ENG-1946 — Page 51

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interesting are the small consumer co-operatives, which have proved quite successful, formed by the children in the fisheries vernacular schools.

After the re-occupation of the Colony in August, 1945, there was a considerable increase in the number of fishermen and junks based on the Colony. The number of fisherfolk had risen by December, 1946, to over 56,000 and of junks to 5,000, representing an increase of about 100%. The staff of the Fisheries Department remained at 19 but that of the Fisheries Co-operative increased from 146 in October, 1945, to 272 at the end of 1946.

The New Wholesale Market.

The figures for the weights and values of fresh and salt fish sold in the Kennedy Town Market in the 15 months from October, 1945, when the new scheme was inaugurated, to the end of 1946, are of interest; comparative figures for Novem- ber and December of both years are also given:-

Fresh Fish

Salt Fish

Total

Quantity (Piculs)

Value

Quantity (HK$) (Piculs)

Value (HK$)

Quantity (Piculs) (HK$)

Value

Nov. 1945

2,043.95

164,091.28 14,811.76 754,929.56 16,855.71

Dec. 1945 1,262.96

Nov. 1946 4,535.96

919,020.84

112,802.22 14,093.41 1,121,138.89 15,356.40 1,233,941.11

426,521.06 30,644.95 2,346,685.80 35,180.91 2,773,206.86

Dec. 1946 2,361.67 219,534.60 25,375.102 1,546,224.31 27,736.78 1,765,758.91

Total for

the pericd

Oct. 1945 to 30.198.941 3,157,832.90 248,813.94 21,041,756.39 279,012.89 24,109,089.29 Dec. 1946

inclusive.

It will be noted that the ratio of salt to fresh fish sold in the market is 8:1 whereas before the war it was of the order of 3:2. There are three reasons why the weight of fresh fish handled is so much less than before the war. In the first place no Japanese trawlers are bringing fresh fish into the Colony; secondly, there are only one-third as many long liners in operation as before the war, and these are the vessels that bring in most of the fresh fish; thirdly, some The fresh fish is not being handled by the Co-operative. amount of fresh fish being handled by the Co-operative has been greatly increased since the opening of the Tai Po