Descriptions of new genera and species of microlepidoptera from Panama (with one plate)

The following decriptions [sic] of new forms of Microlepidoptera are published in advance of proposed papers, dealing with the lepidopterous fauna of Panama as a whole, based on material collected by the writer as a member of the Smithsonian Biological Survey of the Panama Canal Zone during the first half of the year 1911. ... (PDF contains 13 pages)

Towards a knowledge of chytrids. Part 3. Spirospora paradoxa nov.gen. - nov.spec. [Translation from: Archiv fur Protistenkunde 54 510-528 [pages 522-525 and plate 28 only], 1926]

This partial translation of the original paper provides morphological observations on the fungus Spirospora paradoxa. Illustrations are included here.

The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus L.): a bibliography

Compiled by Patricia Ann Skaptason. "This bibliography is designed to bring together literature on the fin whale, published from 1940 through 1970. newspaper articles, legal matgerial (except that by the International Whaling Commission), biochemical studies, juvenile and strictly narrative works have been omitted"

Humpback and Fin Whaling in the Gulf of Maine from 1800 to 1918

The history of whaling in the Gulf of Maine was reviewed primarily to estimate removals of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, especially during the 19th century. In the decades from 1800 to 1860, whaling effort consisted of a few localized, small-scale, shore-based enterprises on the coast of Maine and Cape Cod, Mass. Provincetown and Nantucket schooners occasionally conducted short cruises for humpback whales in New England waters. With the development of bomb-lance technology at mid century, the ease of killing humpback whales and fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus, increased. As a result, by the 1870’s there was considerable local interest in hunting rorquals (baleen whales in the family Balaenopteridae, which include the humpback and fin whales) in the Gulf of Maine. A few schooners were specially outfitted to take rorquals in the late 1870’s and 1880’s although their combined annual take was probably no more than a few tens of whales. Also in about 1880, fishing steamers began to be used to hunt whales in the Gulf of Maine. This steamer fishery grew to include about five vessels regularly engaged in whaling by the mid 1880’s but dwindled to only one vessel by the end of the decade. Fin whales constituted at least half of the catch, which exceeded 100 animals in some years. In the late 1880’s and thereafter, few whales were taken by whaling vessels in the Gulf of Maine.

Age and growth of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) in the waters around Taiwan determined from anal-fin rays

Age and growth of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in Taiwan waters was studied from counts of growth bands on cross sections of the second ray of the first anal fin. Data on lower jaw fork length and weight, and samples of the anal fin of male and female swordfish were collected from three offshore and coastal tuna longline fishing ports on a monthly basis between September 1997 and March 1999. In total, 685 anal fins were collected and 627 of them (293 males and 334 females) were aged successfully. The lower jaw fork lengths of the aged individuals ranged from 83.4 to 246.6 cm for the females and from 83.3 to 206 cm for the males. The radii of the fin rays and growth bands on the cross sections were measured under a dissecting microscope equipped with an image analysis system. Trends in the monthly marginal increment ratio indicated that growth bands formed once a year. Thus, the age of each fish was deter-mined from the number of visible growth bands. Two methods were used to estimate and compare the standard and the generalized von Bertalanffy growth parameters for both males and females. The nonlinear least square estimates of the generalized von Bertalanffy growth parameters in method II, in which a power function was used to describe the relationship between ray radius and LJFL, were recommended as most acceptable. There were significant differences in growth parameters between males and females. The growth parameters estimated for females were the following: asymptotic length (L∞) = 300.66 cm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.040/yr, age at zero length (t0) = –0.75 yr, and the fitted fourth parameter (m) = –0.785. The growth parameters estimated for males were the following: asymptotic length (L∞) = 213.05 cm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.086/yr, age at zero length (t0) = –0.626 yr, and the fitted fourth parameter (m) = –0.768.

Anchorage of air bladder with the interspinous bone of the anal fin in Lactarius lactarius (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)

Specimens of the false trevally (Lactarius lactarius ), 127 to 221 mm in total length, were studied for the mode of anchorage of the air-bladder with the interspinous bone of the anal fin. The 1st and 2nd interspinous bones are fused together into a single piece (named here as the anchor bone) which pierces through the air-bladder, dividing it into two intercommunicating chambers at its upper end, and ultimately articulates with the 10th vertebral bone. The lower end of the bone is broad, fan like with one side affording articulation with the 1st and 2nd anal spines. This is an unique feature of great taxonomical importance to L. lactarius, the only species in the family Lactariidae. The anal fin counts (23-27) and vertebral counts (23) are also given.

Colossal loss of shell and fin-fish larvae during collection of Penaeus monodon (Fab.) fry in the rivers of Satkhira

This study was conducted in five river-estuaries of Satkhira from January to December '96. It was found that during the collection of each Peneaus monodon) post larva (PL), about 45 larvae of other shrimps, 12 individuals of fin-fishes and 530 macro-zooplankters were mercilessly destroyed. It was also recorded that about 11.6 million of P. monodon PLs were harvested annually from the study area. The sh1dy implies that colossal loss of shell and fin-fishes and other plankton resources is done by tiger shrimp fry collectors, and such massive destruction adversely affect the natural productivity and ecological balance of the coastal environment.

Improved chemical methods for extraction of fin rays from shark fins

A survey was undertaken of methods available for the extraction of fin rays from shark fins. The development of new, quicker and easier methods of processing is presented.

Sri Lanka: is it a mid-plate platelet?

Two observations suggest the possibility that Sri Lanka is acting as a small-mid-plate platelet moving very slowly within and relative to the larger Indian plate. First, sediments of the Bengal Deep-Sea Fan off the SSE continental margin are folded and uplifted in a manner similar to the deformation from front of accretionary prisms where thick sediment columns are passing into subduction zones. And second, subsidence rates in the area of presumed spreading or continuing stretching of continental crust, the Cauvery-Palk Strait-Gulf of Mannar Basin, have not decreased during the Cenozoic as would be predicted by an aborted rift or aulacogen model, but instead appear to have accelerated during the Neogene. Information available on other phenomena which re predicted by the model is at the present time inadequate for evaluation.

Shark fin rays: technology of extraction

A simple process is described for extraction of rays from shark fins. The process consists in treating the rays with acetic acid to soften the tissue, separation of the rays by hand and drying. White fins yield almost double the quantity of rays compared to black fins.

Effect of incubation period on plate count of raw ices and frozen fish

The total viable counts were estimated in one hundred and sixty five samples of raw, iced and frozen fish using incubation periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96h. For raw fish, 24h and for iced and frozen fish 48h incubation of the plates were found to be adequate. Variation between samples was significant at 1% level for raw iced and frozen samples.