BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE MUSCLE OF SOME FRESHWATER FISHES DURING THE PRE .. MATURITY PHASE'

Abstract

Biochemical composition of the muscle of juveniles belonging
to 18 different species of freshwater fishes showed that the protein
percentage in juveniles was higher than the adults. The fat, on the
other hand, was much lower. This suggests that the body fat
increases with the onset of maturity. No clear inverse relationship
was found between fat and protein in juveniles.
Moisture percentage was very high in juveniles. This was
probably because of low fat content. In most species the sum of fat
and water contents (F + W) was found to be constant. The percentages
of ash, calcium and phosphorus were higer in juveniles than those of
adults. Dry matter percentage varied inversely with the moisture and
in most species carbohydrate was generally low.
In juveniles although the calorific value of protien-fraction
was high the total calorific value was lower than the aduls.