XN000022-1973-09-22 — Page 3

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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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