Seasonal variation in some of the lipid components of sprats (Sprattus sprattus)

The lipid content and composition of sprats caught during the 1967–68 fishing season have been measured. the fatty acid composition was found to be similar to that observed in other pelagic fish. the lipid content, however, fell during the season from 18 to 11‐5 % and the degree of un saturation also decreased. This latter diminution was brought about mainly by falls in the polygenetic content of the triglyceride fraction of the lipids. During the period of the analysis the α‐tocopherol and ubiquinone 50 content of the fish showed a marked increase. a simple and relatively efficient method of analysis for these components is reported.