Reproductive Traits of Schizothorax niger Heckel, 1838 in Dal Lake, Kashmir

Studies on the fecundity and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of Schizothorax niger were carried out during 2013–14 to know the present reproductive traits in Dal Lake. The mean value of absolute fecundity was estimated as 11590 ± 718.33 eggs with a mean total body weight of 308 ± 22.4 g and a mean total length of 271 ± 13.7 mm. The mean relative fecundity was found to be 48.90 ± 1.83 with maximum of 67.57 and minimum of 31.21. Fecundity showed significant relationship with total length, total weight, ovary length and ovary weight and the values of correlation coefficient (r) were 0.728, 0.891, 0.775 and 0.626, respectively. Maximum GSI values were recorded during spawning season i.e. February and March with peak values of 13.80 in females and 6.77 in males in March.