mortality, five discount rates, two sources of water, two 

 operating or evaluation periods, and two modes of operation. It 

 was concluded that the higher output rate only was economically 

 feasible. Discount rates, mortality rates, and terms of 

 operation, but not source of water, significantly affect 

 prof itablity . Because the study was based on preliminary 

 information, further research in specified areas is suggested. 

 Subject descriptors: 



Nehu; baitfish; revenue; costs; returns; investment model; 

 biological feasibility; economic feasibility; sensitivity 

 analysis . 



156 



Shpet, G. I. 

 1972. 



Comparative efficiency of fish culture and other agricultural 

 activities per unit of area used. 

 Hydrobiological J. 8 (3) : 46-51. 



The author compares the output per unit of area used for pond 

 fish culture (carp) and livestock (cattle for beef) in the 

 U.S.S.R., using two purely physical, not economic measures. 

 Concepts and data used relate to such things as food chain links 

 (plants, herbivores, and carnivores) , input-output factors, 

 energy (calorie) consumption or use, and product form (live, 

 meat, and protein weight of output). Natural carp productivity 

 is 200 to 300 kg/ha; pond fertilization raises this to 300 to 600 

 kg/ha, and supplementary feeding, to 900 to 1,200 kg/ha, which is 

 a conservative yield, given that some of the best Ukrainian fish 

 farms achieve 2*000 kg/ha or more. In the carp-cattle 

 comparisons, adjustments are made to account for acreage used to 

 grow the carp feed, which is assumed to be human food-quality 

 wheat grain, although in actual fish farming practice grain 'waste 

 and oil-seed meal not usually acceptable as human food are fed to 

 carp. Using several indices, it is concluded that carp are 

 physically, (not necessarily economically) more productive than 

 cattle. For example, carp produce more live, meat, and protein 

 weight of product per hectare (of hay-producing area for cattle 

 and pond plus wheat-producing area for carp). Similarly, output 

 per fodder unit, a measure of weight gain per kilogram of feed 

 input, is greater for carp, and this does not count the effect of 

 natural pond productivity of carp. Even on the basis of natural 

 pond productivity (the 200 to 300 kg/ha) , carp win, and ponds may 

 occupy area that is really not suitable for other agricultural 

 purposes . 



Subject descriptors: 

 Carp; beef cattle; productivity; comparison. 



72 



