Abstract
Developing base data on luring fish schools into netting position by the use of underwater audible sound on japanese parrot fish Oplegnathus fasciatus found in the coastal waters of Jeju Island, S. Korea. Auditory threshold was determined by the heartbeat condition technique using pure tones coupled with a delayed electric shock. The audible range of japanese parrot fish extended from 80 Hz to 500 Hz with a peak sensitivity at 200 Hz. The mean auditory thresholds at the frequencies of 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz,300 Hz and 500 Hz were 104 dB, 95 dB, 91 dB, 99 dB and 113 dB, respectively. As the frequency became higher than 200 Hz, the auditory threshold increased almost linearly with increasing frequency. Critical ratios of fishes measured in the presence of masking noise in the spectrum level range of 69$\~$78 dB (0 dB re 1$\mu$Pa/$\sqrt{Hz}$) ranged from 21 dB to 40 dB at test frequencies. The noise spectrum level at the start of masking was about 70 dB within the test frequency range. The sound pressure level of 100$\~$200 Hz recognized by japanese parrot fish under the ambient noise is above 91 dB and the critical ratio for them is above 21 dB.
