Phytoplankton distribution in the coastal waters off Porbandar (Saurashtra)

Phytoplankton population (3.37-56.09 x 10 super(4) cells/1) and pigments (chil. a 1.10-26.8 mg/m super(3)) in the waters off Porbandar indicated wide variations. Higher cell counts and lower diversity of species were encountered in the nearshore waters as compared to the waters of the seaward side. The concentration of dissolved oxygen was correlated with the phytoplankton population and pigments. 71 species belonging to 28 genera of algae were recorded. Species of Nitzschia were dominant almost at all stations. Species of Chaetoceros were very common along the middle and western transects.

Occurrence of four Xanthid (Brachyura) crabs in Karachi waters (northern Arabian Sea)

Four Xanthid crabs, namely Euxanthus exsculptus (Herbst), Halimede ochtodes (Herbst), Medaeops edwardsi Guinot, and Neolimera intermadia Odhner, previously not known from the northern Arabian Sea are being reported. Each species is briefly described and illustrated.

Rediscovery of Philyra verrucosa Henderson, 1893 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Karachi waters (northern Arabian Sea)

Philyra v. was established as a new species by Henderson in 1893 and later recorded by Alcock in 1896. A detailed description is presented.

Occurrence of Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus) (Crustacea: Cirripedia) in coastal waters of Pakistan

Five specimens of sessile barnacle, Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus) were collected, in February 1993, from the back of a green turtle, Chelonea mydas, which was going back to the sea after laying eggs on Sandspit beach (24 degree 49'N; 66 degree 56'E). Chelonibia testudinaria is widely distributed throughout tropical and temperate seas and has only been reported to be found attached to turtles (Newman and Ross, 1976). In spite of its wide distribution it has not been reported from Northern Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan. The only species of genus Chelonibia known to occur in coastal waters of Pakistan is C. patula (Ranzani) recently reported by Javed and Mustaquim (1992). A brief description of C. testudinaria based on the present material is given below. All the specimens are housed in the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology.

A new distributional record of Zozymodes cavipes (Dana, 1852) (Crustacea; Decapoda) from the coastal waters of Pakistan

One male and one female of Zozymodes cavipes (Dana, 1852) have revently been collected from the rocky shores near Karachi; the species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. It is, however, being reported for the first time from the pakistani coast of the northern Arabian Sea and thus fills the gap in the known distribution of the species. The pakistani material is housed in the Marine Reference Collection Centre, University of Karachi. The specimens are briefly descibed below. Only restricted synonym is given.

On the rediscovery of Baseodiscus hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1831)(Nemertea, Anopla, Baseodiscidae) from Karachi waters

During a study of biodiversity in the Pakistan coast several species of nemerteans were encountered. One is uncertainly identified as Lineus ruber (Muller, 1774), the identification of another is under way. A third, Baseodiscus hemprichii, has previously been recorded from Karachi by Puri (1924). He gave a detailed description of his specimens, but no illustrations. Baseodiscus hemprichii has been collected many times from rocky areas on the Karachi coast, but on only one occasion was it photographed and then drawn. The species is briefly described here.

Circulation pattern of the Egyptian Mediterranean waters during winter and summer seasons

The water circulation of the Egyptian Mediterranean waters was computed during winter and summer seasons using the dynamic method. The reference level was set at the 1000db surface. The results showed that the surface circulation is dominated by the Atlantic water inflow along the North African coast and by two major gyres, the Mersa Matruth anticyclonic gyre and El-Arish cyclonic gyre. The results showed a seasonal reversal of El-Arish gyre, being cyclonic in winter and anticyclonic in summer. El-Arish gyre had not been previously measured. The geostrophic current velocity at the edges of the Mersa Matruth gyre varied between 12.5 and 29.1cm/sec in winter and between 6.5 and 13.1cm/sec in summer. The current velocity reached its maximum values (>40cm/sec) at El-Arish gyre. The current velocity at the two gyres decreased with increasing depth. The North African Current affects the surface waters down to a depth of 100m, and that its mean velocity varies between 6 and 38cm/sec.

