Determination of the volume and weight of living animals

Abstract

When accurate measurements of the weight of aquatic animals are necessary, most authors remove the adherent water by towelling the body with filter paper and weigh quickly and repeat until a constant weight is obtained. The method is defective since, apart from possible damage to the animals, the degree of dryness reached may not be the same each time. These difficulties increase when the animals are small and several have to be used at a time. Similarly, determinations of volume necessitate an elaborate procedure or the use of complicated apparatus.