HONG KONG
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES
FOR THE PERIOD
1ST APRIL, 1948 TO 31ST MARCH, 1949
General.
ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION I-Fisheries Policy.
1. Since the re-occupation of the Colony, the main activities of the Fisheries Department have been in the administration of the Wholesale Marketing Organisation and in the Socio-economic field.
2. A Survey conducted at the end of the War revealed that there were 26,000 fisherfolk in the Colony as compared with 77,451 in 1938 and that most of them were impoverished and without boats. It was decided, therefore, that it was an opportune moment for the introduction of a Fish Marketing Organisation. The Organisation is planned in such a way as to make it become self-supporting, with the object of ensuring that the profits of the Industry will go to the Fishermen and not to the middlemen.
3. The Marketing Organisation is so arranged that it can, in time, become a Co-operative Organisation. "Fishermen's Syndicates" have been established in the main fishing villages, each Syndicate under the management of a Chairman who is paid from the funds of the Fish Marketing Organisation. The primary function of these Syndicates is the collection of fish from Fishermen and its transporta- tion to the Market. However, they also discharge other functions such as the sale of Rice, Flour, Salt, Ice, Sugar, Ramie, hooks, Tung Oil, lamp mantles, etc., at low prices to Fisherfolk. They also act as centres for social welfare and education where advice can be given to the Fisherman on the various problems with which he is confronted. At the Wholesale Market, fish is bought by registered buyers by public auction and the fisherman is paid out on the same day the amount realised for his fish. 8% commission is deducted from all sales and from this fund the Scheme is run and capital accumulated for expenditure on future expansion, in the nature of markets, educa- tion and loans to fishermen etc.
lowered now
4. Mechanisation of the Fishing fleet is essential to the develop- ment of the Industry and we have been granted £10,000 as a free grant and £40,000 as a loan from the Colonial Development & Welfare Fund to assist the fishermen to make a start in mechanisation.
5.
Comparatively little has been accomplished in the technological and research fields, except for investigation in Pond Fishery. How- ever, a start has been made for the founding of a Fisheries Research Station, and a grant of £135,000 has been made by the C.D. & W. fund to equip the Station.
6. A Socio-economic Survey is being conducted on the Industry and it is hoped to be able to finish a preliminary report in the Summer of 1949.
4
SECTION II-Staff.
7. Mr. J. Cater was in charge of the Department for practically the whole year, Mr. T. G. Strangeways taking over as Acting Director of Fisheries on the 21st March, 1949. The Government staff, except for the Superintendent of Fisheries Research and his Research Assis- tant, were mainly concerned with the administration of the Wholesale Marketing Scheme and consisted of an Executive Officer, Officer-in- Charge of District Syndicates, Market Manager, Accountant, two Confidential Assistants, six Market Inspectors and three Clerks.
SECTION III-General Condition of the Industry.
Marketing.
8. We have been strongly criticised regarding the high cost of fresh fish in Hong Kong. We maintain, however, that fresh fish in Hong Kong is on the average far cheaper than anywhere else in the East. It is known that in Singapore the price of fresh fish has at times been twice that of Hong Kong. It is obvious that the cost in Manila is much higher, for in spite of high handling costs and a high import duty, large quantities of fresh fish are being exported by local firms to Manila. This is an entirely new feature of the Hong Kong fishing trade. This must be considered significant because before the War export of fresh fish to Manila was considered unprac- tical, which can be taken as some indication of reduction in the marketing costs of fish in Hong Kong.
9. The fish landed by the Wholesale Marketing Organisation during November beat all previous records. Despite the great in- crease of fish brought to the Market, prices remained fairly stable. Large catches of Yellow croaker was the main cause of the sudden increase.
10. A certain number of Hand-liner junks from Amoy arrived to the Colony during the year due to the more stable conditions existing in Hong Kong.
Export.
An
11. The life blood of the Industry is the export trade with China. This trade has suffered many setbacks in the past three years due to the instability of the Chinese National Currency, and the exorbitant import taxes levied by China on the Hong Kong fish. During September and October the situation was desperate. Import Tax in the neighbourhood of 80% was levied on Hong Kong fish. This and the devaluation of the Gold Yuan forced down the bids for fish in the Hong Kong Market and affected the income of the local Fishermen. Smuggling into China was resorted to by exporters in an effort to maintain their trade. The enforcement of the Anti-smuggling pact resulted in a large drop in the price offered for salt/dried fish in the Hong Kong Market. It looked as if the Industry would be badly hit but, owing to Hong Kong currency becoming accepted in S. China the price level of salt fish returned to normal.
12.
