Growth rates of the sardines, Sardinella albella (Val.) and S. Gibbosa (Bleek.), in the Mandapam area

Abstract

The monthly mean lengths of the 0-year-classes of S. albella and 5'. gibbosa were estimated for the Palk Bay seasons of 1952-56. They indicated that, for the greater part of the Pallc Bay season, the length of each species increased at a decreasing rate. But towards the end of the season it appeared to increase at an increasing rate. The von Bertalanffy equation was litted to the former part, the growth curve so obtained was extrapolated to the latter part of the season also, and the observed and expected mean lengths were compared. It was seen that the differences in the rate of change of the monthly mean lengths between years were statistically non-significant