ENG-1959 — Page 126

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

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animals imported for slaughter. There were also 330 outbreaks of a mild type of this disease in cattle and pigs in the New Terri- tories and a similar outbreak in the dairies in the Diamond Hill area of Kowloon. The increasing realization amongst farmers of the value of preventive inoculation is shown by the fact that in 1959 34,360 pigs were inoculated against swine fever, 11,500 cattle against rinderpest and 8,128,000 doses of Ranikhet vaccine and 1,956,600 doses of Intranasal Drop vaccine were used for the pre- vention of Newcastle disease in poultry. The veterinary diagnostic laboratory is well established and, in addition to this diagnostic service, is producing lapinized rinderpest vaccine for use in the Colony.

In view of the inadequate land resources of Hong Kong and the small cattle population, no work has been done on the improve- ment of pastures. Extensive grazing is not practised; instead dairy cattle are stall fed on planted guinea grass as green fodder and on concentrates, and are exercised in courts. Working animals are fed cut fodder and a little concentrate. Through its extension service the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department has demon- strated the value of planting up rice bunds and other available areas with green fodder grasses for animal feeding. A wide range of fodder grasses and legumes have been introduced for trial.

FISHERIES

Marine Fish is the main primary product of Hong Kong, and the fishing fleet is the largest of any port in the Colonies. It con- sists of over 9,400 junks of various sizes and designs, and twenty Japanese-type trawlers, nine of which are of British registry. They are manned by a sea fishing population of approximately 80,000, chiefly Tanka, operating from various ports and fishing centres, the most important of which are Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan (on Hong Kong Island), Cheung Chau, Tai O, Tai Po and Sai Kung.

Junks are built locally from imported timber, of which China fir is the most popular. Owing to continued shortages of fir, however, more teak and yacal have been used. About 95% of the fleet is owner-operated, the rest being owner-directed by fish dealers and fishing companies.