ENG-1949 — Page 61

PRODUCTION•

Chapter 6.

FISHERIES

The main primary product of Hong Kong is fish and the Colony possesses one of the largest fishing fleets of any fishing port in the Colonial Empire. The industry is carried out by a sea-faring population of approximately 60,000 persons.

The Fleet

The bulk of the fleet is owner-operated and wind-driven but since the war there has been a great increase in the number of junks which are being mechanised. At present there are 33 long-liner fishing junks and two junk fishing trawlers, all of which are provided with diesel engines. In addition, comparatively modern mechanised vessels are gradually joining the fleet. Such vessels include thirteeen fishing trawlers, a crab and shrimp trawler and a fishing long- liner, all of which are ex-Japanese wooden motor vessels, a fish tender junk and two European M.F.V's. Such mechani- sation is very important to the Colony since the wind-driven fleet is greatly handicapped during the typhoon season, being forced, at times when there is a risk of storms, to fish close to the shore where fish is less abundant. Plans are being made of a mechanically propelled junk which can be constructed in local shipyards by Chinese craftsmen and which will meet the needs of the Chinese fishermen to whom the boat is also a home.

Fish

The majority of fresh fish marketed is for local consump- tion but a large proportion of the catch is salted and dried, and almost 60% of the salt fish marketed in Hong Kong is exported. China takes about 54.3% of the total exported, Macao 35.2%, Manila 6.3%, and other ports 4.2%. This export trade of salt fish is vital to the interest of the fishermen. Very little fresh fish is exported, Macao and Manila taking practically all that is exported. The amount of fresh and salt/dried fish marketed in Hong Kong during the last four years is shown below.

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