ENG-1955 — Page 114

PRODUCTION

77

The Organization was started in October 1945. It now controls four wholesale fish markets-at Aberdeen, Shauki- wan, Yaumati, and Taipo. As fishermen operate from various scattered ports, internal transport to bring the fish from village or port to main market is important. Collecting centres have been set up in the main fishing towns, and from these the Organization provides land or sea transport to convey catch to the markets.

At the markets the fish is sorted and graded, prepared in suitably sized lots, weighed, and sold by public auction. The proceeds of sale (less the 6% commission) may be collected at the markets by individual fishermen shortly after their catches have been sold, or returned to the collecting centres to be collected at the sellers' convenience.

The species of marine fish landed in greatest quantity during 1955 were:

Average wholesale price in ¢ per catty

Piculs

Tons

Golden Thread

....

Conger Pike

Red Sea Bream

Lizard Fish

80,880 4,814 44,117 2,626

77

47

40,130 2,389

65

34,724 2,067

31

Yellow Croaker

...

22,636 1,347

93

Hair Tail

20,390 1,214

42

The following figures show the increase in local landings

of marine fish over the past five years.

Piculs Tons

1951

1952

1953

Value $ 506,606 30,155.1 39,122,237 578,565 34,438.4 38,517,861 528,184 31,439.5 41,676,354

1954

663,769 39,510.1 42,977,489

1955

677,599 40,333.3 36,800,531

Below are the average wholesale prices of fish sold in the markets over the same period, in cents per catty.

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Fresh Fish Salt Fish

82

65

70

56

80

74

67

55

56

43

Wholesale prices of fish this year have been the lowest

since the Organization started, and from the fishermen's point