have to be sold. In the main fishing villages, organisations called "fisheries syndicates" were established. The primary function of these syndicates is the collection of fish from fishermen and its transportation to market, but they also discharge other functions such as the sale of rice, flour, salt, ice, sugar, ramie, hooks and tung oil at low prices to the fisherfolk. They also act as centres for social welfare and education where advice can be given to the fisherman on the numerous problems with which he is confronted. At the wholesale markets fish are bought by registered buyers in public auction and the fisherman immediately receives the amount bid less 8% on which commission the scheme is run.
To take the place of the loans formerly granted by the fish "laans", the Government lent $250,000 to the Fish Marketing Organisation, plus à further amount of $20,000 earmarked for the Yellow Croaker fishermen at Tai O who repaid the sum within six months. The Government loan is used as a revolving fund, $622,360 having so far been lent and $396,287 repaid. A small rate of interest is charged and the loan is repaid by the deduction of a small increased percentage commission on the sale of fish.
Although there still exist some small "laans" which organize the collection of fish, sell it in the Market and also undertake salt- ing or drying, fishermen are forming small co-operative associations to perform these functions. Already each main fishing village has at least one of these associations.
To meet the ardent desire of fisherfolk for education, schools for fishermen's children have been opened in all the main fishing villages and a Fisheries Senior Class is held in Aberdeen where fisheries, navigation, meteorology and kindred subjects are added to the normal syllabus.
Possibilities of mechanizing the fleet are being explored and seven junks have now been equipped with diesel engines. The advantages of being able to reach the fishing ground and return to port quickly with fresh fish and of not being so completely depend- ent on the weather are evident, but the initial cost of mechaniza- tion is great and it is not yet clear whether it will be an economic proposition.
In the main 1948 has been a good average year for the indus- try, better than any year since the end of the war. Bumper catches in November provided a record when over 56,000 piculs of fish were handled by the markets. Severe storms in July sank over 70 vessels and rendered homeless more than 240 people. Relief sup- plies from the Social Welfare Office were distributed through the Fisheries Department, new work was found for those put out of employment and by the end of August further assistance was
unnecessary.
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