The Bombay-Duck

The Bombay-duck, popularly known as "Bombil" is of great economic importance to the fishermen of the west coast of India, north of Ratnagiri. It is supported by a single species Harpodon neherpua (Hamilton). It has a wide and discontinuous distribution along to the coasts of East Africa, Indian subcontinent, Malaya, Indonesia and China. In India it is taken in large quantities on the south and south east coasts of Saurashtra on the Gujarat coast and the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. It is also taken in appreciable quantities on the Andhra-Orissa coast and from the estuaries of Bengal. With the introduction of a programme of mechanisation of the fishing craft under the Five Year Plans, the fishing activity and the area of exploitation along the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts have considerably increased, resulting in larger landings of Bombay-duck. The fishery today has attained the status of one of the major fisheries of India

Role of brackishwater prawn culture in the fisheries development of India

The seventh plan envisages an export target of Rs. 1000 crores from the fisheries sector. For Attaining this target the emphasis appears to be on exploitation from fishing grounds away from the Conventional/traditional grounds beyond the 30 fm line. These fishing ground can be fished only by Bigger trawlers, purse seiners and shrimpers which have the facility to remain at sea for a fortnight or More. Our experience has shown that the shrimp component from offshore grounds is negligible, less Than &%. Shrimp is the major component of our marine exports and if we have to achieve the targets Laid down the shrimp catch has to be enhanced in a big way

A preliminary study of the pelagic fish eggs and larvae of the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay

A study of the occurrence, distribution and development of fish eggs and larvae as an integral part of a fishery research programme serves as a valuable aid in the proper management of fisheries. Although there are several practical difficulties in studies of this nature, some progress has been made in this direction during the last few years in India. Devanesan and John (1940, 1941) have reported the occurrence of the eggs of Rastrelliger kanagurta and Kowala thoracata oflf the West Hill coast. Devanesan and Chidambaram (1941) gave a brief account of the eggs and newly hatched larvae of Anodontostoma chacunda and Caranx crUmenophthalmus. A few eel eggs from the Madras coast have been recorded by Aiyar et td. (1944—abstract). In a tabular statement Chacko (1950) gave the salient feature of the eggs and larvae of 16 species of fishes collected from the waters around the Krusadai Island, based on the observations of Delsman (1925-38). It has been, however, noticed that there are some variations in the descriptions given by Chacko and by Delsman. Nair and Bhimachar (1950) described three forms of eel eggs from the Gulf of Mannar. An account of the eggs and larvae of Sardinella sirm, Anchoviella tri, Thrissocles sp. and Solea ovata was given by John (1951). Descriptions of the eggs and larvae of the genera Thrissocles, Anchoviella, Cynoglossus, Caranx, Saurida and a pelagic egg mass from the Madras plankton were given by Nair (1952). The present paper deals with the pelagic fish eggs and larvae occurring in the Grulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay off Mandapam

Observations on the biology of Harpodon nehereus (Hamilton)

The total catch of Bombay duck in Inaia during 1949 was estimated as about- 7250 tons ie about 2% of the total yield of marine fishes of India. The fishing season commences, some time in Septembeer just after the South West monsoon and continues for a period of about 4 to 5 months. It is also available during the other months of the year in smaller numbers but is somewhat rare during May to August

Some developmental stages of Caranx kalla Cuv. & Val.

These fish, when disturbed, were found to take shelter under the bell of the medusae. Judging from their movements, however, it may be mentioned that they seem to be cautious while moving about inside the bell, probably to avoid the stinging cells of the medusae. It is weIl-known that several species of carangids gather around floating objects such as, pieces of wood, coconut shell, medusae, etc_ and the principle of lure-line fishing is basea on this peculiar habit of carangids

Bombay Duck, Harpodon nehereus (Ham.)

The principal aim of any comprehensive fisheries research programme is primarily to obtain a maximum sustained yield and avoid depletion of stocks. Researches on the biology of the species contributing to a fishery form an essential prerequisite in regulating the exploitation of stocks to the maximum advantage. The study of distribution of the species and the stocks from which the fishery is supported forms valuable information in assessing the fishery potential. Considerable amount of information on these lines in respect of the commercially important fish species has been gathered by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in the past two decades

The Inhibition of Arginase by Proline in Cell-free Extracts of Mouse Mammary Tumour

Arginase activity was found to be increased in precancerous nodules and mammary tumour when compared with the mammary gland. Proline inhibited the mammary tumour arginase and up to 30 mmo1 concentration the inhibition follows first order kinetics. Hill analysis of the inhibition of arginase by proline showed that proline inhibits the arginase activity by competing directly at the active site without conformational change. The inhibition may be of regulatory importanec, involving a feedback mechenism in mammary tumours

Observations on the distribution of plankton at six inshore stations in the Gulf of Manaar

It has long been recognised that the distribution of plankton may be very patchy, especially in the coastal regions because near the land the sea may be frequently disturbed over small areas by the mixing of coastal and oceanic waters, tidal streams and Ibe upwelling of the lower layers of water against ceastal banks. This is further complicated by the sporadic outbursts of larva I forms from the littoral fauna and the shallow water benthos

Observations on the trawl-fisheries of the Bombay and Saurashtra waters, 1949-50 to 1954-55

A historical account of trawling experiments made in Indian waters before the Second World War is given by Chidambaram (1953). Of these, the Bombay waters were covered by S. T. Premier in the year 1900, S. T. William Carrick in 1921-22 and S. T. Madras in 1923. The results of working of S. T. William Carrick are available in the excellent report of Hefford (1949) while those of S. T. Premier and S. T. Madras have not been published. The outcome of these initial trials was not encouraging and it was felt that trawling might not prove economically successful in the areas worked. A reliable picture was, however, obtained of the different species of fishes occurring in these waters during different seasons of a single year

A note on the occurrence of abnormal specimens of Mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (C.) On the Karwar Coast

It is believed that the mackerel fishery along the west coast of India is based on only one species, namely, Rastrelliger kanagurta (C). Pradhan (1956) examined a large number of mackerel from the Canara coast for morphological variations, various body proportions, fin counts, gill rakers and vertebral count and found that they confirmed to the description of Rastrelliger kanagurta (Beaufort 1951). Abnormalities in the mackerel have been observed by Jones and Silas (1962)