Some aspects of the biology of the long finned herring, Opisthopterustardoore (Cuvier) from the inshore regions at Karwar

Opisthopterus tardoore is a small sized fish commonly growing to about 170 mm to 190 mm in length, the maximum size recorded during the course of the present work being 216 mm. As regards its distribution, Day (1899) mentions it from Gwadur in Bellochistan and Sind, through the seas of India to the Malaya Archipelago. The Opisthopterus tardoore fishery at Karwar (N. Kanara) is restricted to a short period. It commences in May and endeither in September or early October. The main fishery season extends from June to September with a peak generally falling in the month of July. The most important gear used for the capture of this species is the shore seine. It is also fished by gill net, cast net and drag net The preseat paper deals with the observations on length frequency distribution of this species and incorporates the results of investigation carried out at Karwar from 1956 to 1960. Brief notes on length-weight relationship and food analysis of this species are also given. Details regarding maturity, spawaing and morphometric analysis of the stock of this species in the Kanara coast have been given separately elsewhere.