Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1967

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was created and operates under the authority of a Convention first negotiated between the governments of the Republic of Costa Rica and the United States of America. The Convention entered into force in 1950. It is open to adherence by other governments whose nationals fish for tunas in the eastern Pacific area. Under this provision, Panama adhered in 1953, Ecuador in 1961, the United Mexican States in 1964. Canada applied for membership in 1967. Her membership will become effective on April 1, 1968. On August 21, 1967 the Ecuadorian government, for financial reasons, elected to withdraw from active membership. Under Convention ruling, this means that she remains a full member until August 21, 1968. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical fue originada y está bajo la autoridad de una Convención que fue negociada inicialmente entre los gobiernos de la República de Costa Rica y los Estados Unidos de América. La Convención entró en vigencia en 1950. Está abierta a la afiliación de otros gobiernos cuyos ciudadanos pescan atunes en el área del Pacífico oriental. Bajo esta estipulación, Panamá se afilió en 1953, Ecuador en 1961 y los Estados Unidos Mexicanos en 1964. Canadá presentó su ap1licación en 1967. Su afiliación será efectiva el 1 de abril de 1968. El 21 de agosto de 1967, el gobierno ecuatoriano por razones financieras decidió retirar su participación activa. Bajo las reglas de la Convención el Ecuador sigue actuando como miembro hasta el 21 de agosto de 1968. (PDF contains 144 pages.)

Study on macroscopic, microscopic and hormonal changes in gonads of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus in Aras Dam

This study was carried out to seasonal determination of some morphological characteristics, Seasonal fecundity, Seasonal fluctuations of vertebrate-type steroids and seasonal analysis of gonadal histology in both female and male sexes of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz 1823) in the area of Aras dam Lake. Crayfish were collected respectively in June, August, November (2011) and January (2012). The average length and weight of male crayfish was higher than that of females. %GSI of females fluctuated within an extended range (between 0.6 and 13.5% from June to January). Both of synchronous and asynchronous ovaries were seen in August sampled ovaries; however asynchronous form was higher than another. The annual reproductive cycle of male A. leptodactylus was surveyed by study on the seasonal changes of the external appearance of the testes and vasa deferentia, fluctuations in the gonadosomatic index (GSI%) and the histological analysis of the male reproductive system. Based on the histological differentiation of testis, spermatogenisis devided to 5 separated stages. The findings suggested asynchronous testis in the species A.leptodactylus. The presence of primary spermatophore layer may help keeping spermatozoa alive while the secondary spermatophore layer may produces spermatophore or synthesize of acellular material which forms spermatophre. Pleopodal fecundity was 37.3%lower than ovarian fecundity observed. The significantly higher number of eggs attached to 3rd and 4th pairs of pleopods. The egg number and gonadosomatic index increased with female size while egg weight and egg diameter didn’t increase with female size. Hemolymph levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone followed a similar fluctuation pattern with % GSI in females, while testosterone didn’t follow the mentioned pattern. The testis of November sampled crayfish presented significantly higher gonadosomatic (%GSI) index (P < 0.05).The most observed gonadosomaticindices were 13.5%(forfemales) and 1.21% (for males, in autumn. Althogh the lowest GSI was (0.50%) formales in spring and (0.26%0 for spent females in January. Testosterone which followed a similar pattern with %GSI in males increased remarkably in November. 17β-estradiol increased strictly in January. The strictly enhancement of the three estroid hormones in January in both male and female sexes could bedue totheir stimulating role in in spermatophre and egg lying in the mating season (In January). Most of the ovaries followed the asynchoronous growth pattern. Also the testes presented asynchoronous growth pattern in autumn.