Observations on the Mackerel Fishery of the Netravati Estuary, West Coast, South India

The present communication relates to observations on an unusual \nfishery of the Indian Mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier) in the \nNetravati estuary near Mangalore, lasting for about nine weeks from \nthe latter half of January 1958. Normally the mackerel fishery is \nmost active along the Konkan, Kanara, and Kerala coasts during \nthe September-March period, and the catches comprise mostly \nimmature forms ranging from 180-215 mm. in total length. There are \nno previous records of mackerel fishery of any appreciable extent \nfrom our estuaries, although Pradhan (1956) has recorded the fish \nentering the estuarine waters of the Kali River at Karwar,