REEXAMINATION OF THE GILL RESPIRATORY SURFACE-AREA IN THE PIKE, ESOX-LUCIUS, AND REMARKS ON THE OTHER FISH SPECIES

The size of gill respiratory surface area has been examined in 9 speci mens of Esox lucius of a weight range from 87 to 1870 g. Allometric re lationships of different gill components to body size (weight) have be en estimated (Y = aW(b)). The slope (b) for the total gill surface ama is 0.65 1, and intercept (a) is 2198.87, at r = 0.998. The gill respi ratory area of the pike calculated in relation to the body weight is a bout one-sixth of the values given in literature, these last being und oubtedly overestimated. It has been also found that the area of gill r espiratory surface was besides overestimated also in Salmo gairdneri ( 3.7 times), in Lota lota (above 3. 5 times), in Gymnocephalus (= Aceri na) cernuus (1.7 times) and in Misgurnus fossilis (about 3 times).