5
A certain amount of salt/dried fish has been carried to Macao for wholesaling. The reason for this is:
(a) the increase in value of the Macao dollar as compared with the Hong Kong dollar and
(b) the low price of rice in Macao and the surrounding Chinese Territory, making rice good cargo for the return trip.
Weather.
13. The Fishermen of Hong Kong with their wind-driven craft are affected far more by the weather than Fishermen in most parts. of the World. When studying a production curve of the local fishing Industry it is always found that during the typhoon season, May to October, the production of fish is low, the reason for this being that most of the fish landed in the Colony is brought in by the large fishing vessels which remain in the fishing grounds for several days. During the Summer months these vessels seldom, if ever, put to sea for fear of adverse weather conditions. These days are spent in repairing gear and equipment. The Summer months are, however, the main season for Purse Seiner fishermen who return to base daily and whose main catch is Anchovy (Anchoviella Indica) "Kung Ue". Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting production curves, to gain an idea of seasonal variation in the amounts and types of fish caught off Hong Kong.
14. The seasonal depression in production during the typhoon period is tending to be reduced owing to the installation of wireless on board the fishing craft and improved Meteorological Services.
15. July, in spite of showing promise of being a really good month turned out to be disastrous. On the 27th July, a typhoon passed near the Colony and greatly disrupted the fishing operations off the Island of Hong Kong and the mainland. The Island of Cheung Chau suffered very badly. The storm came suddenly upon this har- bour from the South West and 76 junks and sampans were sunk or The financial damaged of which only 15 were able to be repaired. loss to the Fishermen was catastrophic. 248 Fishermen who were rendered homeless from 39 vessels were registered with the Cheung Chau Fishermen Syndicates for the receipt of relief food which was supplied by the Social Welfare Officer.
16.
Two "nearmiss" typhoons were experienced during Septem- ber, one on the 3rd and the other on the 26th. One motor fishing vessel, having a pupil of the Senior Fisheries Class on board, was lost during the second typhoon.
17. On the 15th February, an Aberdeen Fishing junk was badly damaged off Lema Islands. Efforts were made to tow the junk back to Hong Kong but the vessel sunk off Lamma Island. No lives were lost.
6 -
—
Mechanisation.
18. As has already been stated, it is considered that the develop- ment of the Industry must be along the lines of mechanisation. £50,000 has been granted from the Colonial Development & Welfare Funds for use as Capital in a Mechanisation Scheme. Of this sum £10,000 is a free grant and £40,000 is to be used for loans to fishermen to give them financial help in purchasing suitable engines and their installation. So far no loan has been made to fishermen from this fund. However, one pair of native type trawlers was mechanised with the help of loans issued by the Fisheries Marketing Organisation. This is the only pair of mechanised trawlers operating, long liners being considered more profitable to mechanise by the majority of Fishermen.
19. There are at present seventeen mechanised vessels operating in Hong Kong. They consist of:-
4 Japanese type trawlers.
2 Native type junks used as fish carriers.
2 Native type trawlers.
2 Motor fishing vessels.
7 Native type Long-liners.
20. The Long-liners have all been mechanised by the private enterprise of Fish Dealers and Fishermen. The four Japanese type Fishermen
trawlers and the two M.F.V.'s are company operated. are becoming interested in modern types of fishing vessels and more progressive fishermen are considering cutting out the intermediate step in mechanising junks, and building a vessel with a hull suitable for mechanised propulsion.
Dynamite.
21. As a result of the Japanese Occupation when the Japanese permitted the use of dynamite for fishing purposes, the use of dynamite has become widespread and although declared illegal there seems to be no decrease in the use thereof. During February eight fisherfolk were killed by an explosion in a Purse Seiner junk and another accident with no casualties occurred in March. Great efforts have been made to stop the use of dynamite, but so far our efforts have had little effect.
Production Statistics.
22. During the period under review, the Marketing Organisation handled 139,686 piculs of fresh fish and 257,761 piculs of salt fish, the total value of which was 23,092,776 dollars-averaging $58.10 per picul. The total amount marketed for 1948/49 is 397,447 piculs as compared with 256,470 piculs in 1947/48. It must be realised that this does not represent the total quantity sold in Hong Kong. There is a considerable amount wholesaled illegally in the "black market" and a certain quantity sold in the villages or sold in small quantities off beats. Some of the increase over the 1947/48 figures is due to better control of "black market" fish and not, as might be assumed, better catches or a larger fleet.
7
Graph "A".
