. Conclusion
This study establish the fact that increase in the drying temperature without any corresponding change in the
velocity of the drying air irrespective of the type of pre-treatment method has a significant effect on the drying
rate. The pre-treatment methods used namely Salt, sugar and blanching does not have a significant effect on the
drying rate of African catfish C. gariepinus . The results obtained have also reinforced that drying of African
Catfish C. gariepinus like any other species of fish for all the pre-treatment methods used at the temperatures 40 to 55 0C occurred in the falling rate period only. This is very important for the design and construction of dryers.
It also serves as fundamental information in modelling the drying characteristics as well as the determination of
drying constants of the fish in studying the drying kinetics of the fish. The study results show that different nutritional components of fish undergo different changes as the drying temperatures increases. Although the quality parameters decreases with increase in drying temperature the percentage reduction in value is affected by the type of the pre-treatment method used with blanching showing the least reduction in value.