FAT AND WATER DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN THE FLESH OF THE COMMON CAT - FISH WALLAGO ATTU (BL.& SCHN.)

Abstract

The quantitative distributional pattern of fat and water has
been studied in the flesh of the various zones corresponding to
the dorsal and ventral regions of the body of a common cat-fish,
W. attu. The ventral aspect of the body showed more accumulation
of fat than the dorsal aspect, The fat content in the ventral
region also exhibited an increase from the anterior to the
posterior zones. In the dorsal region, however, the back portion of
the body, behind the dorsal fin, generally possessed low fat content.
On an average, the highest fat accumulation was observed
in the caudal peduncle region. The distribution of water followed
an almost opposite pattern of distribution, indicating an inverse
relationship with fat.