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.

Nature of the rain spectrum at a low latitude coastal station

The internal structure of rain falls in terms of rain rate during various instances of time can be determined by measuring rain amounts received during very short intervals of time. A system that can record the intensity of rain fall at every minute has been used for this study.

Growth, osmoregulation and ion accumulation in the coastal halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum under field conditions

Life cycle and population biology of a perennial halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum Willd, was studied from February 1992 to January 1993. During the 12 months, the population was exposed to great variations in soil salinity from 35 to 58 ms/cm2 and soil moisture ranging from flood to drought levels. Seasonal changes in dry weight are directly related to soil salinity stress. When salinity levels become low, the dry matter production increases. A little increase in dry weight from April to July indicates that more negative soil water potentials were limiting plant growth. Proline content increased considerably during the dry season with a corresponding increase in salinity. Water soluble oxalate did not vary much with changes in salinity.

Preliminary experiments to evaluate the relative efficiency of different natural baits in line fishing

A series of experimental hand-line fishing operations were conducted off the Madras coast employing five different types of natural fish baits. Based on the total catch of fish per day of fishing under each type of bait used, a comparative study on the catching efficiency of the different natural fish-baits was made. The reaction of the fish to particular bait appears to be the result of a complex process. Live baits have the maximum catching efficiency as seen from the fish landings when live prawns were employed as the bait. The procurement of live baits is a serious problem to the fishermen and as such suitable artificial fish lures can be profitably employed.

On the use of different natural baits for sea-fishing in India

Rod and line, hand-line, trolling line and fish-traps are the different types of fishing gears wherein suitable fish baits are employed with a view to luring the catch. The coastal fishermen of India mostly use different types of natural fish-baits to catch fishes like Perches, Carangids, Sciaenids, Scombroids and Elasmobranchs. The reactions of the fishes caught to the different baits used are quite varied. Successful line fishing operations very much depend on the fish-baits. A detailed record of the variety of fishes caught, types of fishing and different baits used by the coastal fishermen of India has been made.

Comparative fishing ability and economic efficiency of mechanised trawlers operating along the Kerala coast

This study was undertaken with a view to finding out the comparative fishing ability and economic performance of different fishing vessel sizes 9.15m (30'), 9.76m (32') and 10.97m (36') designed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and operating along the Kerala coast. Data were collected from selected vessels of these sizes for four consecutive fishing seasons from 1964-65 to 1967-68. The catch/unit effort and total effort per year for the 10.97m (36') vessels were much better than those for the 9.76m (32') vessels. The yearly landings and the crew remuneration for the former were about twice those of the 9.76m (32') vessels. The economic efficiency of the 10.97m (36') vessels was also much better. The decline in landings per year in both size groups was more due to the reduction in the effort per year than the decline in catch/unit effort.

On the troll line investigations off Cochin during five fishing seasons. Pt. 1. Investigations during 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons

There is apparently great scope for improvement of the design and operational aspects of the gear particularly for the effective exploitation of seasonal fisheries like that of seer, tuna, barracuda etc. In order to evolve improved, yet cheap trolling gear regular investigations were undertaken by the Craft & Gear Wing of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, off Cochin for five fishing seasons and the results of these studies are incorporated in this paper.

On the troll line investigations off Cochin during five fishing seasons. Pt. 2. Investigations during 1963-64 season

During this season the investigations were mainly directed towards elucidation of the selective action of trolling lures. Feather jigs, buffalo horn jigs, stainless steel jigs, Japanese whale bone jigs and plastic jigs were selected. Operations were carried out from Fisheries technology No. 5.

Fish and shell fish fauna of the retting and nonretting zones of the Kadinamkulam kayal, Kerala

Retting of coconut husk is one of the major problems of pollution in the estuaries (kayals) of Kerala. Retting activity has resulted in the mass destruction of the flora and fauna and has converted sizeable sections of the kayal into virtual cesspools of foul smelling stagnant waters. Levels of hydrogen sulphide, phosphate and BOD, increased while dissolved oxygen and fish and shellfish fauna decreased in the ambient waters. In the Kadinamkulam kayal a total of 37 species of fishes belonging to 26 families, 5 species of prawn and 2 species each of crabs and molluscs were recorded from the no retting zone, whereas only 20 species of fish in dead condition were collected from the rating zone. Prawns, crabs and molluscs were absent at the vetting zone. Majority of the fish fauna in the kayal were marine forms.

On acid sulfate soils of the coastal aquaculture ponds of Bangladesh

With the stimulus of the very high international market value of penaeid shrimp, new pond areas for shrimp farming are rapidly being added in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, this expansion is occurring with the loss of some natural mangrove forests and with soils and sediments that are far from ideal for aquaculture. In this study, two representative shrimp farming areas were surveyed and pH, in profile depth, was recorded. It was found that the shrimp farming areas of the Chakaria Sundarban are more acidic than those of the Khulna-Satkhira region due to the acid sulfate soils.

Occurrence and abundance of Acetes shrimps in the Kutubdia channel of Bangladesh coastal water

This investigation was carried out from June ‘89 to May ‘90 and focuses on the occurrence and abundance of Acetes shrimps in the Kutubdia channel. The shrimps of the genus Acetes occurred throughout the year in the area of investigation. Acetes showed a bimodal peak in occurrence, one in late monsoon season (August - September) and other in pre-monsoon season (February - March). But the maximum number of Acetes shrimps was recorded in March (462 individuals/haul). The Acetes population of this channel was dominated by four species, Acetes erythraeus (38.50%), A. indicus (32.98%), A. chinensis (4.48%) and A. japonicus (3.32%).

On the troll line investigations off Cochin during five fishing seasons. Pt. 3. Investigations during 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons

During these two seasons investigations were carried out with a view to exploring the possibility of this operation on commercial basis and to study the effect of certain meteorological factors on catch.