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The fishery potential of silver-bellies

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/2726/
 
Title The fishery potential of silver-bellies
 
Creator James, P S B R
 
Subject Silverbellies
 
Description In recent years, the catches of silver-bellies from the seas around India have shown a steep rise, from
15,274 m. tons in 1950 to 43,823 m. tons in 1967, at present forming 5 08% of total marine fish production
and offer scope for further development. While they are caught all along the Indian coast, a significant
fishery exists only in the southern States. It is essentially a round-the-year coastal fisheiy, its range not exceeding
about 30 metres in depth. Although the fish school together at the bottom, perhaps with the exception
of one or two species which seem to live in, or at least migrate to surface waters, they do not seem •
to migrate long distances. The peak season for the fishery varies with the dominant species at a place which
in turn is dependent on the type of bottom to a large extent.
As many as 17 species are now known to be available in the seas around India, but from the fishery
point of view, seven species, viz., Leiognathus jonesi, L. splendens, L. bindus, L. dussumieri, L. equulus, Secutor
insidiator and Gaz minuta seem to be important, of which L. splendens is widely distributed along the Indian
coast. As most of the species are small and appear to be short-lived, and since the present method of
exploitation leaves enough brood for replenishing the stocks, it is desirable to catch fish of all sizes for
the best utilisation of the resource.
The best and most suitable gear for these fishes are the trawl nets, followed by boat seines and shore
seines. Hitherto unexploited sheltered coastal areas with rnuddy or coral-sandy bottom are likely to be the
new grounds for these fishes forming further supplies of food, fish meal and fertilizer.
 
Date 1973
 
Type Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/2726/1/Article_30.pdf
James, P S B R (1973) The fishery potential of silver-bellies. In: Proceedings of the symposium on living resources of the seas around India, 1973, Mandapam Camp.