ENG-1952 — Page 91

VI

Fisheries

PRODUCTION

Fish is the main primary product of Hong Kong and the Colony's fishing fleet is probably the largest of any fishing port in the Colonial Empire. It is estimated that a seafaring population of 60,000 is engaged in this industry and the figures given below, showing the quantities marketed, indicate the extent of the opera- tions.

The fishing fleet is made up almost entirely of owner-operated junks of the Chinese type, constructed locally from imported China fir and other hardwoods.

During Hong Kong's typhoon season, from July to October, off-shore sailing craft such as trawlers and large long-liners are often forced to tie up or to limit their operations. Because of this, Hong Kong fisher- men have recently begun to appreciate the importance of mechanization so that they may be less dependent on weather conditions. Additionally, it may enable them to spend more time in actual fishing and to land fish of better quality. At the end of 1951, the fishing fleet had 148 mechanized vessels; these included trawlers, long-liners, purse-seiners and fish carriers. Except for ten Japanese-type trawlers owned by fishing companies, the mechanized vessels are owner-operated junks.

Junks are, of course, essentially sailing craft and are not entirely suitable for mechanization. Efforts are therefore being made by Government, with the help of the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund, to design a vessel which is not only acceptable to the fishermen, but which can also be easily constructed by the local Chinese boat-builders.

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