Comparative drift studies on streams in lower Austria (Flysch, gneiss and chalk formations) [Translation from: Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Hydrobiologie 30 138-185, 1968.]

Seasonal changes and flooding have an extraordinarily great influence on the drift of organisms. The free water space plays the main part in the provision of food for some fish (Salmo trutta - trout): drift and content of the stomach are balanced here (Simuliidae): whereas others (Thymallus vulgaris) only selectively chose certain animals living at the bottom (molluscs). The total drift, drift of organisms and drift of organic material and minerals, plays a main role in the rate of production in streams. Besides the biology of the organisms living on the river bed, also the geological and hydrographical situation of the area plays a very important role for the composition of the drift. During the years 1964-1966 three streams in the characteristical geological formations flysch, gneiss and chalk of lower Austria were studied in regard to their drift. The Tulln (above St. Christopen), the Krems (above Senftenberg) and the Schwarza (above Hirschwang) seemed to be ideal for this comparative study because they are easy to reach. After summarising the hydrography and chemistry of examined rivers, the author examines the relationship between water level and total drift and the stratification of the total drift before analysing the drift of living organisms. Also considered are seasonal changes of drift of organisms and drift of exuviae.

A new one-boat mid-water trawl for Indian waters

Even though the rich and variegated pelagic fishery resources of our west coast are well known much has to be done for a judicial and systematic exploitation on a commercial scale. To fill up this lacuna the present paper describes in detail a new design of 10.5 m four-equal panel mid-water trawl, its rigging and operation from a medium size vessel. Comprehensive comparative efficiency studies of this gear with a 10.5m unequal panel mid-water trawl established the superiority of the new gear. From the results based on the mouth opening, resistance and the catch it is opined that this new gear can not only be used on a commercial scale in harvesting the seasonal pelagic fishery, but also as a secondary supporting gear in shrimp fishery in places like Veraval, where there is a commercially exploitable yield of quality fishes like hilsa, pomfret, seer etc., without much modification from conventional stern trawlers.

One-boat midwater trawling with unequal panelled trawl

Results of the comparative efficiency studies with 10.5 m equal panelled and 10.3 m unequal panelled midwater trawls operated from 10.9 m wooden trawler are presented. Out of the two nets, the latter proved to be relatively good for the capture of off bottom and column fishes like pomfrets, seer, lactarius, catfish, silver bar, ribbon fish and an increase of 84.4% in total catch was observed.

Morphometric, meristics and comparative studies of Chrysichthys nigrodigititus (Lacepede) from Lagos Lekki and Badagry Lagoons, Lagos State, south west Nigeria

Morphometric measurements, meristic counts and comparative studies of Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus samples from Lagos, Lekki, and Badagry Lagoons was carried out to determine the amount of variation among the species from the different locations using seven meristic and two morphometric characters. Significant differences were observed only between the headlength (F==14.02; P<00.05), number of anal rays (F=19.9; P<0.05) and of gill raker counts (F=142.0, 160.94; P<0.05). The differences observed in the meristic characters could be attributed to environmental and climatic differences of the three isolated sites and therefore phenotypic rather than genetic. This study is valuable for the selection of quality strains of fish species for aquaculture production

Comparative studies on the structure of an upland African stream ecosystem

Upland stream systems have been extensively investigated in Europe, North America and Australasia and many of the central ideas concerning their function are based on these systems. One central paradigm, the river continuum concept is ultimately derived from those North American streams whose catchments remain forested with native vegetation. Streams of the tropics may or may not fit the model. They have been little studied. The Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains of north-eastern Tanzania offers an opportunity to bring these naturally forested systems to the attention of the ecological community. This article describes a comparison made between two lengths of the River Dodwe in this area. The work was carried out by a group of postgraduate students from eighteen European and African countries with advice from five staff members, as part of a course organised by the Tropical Biology Association. Rigorous efforts were made to standardise techniques, in a situation where equipment and laboratory facilities were very basic, through a management structure and deliberate allocation of work to specialists in each area.The article offers a summary of invertebrate communities found in the stream and its biomass. Crabs seem to be the key organism in both sections of the streams.

Comparative studies on growth of fry of GIFT and Existing strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

Comparative study on growth of fry in nursery system of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) and Existing strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was performed. The trials were conducted in a series of hapa for two months. The initial mean weight of GIFT and Existing strains of tilapia were 1.03 and 1.12g, respectively and the stocking density for both the strains was maintained at 150/m³. Fishes were fed with supplementary feed 31.29% of protein level. After two months the final cumulative mean weight of GIFT and Existing strain were observed to be 8.38 and 5.51g, respectively. The net gain for weight of GIFT and existing strain were estimated to be 666% and 368% and the mean survival were 95.75% and 81.25%, respectively. The GIFT strain showed significantly (P<0.05) higher net gain in growth in weight and also higher (P<0.01) survival than that of existing strain.

Comparative studies on the canning properties of pomfrets and hilsa

Fresh silver pomfret, black pomfret and hilsa were canned at absolutely fresh and iced conditions and the qualities of the final products were studied comparatively in relation to the initial quality of the raw materials. Under identical conditions a maximum quantity of cook-drip and nitrogen contents were found to be lost in black pomfret and minimum in hilsa. Silver pomfret and black pomfret iced for 3 days gave fairly good products on canning while hilsa came out only as a satisfactory product on canning after the same ice storage period of the raw material.

Studies on long wing trawl for shrimps off Kakinada (A.P.) coast - (i) Results of comparative fishing experiments with the conventional two seam trawl

Comparative fishing operations with the conventional two seams net and a 29.26 m. long wing shrimp trawl of four seam type were undertaken. The result showed that the four seams net gave nearly twice prawn catch than that of the conventional type. It was also found that the four seams net can be developed into a combination trawl for the effective exploitation of both prawns and fish along the coasts off Kakinada.