BODY-COMPOSITION OF NORTHERN PIKE (ESOX-LUCIUS L) IN RELATION TO BODY-SIZE AND CONDITION FACTOR

It was observed that body weight of northern pike (Esox lucius L.) has a positive influence on fat content and protein content, a negative influence on water content and no influence on ash content, The condition factor is found to affect fat and protein content positively, whereas water and ash content are negatively related to it. If water content only is determined, the equations provide satisfactory estimates of fat content (r=-0.88) and protein content (r=-0.96). If it is impossible to determine water content, then the body constituents can be estimated from the body weight, length and condition factor. As variations in body composition are related to these variables, the interrelationships of these were examined using a multiple regression model. The equations of each constituent are highly significant (P<0.001 ), and can be used to estimate the values of the body composition with a fair amount of accuracy.