23. This graph shows clearly the seasonal variation in the quantity of fish landed in Hong Kong during the year. Comparing this graph with the graph showing quantities marketed in 1947/48 it can be seen that in both cases the quantity was lowest in June but the production peak in 1948/49 was November-a month later than the year before. Catches dropped in quantity steadily till the end of January after which they rose once more. It will be noticed that in 1947/48 the rise in quantities caught started in December, a month earlier than this year.
Graph "B".
24. This graph shows quantities of the 6 principle species of fish sold through the Marketing Scheme during the period under review. It will be noticed that during the year the main season for Croaker (Waak Ue) was April/May; Anchovies (Kung Yue) from the middle of July to the end of August; Yellow Croaker (Wong Fa) October/November; Mackerel scad (Tse Yue) February/March. Golden thread has a long main season from September to the end of March. Yellow croaker (Wong Fa) is the most important of our migratory fish. Most of this fish is caught by the Big-tailed junk fishermen using gill nets and Pa Teng fishermen using Purse seine nets. The Lizard- fish (Trachinocephalus myops) "Kau Kwan" are caught mainly by the deep sea junk trawlers. These junks are laid up during the typhoon season when repairs to both junk and gear are made; hence during the Summer months of June, July and August very little of this type of fish is caught. The Anchovies are the main catch of the Purse seiner group of fishermen.
25. The Croaker (Johnius jubatus) "Waak Ue" and Golden thread (Synagris virgatus) "Hung Shaam" are regular market fish and, when studied, their curves show the general trend of the fishing season. The Golden Thread is economically the most important of the long-liner fishermen's catch and investigations on this fish must be one of the first tasks of the Research Station.
Graph "D".
26. This graph compares the amount of the main species of fish marketed during the year. It is interesting to note that Anchovies represent considerably more of the total catch during 1948/49 than during 1947/48. In 1947/48 Lizard-fish was the main catch but in 1948/49 it ranks fourth in importance.
Graph "E".
27. In graph "E" it will be noticed that the proportion of fresh fish in the total catch for the Colony has risen from 23% to 35.1%. Salt/dried fish dropped from 77% to 64.9%.
8
Conferences.
28. Informal Meeting of Fisheries Officers from British Terri-
tories in South East Asia.
Mr. J. Cater, Officer-in-Charge of Fisheries attended this Meeting, which was held in Singapore from 7-9th October. The Meeting was in the nature of a preparatory Meeting for the Inaugural Meeting of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council. The importance of Socio-economic work as a preliminary step to large scale development of the Fishing Industry was stressed.
29. Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council Sub-area Committee.
Mr. J. Cater, Officer-in-Charge, Fisheries, attended this Meeting held at Buitenzorg, Java, from October 11th-15th. Mr. Cater attended as an observer. This Committee stressed the importance of Socio- economic research. The importance of credit facilities for Fishermen was also stressed and the Committee recommended a widespread foundation of Government Credit Organisations.
30.
Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council.
Mr. J. Cater, Officer-in-Charge, Fisheries, and Mr. S. Y. Lin, Superintendent of Fisheries Research Station, attended the Inaugural Meeting held at Singapore from the 24-31st March. Mr. Cater read a paper on Socio-economic Surveys and Mr. Lin gave a paper on Pond Fisheries of China. The Meeting was mainly concerned with the drafting of rules of procedure and other technical details in setting up the Council and drafting terms of reference for technical Com- mittees,
SECTION IV-Fisheries Research.
31. A Grant of £135,000 was made from the C.D. & W. Fund for the establishment of a Fisheries Research Station in Hong Kong. £130,000 was earmarked for the main Research Station at Aberdeen and reclamation has been started by the P.W.D. £5,000 has been granted for the establishment of 2 field Stations in the New Territories. These Stations will be mainly concerned with Pond Fisheries.
32.
The Staff of the Fisheries Research Division consists of Mr. S. Y. Lin, Superintendent, Fisheries Research Station, and Fisheries Research Assistant, Mr. Yu Yat Sum. During the year under review, research work has been carried out at a small field Station at Kam Tin but the accommodation is very limited and is a handicap to the Research Officer. The main work of the Field Station was in con- nection with Fish culture and fish fry transportation.
9
33.
The main activities of this Division were:
A. Study of Fresh water fishes of Hong Kong.
A Survey was made of the fish fauna of the streams, rice fields and water reservoirs of the Colony. 17 species had been described and illustrated. This report will appear in the Journal of the Fisheries Research Station, now in the hands of the Publishers. The Report includes brackish water fish which make their way up the rivers in the New Territories.
B. Carp culture in Rice fields.
With the co-operation of the Agricultural Departinent investigation into the method of common carp culture in rice fields was repeated this year.
A separate report has been written on this investigation.
