OBSERVATIONS ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY AND FISHERY OF PSETTODES ERUMEI .. (BLOCH) AT PORTO NOVO.

Psettodes erumei is a camivorous fish subsisting ma:nly on fishes (81.73%). Crust~cealns (11.93 %) and molluscs (6.34%) are alIso found in the stomach. The spawning se.a~on is obs.erved to be a; pmlong1ed one extending over a period of l1'eairly 7 months fnom November to Mayas against th'e, short and restdcted spa,wn- 'ang of ,this speclies in west coa:st of Ind,ia. The fishery as a mi'nor one, estima:ted to contrLbute ahout 8.6 me,tric tons .annuailly, forming 0.58% of the to,ta.! maf'ine fish catche1s in Porto Novo during 1971-1973. Season21 abund~nce and fluctuations in ~he catches are also d'ea!.t with.