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vol-2THE AGE, GROWTH AND MATURITY OF LABEO
NILOTICUS, FORSK.
FROM THE NOZHA HYDRODROME IN 1968-1970.
By
DR. M. T. HASHEM
(lnst. Of Ocea,n. & Fisheries, Alex. U.A.R.)
INTRODUCTION
The most imp3rtant freshwater fi:3h reSOurces are no doubt attril.uted to
fishes of Family Cyprinidae. B~cause of their great importance, the members
of this family received extensive scient,ific irvestigations allover the world. However, in literature dealing with the biology of the different s~ecies of Cyprinidae,
very little was made on the biology of Labeo niloticus.
Lxbeo niloticus Forsk. inhabits the River Nile and few other small Rivers
of Central Mrica (Boulenger. 1907). In the Nile, Labeo niwticus is one of the
most common spC’ci~s of Family Cyprinida.e, and plays an iIl1liortant role in the
inland fisheries of V.A.R.. constituting a considf’LaHe part of the catch. From
the statistical point of view, the yirld of Labeo species (mostly Labeo nilot1’CUS)
represented about 24% and] 8% of the total production of the Egyptian :Kil
fishery, in the years 1965 and 1966 respectively.
In th9 management of our inland fisbery it is necessary to consider the basic
informations on the growth-rate, age-composition and sexual maturity of 0111′
fishes in t.he commercial catch. Tbese aim towards a better exploitation of the
existing fishery.