C. Oyster culture in Deep Bay.
At the request of the District Commissioner, New Territories, an investigation has been started on the Oyster beds in Deep Bay. Attention was paid to production, relationship between the oyster growers and their agents and the comparison of conditions before and after the War. This work is being continued during 1949/50.
D). Pond culture in the New Territories.
Observations were made on the method of pond culture of carp and Grey mullet in the existing ponds of New Territories. A small pond in the Agricultural farm at Kam Tin has been stocked with Carp for experiment. The paper on Fish culture in ponds of the New Territories of Hong Kong by S. Y. Lin has been enlarged and revised as a result of this investigation.
E. A study of Indian and Siamese Fisheries.
From July to December 1948, the Superintendent of Fisheries Research was sent to India on request of that Government to study sea fisheries and pond culture in that country. More than a month was spent in West Bengal to study the collection of carp fry from the Ganges river, the marketing of fish fry in Calcutta, the bundh-type tanks for spawning and the pond culture of Carp and Grey mullet in the delta areas of Bengal. The purpose of this visit was to compare the Indian and Chinese methods. The sea fisheries of Bombay, Madras, Cochin, and Travancore were also studied. Eight days were spent in Siam studying fish salting and manufacturing of fish sauce together with the pla-tu fisheries in the Gulf of Siam.
F. Fish fry export.
Fish fry is exported to Singapore and Bangkok. During the year 199,480 lbs of fish valued at $43,718.28 of various carp fry were packed in hermetically sealed tins with oxygenated water at Kam Tin Field Station and dispatched to Singapore and Bangkok. A table below gives the details of this activity.
10
Quantity and value of carp fry exported to Singapore and Bangkok,
from April 1948 to March, 1949.
Singapore
Bangkok
Total
Kind of Fish Fry
Quantity Value
(Fish)
Quantity
Value
$
(Fish)
$
Quantity (Fish)
Value
$
Grass carp
117,220 24,587,30
5,140 |
1,213.40 |122,360 | 25,800.70
Big head
53,410 | 13,038.92
3,280
1,242.31
56,690 | 14,281.23
Silver carp
16,900
3,090.65
1,530 | 395.70
18,430 | 3,488.35
Common carp
1,000
150.00
1,000
150.00
TO..
Total
187,530 | 40,716.87
10,950 | 3,001.41
3,001.41 198,480 | 43,718.28
$36,963.01 was spent on freight, fry, equipment and incidental expenses, excluding labour and supervision.
T. G. STRANGEWAYS,
Acting Director of Fisheries.
PICULS
35,000
VALUE PER PICUL AND QUANTITIES OF FISH IN PICULS SOLD
THROUGH MARKETING SCHEME. (1947/48).
LUE PER PICUL (SCALE ON
RIGHT)
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS.
REFERENCE_No, G.55/114.
30,000
25,000
20.000
13.000
10,000
5,000
AP
MAY
JONE
TOTAL QUANTITY
SALT FISH
FRESH FISH
#
70
3
50
44
-30
.20
14
JULY
AUG.
SEFT.
OCT.
HAY.
Dec.
JAN.
FIS.
MAK
1947
1948
PICULS
VALUE PER PICUL AND QUANTITIES
OF FISH IN PICULS SOLD THROUGH
MARKETING SCHEME (194749
#
60,000
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE No G.95/193
160
TOTAL QUANTITY
VALUE PER PICUL
52,500
(SCALE ON RIGHT)
1/2
45,000
37,500
30,000
22,500
15,000.
7,500
120
SALT FISH
129
80
бо
FRESH FISH
APR.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY
Ave
SEPT.
OCT.
NOY.
DEC.
JAN
FEB
MAR.
- 1948 -
-1949-
40
20
PICULS
16,***
14,000
2,000
IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SALT DRIED FISH - BY QUANTITY.
1ST APRIL 194 TO 31ST MARCH, 1948.
IMPORT
EXPORT
PRODUCE =
LOCAL
TRANSHIPMENT =
TOTAL EXPORT =
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE No.G.55 115-
16,000
PICULS.
IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SALT/DRIED
FISH BY QUANTITY
IST APRIL 1948-31ST MARCH 1949
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS
REFERENCE NO 4757/195.
IMPORT UT
EXPORT:
LOCAL PROPOCE TRANSHIPMENT TOTAL EXPORT
APR. MAY.
JUNE JULY
7
AUG SEPT. ост Nov
DEC. JAN FEB. MAR
-1947-
∙1948·
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,0 10
APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT. OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
-1949 →→→
- 1948 -
PICUL'S
11,000
10,900
4,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
WEIGHT IN PICULS OF SIX PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF FISH
SOLD THROUGH THE MARKETING SCHEME
APRIL 1947 TO MARCH 1948.
