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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
derived from the fleet has been initiated. Efforts to locate com- mercially exploitable stocks of Nephrops-scampi'-in the South China Sea, following the earlier discovery of 'scampi' by the Cape St Mary, have continued, though an investigation of the potentially- rich grounds off the coast of Vietnam has had to be suspended. Acoustic and photographic surveys by deep sea camera were begun this year and several hundred photographs of the seabed and associated fauna have been obtained. In September the Cape St Mary embarked on the first of a regular series of oceanographic cruises in the northern part of the South China Sea, as the United Kingdom contribution to the Co-operative Study of the Kuroshio (CSK), a multi-ship, international expedition organized by the Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission.
The fishing fleet consists of nearly 9,400 fishing junks of various sizes and designs and six Japanese-type trawlers all of which are British registered. The fishing population consists chiefly of Tanka people, and the main fishing centres are Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, and Castle Peak, Tai Po and 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 though teak and yacal are also used in increasing quantities. Most of the fleet is owner-operated, while the rest are directed by fish dealers and fishing companies. More and more vessels are being mechanized each year and the mechanized fleet now totals 6,363.
Purse seiners, gill-netters, shrimp trawlers and other inshore vessels operate mainly to the south of the Colony inside the 20-fathom line. A number of the more adventurous owners of medium-size mechanized boats have commenced fishing around Taya Island about 220 miles south-west of Hong Kong. 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 Kwang- tung. Although a few of the larger mechanized boats are capable of fishing in the Gulf of Tonkin (some 500 miles away) the war in Vietnam does not encourage the use of these grounds. Some of the deep-sea vessels still depend on sail and their activities are severely curtailed during the typhoon season from June to October. The restrictions imposed by the Chinese People's Government in 1958, requiring fishermen based on Hong Kong who sail in Chinese