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Saturday, September 22, 1973
To overcome this, the researchers developed a method whereby
milt is extracted from the male fish in advance and kept in cool storage
until eggs from the female are ready for fertilization.
"This has proven extremely successful," a spokesman said. "We
have also found that after overcoming this time factor the fertilization
percentage of eggs has been considerably raised with the result that pro-
duction has increased."
Fish fry are at present sold to fish farmers at minimal prices.
Until last year, the fish bred at the research station were released in
the Plover Cove reservoir to restore its ecological balance and to con-
trol the water quality. Nearly a million 'fingerlings' were set free in
the reservoir.
Besides being a lucrative business, fish farming is also a good
way of utilising the undeveloped arsh lands in the New Territories
which are not otherwise suitable for agriculture.
At present there are about 1,000 fish ponds, mostly in Yuen Long,
covering a total of nearly 2,900 acres. This is about three times the
figure 10 years ago.
Note to Editors:
Copies of photographs showing the process of
egg collection and artificial insemination are boxed
for collection.
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