Influence of selected washing treatments and drying temperatures on proximate composition of dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), a small pelagic fish specie.

Proximate analysis for moisture, crude protein, crude fat and total ash was carried out on dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), a small pelagic fish specie found in Lake Victoria. The first phase of the study involved sampling of fresh, sundried (for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days) and retail market dagaa. The second phase of the study involved pre-washing of fresh dagaa with selected solutions namely, salted solution (3% NaCl), chlorinated solution (100 ppm) or potable tap water (control) and thereafter oven-drying the respective pre-washed samples at 30oC (31hrs), 40oC (23hrs) or 50oC (15hrs). Results showed that the crude protein composition of fresh dagaa (74.4% dry weight basis, dwb) was significantly higher (