Evolution of suitable trawl nets for medium size trawlers - 1: Comparative fishing efficiency between 32 m bulged belly, long wing and four panel trawls

Comparative studies of the efficiency of 32 m bulged belly, long wing and four panel trawls have shown that the bulged belly trawl to be superior to the other nets in catching bottom fishes and column fishes. 40% of the bottom fishes and 48% of the column fishes were caught by the bulged belly trawl. However, for prawn catch, the long wing trawl appears to be better as it landed 52% of the total prawn catch of the three nets. Bulged belly trawl was found to be next only to long wing trawl in this respect.

Parallel twin-body trawl for shrimps, its design and efficiency

Comparative studies with a new 17 m parallel twin-body trawl and a 17 m bulged belly trawl conducted off Cochin during 1974-77 are reported. The parallel twin body trawl showed an increase of 28% in catch over that of bulged belly with a break up of 39.9% and 23.1 % for prawns and fishes respectively. The increase in catch is attributed to the extra wide mouth opening (26.6 %) of the parallel twin-body trawl. Parallel twin-body trawl had 8.96% lesser resistance which resulted in lower utilization of horse power.

Effect of low cost feed on the production of walking catfish, Clarias batrachus in farmer's ponds

A feeding trial was conducted for six months in farmer's ponds to assess the performance of BFRI formulated catfish feed on the growth and survival of Clarias batrachus (L.). Nine interested farmers and their ponds (size range: 10-15 dec) in the Barera union of Mymensingh Sadar were selected. The ponds were divided into 3 treatments each with 3 replications. Among the three treatment diets, two diets - traditional (F1) and BFRI formulated (F3) were prepared by using low cost agro-based locally available ingredients and the commercial diets was Saudi-Bangla Grower-1 (F2). The diets were designed as F1, F2 and F3 for traditional (20.40% protein), Commercial (31% protein) and BFRI formulated (30.44% protein) diets respectively. The fingerlings of catfish (7.3 g) were collected from local fish vendors and stocked at the rate of 100/dec. Feeding rates were adjusted by weight after fortnightly sampling of fish. Feeding rate were 10 and 8% of the total body weight respectively for 1st, 2nd month and 5% for the rest of the experimental period. The range of some selected water quality parameters were as follows: dissolved oxygen 4.0 - 7.4 mg/l, temperature 24.0°- 33.9°C, pH 6.8 - 8.00, and transparency 17.0 - 32.00 cm. Which showed suitability of the ponds for rearing fish. At the end of the experiment, significantly highest gain (p<0.05) in weight (1210.96% ±87) and lowest gain in weight (865.25% ±90) were observed in the group of fish fed on diets F3 and F1 respectively. However, no significant differences in growth (p>0.05) was observed in fish fed on commercial diet (F2) and BFRI formulated diet (F3). The FCR value ranged between 2.00 and 2.80 with the traditional diet (F1) showing significantly lower FCR. The total production of fish ranged between 1398.08 and 2145.34 kg/ha with F3 diet resulting in the highest production and net profit. A simple economic analysis showed that fish fed with BFRI formulated (F3) diet resulted in the highest net profit in farmer's pond.

A note on the comparative catch efficiency of nylon over cotton gill nets in reservoir fishing

The authors conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the relative efficiency of nylon over cotton in tropical waters, particularly in reservoir fishing. The experiments were conducted in the Gobindsagar reservoir (Himachal Pradesh/Punjab). The nets made with both materials were identical in essential details like twine size, mesh size, number of floats arid sinkers and hanging coefficients.

On the design, operation and efficiency of 11 m dual purpose trawl for small machanised [i.e. mechanised] boats

Preliminary midwater fishing trials were conducted off Cochin with an 11m dual purpose trawl during the monsoon months when the prawns were available in the column layers. Further, with a view to assess its suitability as bottom trawl, the gear with suitable modifications in the rigging was towed in comparison with a 15m bottom trawl along the depth ranges of 5-10m and 10-20m and the fishing operations were found satisfactory.

Technological aspects of preservation and processing of edible shell fishes IV. Comparative efficiency of different glazes in the preservation of frozen crab meat

The present work was undertaken to enlighten upon the comparative efficiency of different glazes in improving the quality of frozen crab meat (Scylla Serrata).

On the comparative efficiency of trawls made of cotton, polyethylene and combination of both the materials

The merits and demerits of cotton, polyethylene and combination of the two materials ascertained on the basis of cost, wear and tear, maintenance, total catch and qualitative analysis of the catch are discussed by making comparative fishing experiments with the three trawl gears made of these materials. The study can be concluded with a suggestion for switching over to polyethylene twisted monofilaments for better, in case of bottom trawls without in any way adversely affecting the catch of shrimps and at the same time for enhanced fish catch. Even though the combination net is found to be equal in efficiency as the polyethylene net this idea cannot be conveniently adopted from the point of view of economy.