Effect of aureomycin on the behaviour of certain free amino acids in oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) held in ice storage

The course of development of a few free amino acids under the influence of aureomycin in oil sardine (Sardinella lingiceps) held in ice storage was investigated. The levels of leucines and valine regularly increased in the control and aureomycin treated fush throughout the storage period. Alanines and threonine showed similar trend in both control and fish treated with 20ppm aureomycin. These amino acids however showed a gradual fall in fish treated at 5 ppm level. The changes in tyrosine+tryptophane were found to be irregular. Most of the amino acids studied indicated a remarkable change in trend by about the 16th day of ice storage in the case of fish treated with 50ppm aureimycin.

Biology of Balanus amphitrite communis (Darwin) in the Cochin harbour waters

Seasonal viariations in the incidence on fresh surfaces, breeding season, rate of growth and mortality of Balanus amphitrite communis was studied for a period of twelve months in the Cochin harbour waters, situated 76̊ 14'E and 90̊ 57'N, and subjected to annual seasonal changes in salinity.

Prawn fishing by M.F.V. Jheenga in Bombay waters

The design and construction of the motor fishing vessel Jheenga of the Deep Sea Fishing Station of the Government of India, Bombay, the areas covered and the gear used by her in 1959-63 are described. The prawn catches in relation to the total catches, and their catch rates in different months in area 18-72 in Bombay region which was fished continuously during the five years period have been studied with a view to ascertaining their seasonal abundance. The results indicate the availability of the prawns in the region for the major part of the year from March to October-November. High catches with high catch rates forming high percentage of their abundance in total catches are obtained in July to October.

Studies on fish lipids. Pt. 2. Fatty acid composition of lipids of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps)

Gas-liquid chromatography has been employed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the component fatty acids in lipids of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps). Phospholipids and triglycerides of the lipids were previously separated by column chromatography before they were converted into the methyl esters of the fatty acids. The predominant acids present in the depot fat of the fish have been found to be C14:0=8.13%, C16:0=27.9%, C18:0=3.8%, C18:1=15.4%., C20:5=10.6% and C22:6=8.8%. Apart from the above acids the distribution of minor acids belonging to Cl8, C20 and C22 groups have also been worked out. The separated phospholipid fraction contained more than 70% polyunsaturated acids of which the important constituents were docosahexaenoic (C22:6=28%) and eicosapentaenoic (C20:5=10.6%). A marked reduction was found in the amounts of polyunsaturated acids in triglycerides, their total amount registering about 20%. This fraction recorded about 48% of C16 acids of which palmitic and palmitoleic acids amounted to 25.8% and 19.1% respectively. Occurrence of odd numbered fatty acids C15 and C17 has also been noted in the phospholipid and composite samples of the fish.

Use of different glazes in frozen oil sardines

This paper reports on the relationship between the seasonal variations in the oil content of the Indian oil sardines (Sardinella longiceps) and their frozen storage life at -l8°C and on the use of various chemicals and coating materials to extent their storage life. It is observed that there is an inverse relationship between the oil content and the frozen storage life- oil content varying from 10.33 to 42.43% (MFB) and storage life from 2 to 5 months. Extension of storage life is achieved by dipping in hydroquinone solution prior to freezing or by coating with agar after freezing. Data on changes in peroxide value, free fatty acids, moisture, drip and organoleptic characteristics during frozen storage are presented.

On the operation of small shrimp trawls in shallow waters-scope-ratio and size-depth relation

Studies on small trawls seem to be comparatively less. These trawls are generally operated in shallower waters, where due to the limitations in the length of warp that could be released, size restrictions have to be considered for their efficient functioning. An attempt has been made to assess the effective scope-ratio of length of warp required for the operation of trawls at shallower depth and to a judge the size of trawl suitable for use at lower depths.

On the canning of Sardinella fimbriata Sardinella gibbosa and Sardinella sirm in oil pack

This note gives details of experiments conducted on the canning of certain species of sardines viz. Sardinella fimbriata, Sardinella gibbosa and Sardinella sirm which are landed in commercial quantities in the East Coast of Madras State and which have not so far been tried for canning. The experiments conclusively prove that these species of sardines can also be canned in oil pack and good canned products manufactured out of them.

Studies on shark liver oil and its residue

Seasonal variation in oil and moisture contents and vitamin A potency of oil in livers from different species of sharks landed at Veraval coast were studied. Values of moisture, protein, ash and vitamins in defatted liver residue were determined.