Two groups of 3-day-old hatchlings of Cirrhinus mrigala were fed with vitamin C supplemented (at 1000 mg vitamin C/kg diet) and non-supplemented practical diet for a period of 4 months. At the end of the feeding period, fishes were examined for their disease susceptibility and inflammatory response to a virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila. Mortality curves were clearly distinct and the vitamin C non-supplemented (VNS) group showed significantly higher mortality rates compared to the vitamin C supplemented (VS) group. While studying the inflammatory response to A. hydrophila, it was found that in the VS group, the infiltration of phagocytic cells was quicker with very limited lesion development at the injection site and there was complete resolution by day 9 postinjection. In the VNS group, the bacterium was able to produce necrotic lesions clinically and histologically typical of a disease condition. D

The haemocytes of the Indian edible oyster Crassostrea madrasensis were characterized using light and electron microscopy. The light microscopic study was conducted by staining a monolayer of the haemocytes with Geimsa. Cells without granules and with a large nucleus occupying much of the cytoplasmic area were grouped as hyalinocytes. Those with lesser amounts of basophilic cytoplasmic granules were characterized as semigranulocytes and those with large amounts of a mixture of acidophilic and basophilic granules were termed as granulocytes. Ultrastructural studies also revealed the presence of three types of haemocytes. Scanning electron microscopic studies were used to study the spreading behaviour of the haemocytes. Cytochemical studies revealed the presence of acidphosphatase, peroxidase and prophenol oxidase in the cells.

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Biological aspects of Neoepinnula orientalis is reported based on samples collected from the by-catch landed by deep-sea trawlers at Cochin Fisheries Harbor. The estimated length at first maturity (L m ) of females was 195 mm and males 192 mm. Diet study indicated strongly carnivorous feeding habit dominated by fishes (55%), cephalopods (27%) and crustaceans (18%) occurring in deeper waters. Absolute fecundity ranged from 12,149 to 1, 54,556 with relative fecundity 737 eggs/g body weight and indicated a multiple spawning habit.