ENG-1965 — Page 101

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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vessel, the Yuen Ling, is used for general inshore demonstration work and to experiment with new equipment. Over-fishing and the conservation of fish resources are current problems and legis- lation provides for comprehensive protection measures, particularly against the use of explosives and toxic substances.

Modification of traditional junk design to meet modern require- ments is encouraged. A number of shrimp trawlers have been modified and several large Kwong Sun type deep-sea trawlers are now operating whose design includes radical departures from the usual junk layout. Some of the latest deep-sea pair trawlers are designed for easy conversion to single boat stern-otter trawling. A multi-purpose 66-foot stern otter trawler was completed in 1965 and, after a number of successful trials, commenced fishing with encouraging results. The trawler, which was financed with a loan from the Fisheries Development Loan Fund, was designed by the Fisheries Service and built under the supervision of its_fishing master and craft technicians in a local boat-yard. The design of this trawler was received with interest by the Food and Agriculture Organization division responsible for the design of fishing vessels and was discussed in great detail at the Food and Agriculture Organization third technical meeting on fishing boat design held in Sweden. As a prototype stern otter trawler the new vessel has set high standards and may well cause significant changes in the present fleet with the addition of fishing vessels of this type.

The department administers the Fisheries Development Loan Fund, which is allotted specifically for the development of the Colony's middle and distant water fleet, for which it has a capital of $5 million. There is close co-operation with the Fish Marketing Organization, which administers two other funds and investigates applications for loans from all three. Together they provide capital of over $8 million for the development of the industry.

The Fisheries Research Station is engaged in a programme of biological and oceanographic research in the South China Sea, using the 240-ton research trawler Cape St Mary. This year, in addition to the regular survey by otter trawl of known fishing grounds on the continental shelf between Formosa and Hainan Island, the vessel has used longlines to sample fish stocks at the edge of the shelf. An analysis of commercial fisheries statistics