ENG-1967 — Page 113

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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Wan wholesale vegetable market. Vegetables are sold in the market by the organization but with considerable practical assistance given by the vegetable marketing co-operative societies which now handle 82 per cent of local production. Thirty per cent of this commission is therefore refunded to the marketing co-operative societies in recognition of the marketing responsibilities they assume in respect of their own produce. Sales are by negotiation rather than auction, since up to 30,000 separate lots a day may be sold to nearly 3,000 buyers, making sales by auction impracticable.

FISH PONDS

Fish ponds are still increasing and now cover 1,810 acres, mostly along the Deep Bay coastline near Yuen Long. The most important species reared is grey mullet which requires water with a salinity above 0.1 per cent. Fry are found in local coastal waters in February and March. Fry of four other important species-about five million silver carp, grass carp, big head and mud carp-were imported from China between May and August. Common carp and edible goldfish are bred locally and some two million and 600,000 fry were raised respectively to meet trade requirements. Edible goldfish require fresh water (less than 0.4 per cent salinity), while common carp tolerate up to 1.0 per cent salinity. Total pond fish production for the year was estimated at 866 tons, valued at some $3.8 million, which represented about three per cent of the local consumption of pond fish. Fry of various species re-exported during the year totalled 2.5 million.

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ANIMAL INDUSTRIES

Since there is insufficient land for extensive grazing, pigs and poultry are the principal animals reared in the Colony for food; cattle are used mainly for draught purposes. The pigs of Hong Kong are mostly crosses of local animals with exotic stock, and pure strains of the Chinese type are becoming less common. The Agricul- ture and Fisheries Department maintains the main herds of pure exotic strains-Berkshire, Mid-White, Large-White and Large-Black -and also herds of two Chinese strains for distribution to improve the Colony's pig stock, and for experimental purposes. A similar herd of good quality local Chinese strains, also for distribution to