did quantities of imported salt/dried fish. The quota system, under which landings in Hong Kong by foreign registered fishing vessels were restricted, was lifted on 1st February 1960, but there has been no significant increase in landings by such vessels.
Oyster farming. Edible oysters have been cultivated in the waters of the Colony for some 700 years. The principal area of cultivation is Deep Bay where 347.42 tons of fresh oyster meat, valued at approximately $1,273,224, were produced from 6,060 acres along the New Territories' shores of the Bay. Most of this was processed into dried meat or oyster juice and exported to markets overseas.