FOOD AND FEEDING OF SARDINES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE CONDITION OF FISH CAPTURED BY DIFFERENT FISlllNG METHODS.

FOOD AND FEEDING OF SARDINES AND THEIR EFFECT ON

THE CONDITION OF FISH CAPTURED BY DIFFERENT

FISlllNG METHODS.

M.T. HASHEM, E. WASSEF AND S. FALTTES.
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria. Egypt.
ABSTRACT
Food habits of Sardinella aurita and Sardinella
maderensis. ranging from 9 to 28 cm total length,
captured by. purse-seines and gill-nets from near
Alexandria, were determined during approximately
the whole year (1977). Marked variations in diet
composition between fish caught by the different
gears were found. Both species, taken by light
attraction and purse~seines were described as
particulate feeders. where as those captured by
gill nets and beach seines were distinguished as
fil ter feeders.
The length-weight relationship and condition
va1ues were also determi ned to show the dependence
of fish condition on its food and feeding habits.
The condition values of sardine taken by beachseine (inshore fish) represented fish in over all
better condition than those of the same size, capture
by gill nets and purse-seines at the same area (off
shore fi sh).