Abstract
DB. B. CHOPRA, in his presidential address to the thirtieth Indian Science Congress, Calcutta, 1943, has gathered together interesting information concerning the various Indian prawns of economic importance and their fisheries. There are many species of edible prawns in India, the most important and largest being the so-called sea-prawns or Penæids. These apparently breed in the sea, the young migrating to the lower salinities of backwaters, lagoons and estuaries to return again at maturity to the sea to hatch their eggs. Among the freshwater prawns the members of the Palæmonidæ occur in enormous numbers with extensive migrations from fresh to brackish waters, presumably for breeding. The tiny Sergestid Acetes, rarely more than an inch in length, makes up for its small size by its abundance and occurs in estuaries and backwaters, but rarely penetrates beyond tidal influence. Not a single complete life-history of any of these prawns is known, and there is here a great opportunity for research which should yield good results. Methods of fishing and curing are mostly very primitive although in certain parts, notably Madras, much progress has been made in improving methods, gear and boats. More research is necessary in every direction, and Dr. Chopra's address indicates the special needs of the industry.
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Prawn Fisheries of India. Nature 151, 556 (1943). https://doi.org/10.1038/151556b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/151556b0