CO129-591-20 Reports on current situation 18-10-1945 - 7-11-1945 — Page 16

HONG KONG FISHERIES.

So far as local industries are concerned the fisheries of Hong Kong are perhaps second to none in importance in the economy of the Colony. There are, in general, three kinds of fishery commodities available in the open market the fresh freshwater fish, the fresh sea fish and the salted sea fish including mollusca and crustacea. With the exception of the fresh- water kinds that are almost entirely imported from Canton, Sheklung, Shekki, Kongmoon, Wuchow, and Macao, and a portion of the salted and canned goods that are imported from Japan, Annam and other East Indian countries, Europe, and America, all the other fish, fresh and salted, are the products of the local fisheries.

In 1938 there were 2,809 large and small Chinese fishing junks which are either indigenous or regular visitors to the Colony of Hong Kong. These fishing fleets, harbouring mainly in Aberdeen, Shaukiwan, Cheung- chau and Tai O, are manned by at least 50,000 strong men and women, and if persons of all ages on board are counted the total number will be somewhere around the figure of 77,000. Under normal conditions the sea- going junks of these fleets will venture far into the deep seas eastward off the coast between Swatow, Swabue and Pinghoi and westward between Kwangtoi (Toishan) and Yang-kiang, making a trip of two or four weeks, occasionally visiting ports near-by when circumstances necessitate such calls. But since the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese hostilities Japanese piracy has compelled them to limit their fishing grounds to areas within, or not very far from, the territorial waters of the Colony. And yet in spite of hindrance and suffering at the hands of Japanese war ships the local fishing fleets continue to work strenously at the risk of their lives, to bring the land population their necessary fish supply and at the same time to eke out a living.

During the year 1938, they brought ashore, approximately, 210,000 piculs of fresh seafish valued at $3,186,000 and 270,000 piculs of salted sea- fish valued at about $4,400,000, making a total quantity of about 480,000 piculs (28,571 tons) valued at wholesale prices at $7,586,000. When this enormous quantity of both fresh and salted fish is distributed all over the Colony or exported abroad the consumers will have paid a total value of $10,000,000 or more for it, but the fishermen will have only received a total value of about $6,000,000. In this connection it seems timely to make one fact clear i.e. that the local fishermen belong essentially to the floating population. Their junks are their only stock-in-trade and means of sup- port. Their calling and trade is very specialised and it is absolutely im- possible for them to adapt themselves to other occupations besides fishing within a reasonably short space of time. This will explain why they have to go sea-fishing regardless of the possibility of falling victims to Japanese piracy. Generally speaking, fisherfolk are brave people; they are so accus

I

15