The role of crustacea in the destruction of submerged timber

During the last fifty years considerable attention has been paid to the study of the marine animals, which directly or indirectly bring about the deterioration of submerged timber. They belong to two groups, molluscs and crustaceans. A lot of work has been done on the moUuscan wood-borers but even now information on the crustacean wood-borers is scanty. The present paper gives a classified list of the crustaceans which are known to bore into timber and a resume of the published information on their biology

On a whale shark Rhincodon typus found accompanied by its young ones

On 3rd March 1996 at 0800 hrs during one of the routine observations on the long-line mussel culture, about 5 km off Adimalathurai south of Vizhinjam, the caudal fin of a whale shark projecting over the water was observed from the Research Vessel Cadamin VI

Pamban Bridge

It is believed that upto the first quarter of 15 th century Mandapam and Pamban were connected by a strip of land. A cyclone in 15th century resulted in the submergence of that connecting strip of land between Mandapam and Pamban. After that boat service was the only mode of transport between Mandapam and Pamban

Fermentation process for the production of quality fish meal

Fishy odour of shark liver oil is completely removed as a result of agitation of the oil with fermenting milk for 36 hours. This suggested the possibility of preventing the development of rancidity in fish meals by the treatment of the raw material with fermenting mil

On the landing of an olive ridley turtle at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu and updated record of incidental catches of sea turtles in India

Five species of the sea turtles, Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley turtle), Chelonia mydas (Green turtle) Eretemochelys tmbricata (Hawksbill turtle), Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle) and Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle) are foimd along the coasts of India including Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

A note on giant devil ray Mobula diabolus caugt at Vizhinjam

On 19.6.95 two female giant devil rays Mobula diabolus (Shaw) measuring respectively 442 and 450 cm across the disc and weighing 800 and 850 kg were caught in a gill net operated at a depth of 45-50 m in the inshore waters of Vizhinjam

Some observations on dol (bag) net fishery at Sassoon dock, Bombay

The paper describes the species composilion of the Dol (Bag) net catches at Sasoon Dock a major landing centre in Bombay, from January to Deccmbu. 1971, grouping them into two main categories, those occurring throughout the year and the those having seasonal occurrence and then reclassifying them into market categories. The estimated dol net catches fluctuated between 215 and 1485 tonnes during the year. The monthly average catch was 829.5 tonnes which formed 41.6% of the total landings. A list of 33 species caught in Dol nel and their percentage composition is given

Accidental catches of dolphins in Kanyakumari coast from 1995 to 2000

Dolphins frequently enter the coastal waters mainly for feeding or breeding and often get entangled in fishing gears such a gill nets, trawl nets and purse seines. Our information regarding dolphins are restricted mainly to the reports on the accidental catch and occasional strandings from different parts of the coast. Accidenta

Occurrence of small-sized oil sardine, sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes) at Vizhinjam

An unusual catch of 37 numbers of small sized oil sardines were reported in the shore-seine catches at Vizhinjam on 30.8.2002.The present occurrence of small sized oil sardines is probably the result of spawning activity, which occurred a few months earlier along the coast

On the nesting site and hatchlings of olive ridley turtle observed at Muller, Near Vizhinjam, southwest coast of India

Five species of marine turtles of our waters have been included in the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 and are considered as endangered species. The olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea is one among them