On the Possibility of Measuring the Basal Metabolism in Fish

In three species of the Black Sea fish — Mugil auratus Risso, Spicara smaris (L.) and Scorpaena porcus (Linné) the basal metabolism was determined. To increase their motor activity the narcosis was applied. Urethan proved to be the most convenient of three narcotic substances: urethan, chloral hydrate and chinaldine. Lethal, effective and minimum doses of narcotic are established for every species of fish. A dependence is found out of the urethan effective dose on the body weight and temperature. Four stages of narcotization are distinguished, characterizing the change of functional state in fish. A possibility is shown for measuring the basal metabolism in fish in 1st stage of narcosis. Basal metabolism in S. smaris comprises 55-60 p. c. of the standard; in S. procus, which has sedentary life, the indices of basal and standard metabolism remain at the similar level.Установлены летальные, эффективные и минимальные дозы наркотиков для трех исследованных видов рыб и выявлены четыре стадии наркотизации. Доказано, что чувствительность рыб к наркотикам зависит от веса их тела, температуры воды и других факторов. Показана возможность измерения основного обмена у рыб в 1 стадии наркоза, то есть при уменьшении реакции рыб на внешние раздражители