vials, and jars for specimens, a fine mesh sieve or wire basket, and a large 

 covered container for waste material. A source of running water is desir- 

 able, and thin rubber gloves may be used to advantage. 



If whole fish are to be inspected, the stomachs and intestines must 

 first be removed, preferably intact to avoid loss of specimens. I have found 

 the following procedure efficient and satisfactory for subsequent examination. 



Pick up the first stomach with attached intestines and rinse it gently in 

 a pan of water. Place it on a tray and feel the intestine throughout its 

 length for solid material by passing it lightly between thumb and fore- 

 finger. When solid objects are encountered, cut the intestinal wall with 

 scissors and remove them. Many choice mollusks will be found directly in 

 this way. The lower part of the intestine will often be filled with semi- 

 solid fecal material which should be removed and placed in a jar for further 

 treatment. Lastly, cut open the stomach and inspect it for specimens. It is 

 here that the living mollusks, especially gastropods, may be found, although 

 only a small percent of the total specimens will be found in the stomach. 

 As each digestive tract is exhausted, place it in the waste container, rinse 

 off the tray, and repeat the procedure on the next specimen. 



When all have been examined, the fecal matter is ready to be 

 processed. Rinse it into a pan partly filled with water, stir the mixture 

 gently to break up lumps, and pour the slurry into a fine mesh strainer or 

 wire basket. Rinse the basket carefully and completely in running water 

 until the rinse water is clear and all soluble or finely divided organic 

 matter is removed. Spread out the washed material on a tray and allow 

 it to dry. It will now be nearly odorless. When dry, inspect under a mag- 

 nifying glass or low-power microscope for the many tiny and exquisite 

 specimens that will probably be present. 



General Remarks. The cost of collecting mollusks from fish is usually 

 much lower than the cost of dredging, and results are often better. Although 

 every fish will not contain shells, many dredge hauls contain nothing but 

 mud and sand. Of course, dredging will capture the larger species not 

 obtainable from fish, but specimens over an inch long have been found in 

 fish and many rock dwelling species may be found which are almost un- 

 obtainable by other means. 



Vast areas of the world exist where fish stomach contents have never 

 been extensively examined for mollusks. In some other regions, the method 

 has been employed to a limited extent. However, it is certain that nO' large 

 area exists where mollusks and bottom feeding fish are both found in which 

 collecting by this method would not produce an array of interesting and 

 rare specimens sure to delight any avid shell collector. 



REFERENCES CITED 



BAKER, F. C, 1916. The Relation of Mollusks to Fish in Oneida Lake. New York 

 State Coll. Forestry, Syracuse Univ., 16, No. 21. 



CLAPP, W. F., 1912. Collecting from Haddock on George's Banks. Nautilus 25: 104. 



CLARKE, A. H., Jr., 1954. Shell Bearing Marine Mollusks of Cape Ann, Massachu- 

 setts. Nautilus 67, No. 4. 



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