Feeding intensity in relation to maturity stages: Generally, active feeding was observed in higher number of individuals in immature, maturing, and spent conditions of both males and females (Fig. 6). Moderate feeding was also seen in lower stages. Poor feeding was common in mature males and females. In the present study, though fishes with empty stomachs were recorded in different maturity stages of males and females, higher percentages of empty stomachs were recorded in mature males (50%) and females (58.3%). Fishes with empty stomach and poor feeding activity are common in several species of tropical fishes (Kagwade, 1972; Sreenivasan, 1974; Kalita and Jayabalan, 2000; Zacharia, 2003).