ABSTRACT
According to the characteristics of geographical groupings of fishes in different parts of the country, the distribution of freshwater fishes in China can be divided into five major zones. Namely, the Amur River Zone, the Yangtze-Yellow River Plain Zone, the South China Zone, the Northwest Zone, and the Tsangpu-Lu River Zone. An understanding of the habitat of the fishes and of their biological rhythms is essential to the development of fisheries, either for natural fishing or for artificial rearing. The growth of fishes results from feeding upon various kinds of food from the environment. Breeding habits of fishes also vary a great deal. Most fishes spawn during spring or early summer; however, there are quite a few species that spawn in early spring or in the fall. The migration of fishes is usually for one of three reasons: feeding, breeding, or over-wintering. The sheat fish is among the most widely distributed, highly productive, and economically important species in China.
