CALORIFIC VALUES AS FUNCTIONS OF MAIN BODY CONSTITUENTS IN SOME FRESHWATER TELBOSTS

Abstract

Energy values of groups of small, medium and large size fishes of tome
commeircially importEnt freshwater fishes have been determined using wet-oxidation
method. The calorific values per unit of dry weight was significantly different
(P <; 0.001) among three size groupis Of each species tested. The speoies-specificity
of caloric content was in^'ariably observed (P <[ O.OOl) in all the fishes of small,
medium and large size. iLow and Wgh calorific values were obtained in small and
large size fishes respectively. As the organic carbon, organic matter and total nitrogen
of the fish body increased with age, the energy content of the fishes also increased
and was described by equstions of least squasre method.