THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH AND PROXIMATE BODY-COMPOSITIONOF UNDER YEARLING LAKE INARI ARCTIC CHAR (SALVELINUS-ALPINUS (L.))

The growth of underyearling Lake Inari arctic char was studied in grou ps of fish held at 5.9, 8.7, 12.1, 15.1 and 18.0 degrees C for 31 days . Growth rate increased with increasing water temperature, reached a p eak at 15.1 degrees C, and then declined. The temperature influence on relative growth was expressed as a non-linear function. There were di fferences in body composition between fish reared at different tempera tures: percentage water being highest at the lowest temperature, where as energy content was highest in the fish held at the three highest te mperatures. The body wet weight explained most of the variance in wate r content and it is suggested that this may also apply to other body c onstituents.