Catch efficiency and selective action of coloured gill nets

Information on the catch efficiency and selective action of coloured gill nets in relation to the reservoir fishes of India are lacking. Authors, in the present studies have attempted to evaluate the comparative catch efficiency of gill nets of four shades viz. yellow, orange, green and blue over the colourless ones, by conducting fishing experiments, in the Govindsagar reservoir. Attempts have also been made to study the preference shown to colours by the four major species of fishes of the reservoir.

Comparative efficiency of frame nets and trammel nets

Fishing experiments were conducted simultaneously with frame nets and trammel nets in the Hirakud Reservoir and the results indicated the relative superiority of frame nets, whose catch rate was two times more than that of the trammel nets.

Comparative efficiency of trawls made of nylon, polyethylene monofilament and tape twines

Results of comparative fishing operations conducted with three nets of identical design made of nylon, twisted polyethylene monofilament and high density polyethylene (HDPE) tape twines are presented in this communication. Since the tape net recorded the highest prawn and fish catch, monofilament and nylon following in order, it can be recommended to the fishing industry as one of the cheapest and effective fishing materials evolved for trawl fabrication.

Double-rig shrimp trawling, its rigging, comparative efficiency and economics

A radical and revolutionary change from the hitherto employed shrimp trawling is reported for better productivity and economy in deep sea trawling with medium and large vessels. Studies carried out off Veraval with a 13.7 m. four seam shrimp trawl as conventional single-rig and two 6.8 m four seam shrimp trawls as double-rig from a 15.2 m fishing vessel showed an increase of 98% shrimp catch by double-rig over single-rig at 86.3 % of the power utilised by the latter. It has also been worked out, theoretically, how better this available power can be utilised for further improvement of catch. An increase of 15% head rope length in case of double-rig over the optimum single-rig gear of any vessel is recommended.

Microbiological evaluation and keeping quality of fishes reared in livestock sewage fed ponds without artificial feed

Livestock sewage has been utilized for fish culture. There is lack of information on microbiological evaluation and keeping quality of these fishes. This paper reveals the incidence, types of micro-organisms and keeping quality of fishes reared in livestock sewage fed ponds without artificial feed. These fishes revealed microbial incidence and keeping quality comparable to other fishes. Initial mesophilic and psychrophilic counts varied from 3.38 to 5.56 and 2.47 to 4.74. On an average, the counts reduced by about 40% after evisceration and washing. Whole as well as washed fishes had refrigerated (8 ± 1°C) life of not more than 4 days. The average psychrophilic and mesophilic counts of ice (0 to 1°C) stored whole fishes up to 10th day varied from 3.66 to 4.81, 4.61 to 5.24 and in eviscerated and washed fishes 2.17 to 3.69 and 2.78 to 4.41. Both remained acceptable till the 10th day. Qualitative study of surface slime and gills revealed presence of Aerobacter (Enterobacter), Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Clostridia, E. coli, Klebsiella, Micrococci, Proteus and Pseudomonas.

The effect of increase in the number of fishing trips on the economic efficiency of 9.82 m and 11 m fishing trawlers along Kerala coast

Cost-benefit analysis of a 9.82 m and 11 m fishing trawlers based on the number of fishing trips is presented. The number of fishing trips per year determines the profit and loss of the trawler. With the increase in the number of fishing trips, the profit also increase for both the sizes of trawlers. The minimum quantity of prawn and fish to be landed for 0-20% profit for varying number of fishing trips are worked out. The break-even for 9.82 and 11m trawlers was observed to be 185 and 210 fishing trips respectively during 1980-81.

Studies on the effect of colour of webbing on the efficiency of gill nets for hilsa and pomfret off Veraval

Influence of colour of webbing on the catch of gill nets for commercially important hilsa (Hilsa toli and Hilsa ilisha) and pomfret (Pampus argenteus and Parastromateus niger) has been studied in the coastal waters off Veraval. Among the colours tested yellow and white are recommended for hilsa and pomfret gear. Influence of fishing depth, surface water temperature and turbidity on catch are also discussed.

On the problem of nonadditivity in two-way analysis of variance of data for comparing the efficiency of fishing gears

To bring out the relative efficiency of various types of fishing gears, in the analysis of catch data, a combination of Tukey's test, consequent transformation and graphical analysis for outlier elimination has been introduced, which can be advantageously used for applying ANOVA techniques, Application of these procedures to actual sets of data showed that nonadditivity in the data was caused by either the presence of outliers, or the absence of a suitable transformation or both. As a corollary, the concurrent model: X sub(ij) = µ + α sub(i) + β sub(j) + λ α sub(i) β sub(j) + E sub(ij) adequately fits the data.