BVRI CCD photometric standards in the field of GRB 990123

The CCD magnitudes in Johnson $BV$ and Cousins $RI$ photometric passbands are determined for 18 stars in the field of GRB 990123. These measurements can be used in carrying out precise CCD photometry of the optical transient of GRB 990123 using differential photometric techniques during non--photometric sky conditions. A comparison with previous photometry indicates that the present photmetry is more precise.Comment: Tex file, 5 pages with 1 figure. Bull. Astron. Society India, Vol. 27 (accepted

Otolithoides brunneus (Day) 1873, as a junior synonym of Otolithoides biaritus (Cantor) 1850 (Pisces : Sciaenidae), with notes on the identity of O. brunneus Dutt and Thankam (1968)

An examination of the syntypes of Otolithoides biauritus Cantor and O, brunneus Day, 1573 has shown that they atfi conspecific and that the latter is to be considered a junior synonym of Otolithoides biduritus. It is also known that Chrysochir aureus (Richardson) has been misidentified by Dutt and Thankam (1968) as O. brunneus Day. This note clarifies the taxonomic status and validity of these species

Sea Cow, Dugong Dugon of India

The sea-cows or the dugongs are distributed in the Indo-Pacific region between 10ngitudes32°E and 1700W, latitudes 35° and 400N. There are five population namely, East Australian, North Australian, Andaman-Malay Peninsula, Thailand and South China, South Indian and Sri Lanka, East African, Red Sea and Persian Gulf

Tentaculus waltairiensis Rao And Dutt, 1965, a junior synonym of Pholioides Thomasenl Nielsen 1960 (Pisces:Haliophidae)

An examination of my specimens shows that the interorbital cirri for which Rao and Dutt(op. cit.) use the term "tentacle," is not present in all specimens. In the 21 specimens I had collected the interorbital cirri are well developed in 12, absent in three; and in varying degrees of development in si

Dynamite fishing in the Chaliyar river, north Kerala

The dynamites (sticks) used for the fishing are those employed in the quarries for blasting the rocks. Dynamite fishing is carried out stealthly due to the economical gains. One of the serious hazards of the dynamite fishing is the physcial injury it may cause to the fishermen. The dynamite fishing is a socio-economic problem. The fishermen who resort to the fishing are well aware of the dangers involved. But they opt for the fishing due to the eocnomic gains and as it is one of the ways to make easy moneyThe possible solution to the problem is to persuade the fishermen to desist from using the dynamites for fishing and offering alternate employment

Fish and fisheries of Mandapam

Mandapam is one of the important Fish Landing Centres of Tamil Nadu with about 300 mechanised trawlers and a variety of other indigenous fishing gears like hooks and lines, gillnet, shore-seine, olavalai etc

Scianidae

Fishes with fairly elongate bodies, moderatey compressed; whole head and body scaled except at extreme tip of snout. Head with enlarged cavernous canals; snout rounded or blunty pointed; sensory pores often conspicuous on tip of snout (rostral pores), on lower edge of snout (marginal pores) and on chin (mental pores); usually 3 to 5 rostral pores on tip of snout, 5 nearer anterior margin of mouth and 3 pairs on lower jaw; bottom feeders (Johnius carutta, Johnius elongatus) have well developed rostral and mental pores whereas in midwaterfeeders (Otolithes, Argyrosomus) the pores are indistinct, one or 2 mental barbells sometimes present on chin, solid (Dendrophysa russelli, Johnius dussumieri), or with a pore at tip (Umbrina); mouth terminal (Otholithes, Pennahia), subterminai (Protonibea); inferior (Johnius, Umbrina) or lower jaw projecting (Atractoscion); teeth generally small, usually differentiated into larger and smaller in upper jaw; well developed canines may be present in both jaws (Otolithes ruber); teeth in, lower jaw may be in a villiform band (Johnius), with a slightly enlarged inner row (Johnieops sina, Johnieops aneus). or with well developed enlarged teeth (Pennahia, Protonibea, Nibea albida); roof of mouth (vomer and palatine bones) toothless; bony edge of opercle forked at its upper angle, appearing as a pair of soft spines connected by a thin bone; a rounded. scaled bony arojection present above upper end of gill slit; gillrakers on lower limb of first arch dentate, their number varying from 5 to 16

Note on Cristiceps Halei Day, 1888 (Pisces: Clinidae) A Junior synonym of Springeratus xanthosoma (Bleeker), 1857

Bleeker (1857) first described CUnus xanthosoma from Java. Later Gunther (1861), Herre (1936, 1939, 1953) and de Beaufort (1951) described it as Cristiceps xanthosoma from East Indies and Philippines. Day (1888) recorded a new clinid fish Cristiceps halei from Colombo. Since' Day (1889) C. halei has' not been recorded and the type specimen of the species is also not traceable

Recovery of a ringed sandwich tern, Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis from Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu

Terns are known for their long intercontinental wintering migration. Though the sandwich tern Sterna s. sdvicensis Latham has been known to frequent Sind and Makran coast (Ali and Ripley 1981) and Sri Lanka coast (Ceylon Bird Club Newsletter 1978), it has not so far been recovered from the mainland of India