ENG-1953 — Page 88

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953

craft, manned by a seafaring population of 52,000, are operating from the various ports and fishing centres of the Colony.

Except for ten Japanese type trawlers, owned by fishing companies, the fishing fleet of Hong Kong is made up entirely of owner-operated Chinese junk type vessels, built locally from imported timbers.

The fishing grounds of the Hong Kong fisherman extend to 116° Longitude East and 19° Latitude North and include inshore waters along the China coast. The fishing grounds are set out in the chart depicting the Hong Kong fishing industry between pages 46 and 47.

As the majority of deep-sea fishing vessels are sailing craft, fishing operations are affected by the typhoon season from June to October. Fishermen are reluctant to venture far with sailing vessels from sheltered harbours during this season and devote much of this period to the annual overhaul and repair of vessels and gear.

The production of fish in 1953, amounted to some 31,439 tons compared with 34,448 tons in the 1952 season. This decrease of approximately 3,008 tons was due

was due mainly to unfavourable weather conditions and an unusually bad fishing season in the second half of 1953. Statistical and other data on the Hong Kong fishing industry is detailed in the pictorial map between pages 46 and 47.

During the year, several events occurred which have an important bearing on the progress of the industry. A fisheries policy was approved for the Fisheries Division of the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the staff of the division has increased from 3 officers to 20 technical officers and professional fishermen. A 30 ft. modified junk, mechanized with a 10 h.p. diesel engine and with a power-operated deck winch, was built and is operating as a demonstration, training

64