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3.—FISHERIES.
Catch of Fish
Number of boats
and persons
engaged in fishing
General Information regarding
tbe industry and the possibilities
of ^development
Kind of Fish
Mullet, Red and
Grey
Bass ...
Bream ...
Goby ...
Blackfish
Gurnard
Bonito...
Cuttle Fish
Eels ...
Skate ...
Tunny ...
Sponges
Quantity
*- 66 tons a
12,879 lbs.
Landed
value
£8,000 a
£5,500
Number of boats
engaged iu fishing
109 (including 18
sponge boats.)
Number of persons
engaged in fishing
British Cypriots 204
Foreigners
—
In the sea round Cyprus there are plenty of
fish but unfortunately the Cypriot is not a fisher–
man, few of them will go out except in the very
best of weather and in consequence the supply of
fish is not equal to the demand. The namber of
boats have certainly increased of late years but there
is still plenty of room for improvement. Possibly
the employment of a drifter or trawler might
lead to the development of this most im–
portant industry and an increase in production of
a very valuable article of diet.
The sponge fishing has since the year 1903 been
entirely under the control of the Government.
Thefishingin the past has been principally carried
on by fishermen from the Greek Islands who arrive
in the Island in the spring and fish through the
summer, areas being allotted to them by the
Inspector of Fisheries ou payment of a fishing
license; 20 or 25 per cent, of the catch (in kind)
being also paid to Government.
Thus :—
Naked diving and Harpoons ... 20 percent.
Machine diving apparatus ... 25 „
In 1928,13 Harpoon Boats and 5 Machine Boats
from the Greek Islands worked from April to
October ; the total catch being 4.295 okes good
sponges and 304^ okes skarta; the Government
share was 977-ft- okes good sponges and 67£ okes
skarta-
a. These figures are estimates. N o reliable returns are kept.
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