CCHI YUE/MACKEREL SCAD (KUNG YUE)ÁNCHOVIES (KBU KWAWILIZARD FISH (HUNG SHAAM) GOLDEN THREAD (WAAK YUE) CROAKER (WONG FA) YELLOW CROAKER
2
=
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE No G. 55)018.
HI
19871
EKE
H
-
A
2+
Ah.
PLAT
JUHE
AUG.
OCT.
Nóv
sec.
DÁN.
·1948-
132
MAR
PICULS
13,000
WEIGHT IN PICULS OF SIX PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF FISH
"SOL】 THROUGH THE MARKETING SCHEME
APRIL 1947 TO MARCH LOHY
MACKEREL SGADE CH} 780 =
ANCHOVIES CRUMB YUE) — --
LIZZARD FİŞN (KAUKWM}} ==
GOLDEN THREAD CHONE SH6gertian rensa ON AAN HORSE ÇA BOLOGNADE AN ITENIN DALAKĻĀ (HBAR YRS) – J
TEILIW GRDAREA, CHINE FE)
12,000
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS
REFERENCE MM 695124
11,000
10000
7.000
8,000
7,000
6,000
$,000
3.000.
,000.
1000
APR
Max Jore Jack AUG SERI
1948
ост мом
JEC JAN FEB,
1949-
ASAL
ALL OTHERS
30%
COMPARISON OF THE MAIN SPECIES OF FISH MARKETED.
APRIL 1947 TO MARCH, 1948.
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE No. 9.55/116.
PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL VALUE
$14,473,093.
PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL QUANTITY 256,470 PICULS.
WHITE HERRING 1.9%
SLIP MOUTH POUTER 219.
SPOTTED
POUTER 2:2%
HAIR TAIL 2·3%
ROUND HERRING 2.4%
RED SEA BREAM 3-3%
YELLOW CROAKER 3.7%
GOLDEN THREAD
7.5%
CROAKER
7.3%
LIZZARD FISH
11.5%
MACKEREL SCAD
14.1%
ANCHOVIES
11·7%
ALL OTHERS
34-8%
WHITE NERRING
SLIP MOUTH Powter 13 */
SPOTTED POUTER
MAIR TAIL
2.1%
3.2%
MACKEREL SCAD
8.4%
ANCHOVIES
9.4%
LIZZARD FISH
10.7%
GOLDEN THREAD
10.4%
CROAKER
6.9%
ROUND HERRING 14%
RED SEA BREAM 4.3%
YELLOW CROAKER
5.7%
0.6%
ALL OTHERS
35%
PERCENTAGES OF
TOTAL VALUE
$23, 092, 776.
ANCHOVIES 9%
GOLDEN THREAD
11-6%
CROAKER 6%
LIZZARD FISH
7.2%
CUTTLE FISH FI
WHITE HERRING 29%
RED GOAT FISH 27%
HAIR TAIL 3·2%
MACKEREL SCAD 3·4%%%
RED SEA BREAM
%12
YELLOW CR OAKER 10.3%
COMPARISON OF THE MAIN SPECIES OF FISH MARKETED
APRIL, 1948 TO MARCH 1949.
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE No. 6937196
PERCENTAGES OF
TOTAL QUANTITY 397447 PICULS
13.7%
ANCHOVIES
GOLDEN THREAD
9.7%
SPOTTED POUTER BY CUTTLE FISH 2% WHITE HERRING 2·1%
RED GOAT PISH 2·7%
HAIR TAIL 3.6%
MACKEREL SCAD
81%
RED SEA BREAM 6.6%
ALL OTHERS
30.3%
7.6%
YELLOW CROAKER
7%
CROAKER
7.9%
LIZZARD FISH
TOTAL QUANTITY 256,470 PICULS
FRESH FISH
23%
COMPARISON OF FRESH FISH AND SALT/DRIED FISH MARKETED
DURING PERIOD APRIL 1947 TO MARCH, 1948.
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, REFERENCE No. G. 55/117.
TOTAL VALUE. $14,473,093.
SALT/DRIED FISH
77%
!
FRESH FISH 28.6%
SALT DRIED FISH
71.4%
COMPARISON OF FRESH FISH AND SALTÍDRIED FISH___
MARKETED DURING PERIOD APRIL, 1948 TO
MARCH 1949
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS,
REFERENCE NO. 9$/197
TOTAL QUANTITY 397 447 PICULS
FRESH FISH
35.1%
SALT/DRIED FISH
64.9%
TOTAL VALUE $23092.276
FRESH FISH
44.3%
SALT DRIED FISH
55-7%