The fishery potential of silver-bellies

In recent years, the catches of silver-bellies from the seas around India have shown a steep rise, from \n15,274 m. tons in 1950 to 43,823 m. tons in 1967, at present forming 5 08% of total marine fish production \nand offer scope for further development. While they are caught all along the Indian coast, a significant \nfishery exists only in the southern States. It is essentially a round-the-year coastal fisheiy, its range not exceeding \nabout 30 metres in depth. Although the fish school together at the bottom, perhaps with the exception \nof one or two species which seem to live in, or at least migrate to surface waters, they do not seem • \nto migrate long distances. The peak season for the fishery varies with the dominant species at a place which \nin turn is dependent on the type of bottom to a large extent. \nAs many as 17 species are now known to be available in the seas around India, but from the fishery \npoint of view, seven species, viz., Leiognathus jonesi, L. splendens, L. bindus, L. dussumieri, L. equulus, Secutor \ninsidiator and Gaz minuta seem to be important, of which L. splendens is widely distributed along the Indian \ncoast. As most of the species are small and appear to be short-lived, and since the present method of \nexploitation leaves enough brood for replenishing the stocks, it is desirable to catch fish of all sizes for \nthe best utilisation of the resource. \nThe best and most suitable gear for these fishes are the trawl nets, followed by boat seines and shore \nseines. Hitherto unexploited sheltered coastal areas with rnuddy or coral-sandy bottom are likely to be the \nnew grounds for these fishes forming further supplies of food, fish meal and fertilizer.