176
R.A. BOWLER, D.S.C. YANG AND A.J.E. SMITH
per cultch and a 25 g wet weight the estimated net productivity is 0.67 kg/m2 year.
The Chinese oyster farmers indicate that a mau (畝) of oyster bed is equivalent to 60 jing (畝) of land area, where 1 mau = 667 m2. The jing is an ancient Chinese unit meaning different things depending on context. Although the mau is equivalent to 60 jing of land it can support an annual production of 3 to 4 jing of oysters. Twelve jing of oysters in the four year age classes up to marketable size requires a land area of 27 jing. Thus only 45% of the mau of oyster bed is actually productive, with the remainder being taken up with access paths or not utilised. Some beds are undoubtedly more fertile than others, and the "not-utilised" area can be reduced without detrimental effects to the oyster growth. The best beds are about 75% productive. An estimated gross productivity from an averagely productive bed is 0.105 kg/m2 year (Binnie & Partners, 1984).
Oyster harvesting and marketing
Oyster harvesting is carried on throughout the year with no account being taken of the breeding season, (Morton and Wong, 1975). Demand for oysters is particularly great during the winter (October to March). Oysters are harvested by removal of the whole cultch, from which the oysters are then prised. In deep water beds diving is now the most common method, with wet suits being worn in winter-time for warmth. The 3-4 m long traditional tongs are hardly used anymore.
Oysters, having been removed from their cultch, are sold by the basket. Each basket takes about 160-180 catties (1 catty in HK = 0.61 kg) of shelled oyster, which provides approximately 5 kg of meat in summer and 9 kg in winter when oysters have been fattened. The cost of a basket, irrespective of the weight of meat obtained, is HK$140-150. Some of the oysters purchased in this manner by Hong Kong farmers from Chinese sources, may receive further fattening along the Hong Kong coast prior to shucking and sale in the market. Oysters are also bought and sold by the bed, and a price of HK$2 per cultch has been quoted.
176
R.A. BOWLER, D.S.C. YANG AND A.J.E. SMITH
per cultch and a 25 g wet weight the estimated net productivity is 0.67 kg/m2 year.
The Chinese oyster farmers indicate that a mau () of oyster bed is equivalent to 60 jing (#) of land area, where 1 mau = 667 m2. The jing is an ancient Chinese unit meaning different things depending on context. Although the mau is equivalent to 60 jing of land it can support an annual production of 3 to 4 jing of oysters. Twelve jing of oysters in the four year age classes up to marketable size requires a land area of 27 jing. Thus only 45% of the mau of oyster bed is actually productive, with the remainder being taken up with access paths or not utilised. Some beds are undoubtedly more fertile than others, and the "not-utilised" area can be reduced without detrimental effects to the oyster growth. The best beds are about 75% productive. An estimated gross pro- ductivity from an averagely productive bed is 0.105 kg/m2 year (Binnie & Partners, 1984).
Oyster harvesting and marketing
Oyster harvesting is carried on throughout the year with no account being taken of the breeding season, (Morton and Wong, 1975). Demand for oysters is particularly great during the winter (October to March). Oysters are harvested by removal of the whole cultch, from which the oysters are then prised. In deep water beds diving is now the most common method, with wet suits being worn in winter-time for warmth. The 3-4 m long tradi- tional tongs are hardly used anymore.
=
Oysters, having been removed from their cultch, are sold by the basket. Each basket takes about 160-180 catties (1 catty in HK = 0.61 kg) of shelled oyster, which provides approximately 5 kg of meat in summer and 9 kg in winter when oysters have been fatten- ed. The cost of a basket, irrespective of the weight of meat ob- tained, is HK$140-150. Some of the oysters purchased in this manner by Hong Kong farmers from Chinese sources, may re- ceive further fattening along the Hong Kong coast prior to shuck- ing and sale in the market. Oysters are also bought and sold by the bed, and a price of HK$2 per cultch has been quoted.
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