Summary

This paper deals with the hydrodynamics and internal dynamics of fish swimming. Our analysis starts from kinematic data obtained for fast swimming saithe, and treats the fish as a flexible elongated body. The distribution along the body of the lateral bending moment and the bending power generated inside the fish are computed as well as the power spent on the water. The computed thrust implies a drag coefficient (based on wetted surface area) of about 0.007, which is probably an over-estimate. Our major result is that the bending moment does not travel as a running wave from head to tail like the lateral body curvature does, but behaves as a standing wave. The left and right sides produce alternate contractions simultaneously over the whole body length. This finding is in agreement with myographic data from the literature.