84 THE SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE 



cods and embryo molluscs were rare, larval Decapods frequent, and 

 Sagitta was abundant on the east coast in winter. At certain times 

 and places the food consists largely of sprats or of the ova or young 

 of the herring. On the north-east coast sand-eels form a fair pro- 

 portion of the herring's food. 



The food of the haddock was found to consist chiefly of Echino- 

 derms, especially the common brittle-star {Ophiothrix pent aphy Hum), 

 but Asteridea were very rare. Crustacea came next, principally 

 Anomura [Pagurus, Galathea), hut also Brachyura (particularly l?^/^^ 

 coarctatus), Macrura and Amphipoda. Only one species of Cumacea 

 and one of Isopoda were obtained. Twenty-one species of Mollusca 

 were identified, almost all being young. Annelids were well repre- 

 sented, especially Aphrodite and others of the Errantia group, and 

 Hydrozoa occasionally occurred. In eight stomachs of the ninety 

 examined, fish remains were found, and herring ova in four, three 

 being full of them. 



About 300 stomachs of cod were examined, almost all from the 

 east coast, and representing a period from January to June inclusive. 

 These investigations demonstrate the great voracity and gastronomic 

 impartiality of this fish. In one part of a sea-fowl was found, in 

 another the whole of a lark. In 247 stomachs the remains of fish 

 were found, chiefly haddock, young flat-fish (mostly flounders), her- 

 ring, and whiting ; in 184 there were Crustacea, almost exclusively 

 Decapods, especially Hyas coarctatus, Pagurus Bernhardus, and 

 Crangon AlJmanni ; in sixty-seven Annelids were present [Aphrodite) ; 

 in forty molluscs, of which ten species, including Eledone cirrosa, were 

 identified. From thirty stomachs the remains of Echinoderms were 

 obtained, the brittle star, as in the haddock, forming the greater 

 proportion, but no Asteroids occurred. The general conclusions in 

 regard to the food of the cod are thus stated : (1) The cod feeds 

 chiefly and constantly on Crustacea, Gadidas, and Pleuronectidge ; 

 (2) Aphrodite forms an important part of the food in the spring and 

 summer in districts where this form is plentiful ; (3) in the winter 

 the cod is attracted to our shores by the large shoals of herring seek- 

 ing their spawning ground, and at this time herring and herring 

 ova form the staple food material; (4) Echinoderms and Mollusca do 

 not contribute an important part of the food supply ; (5) the cod 

 feeds much more on fish and much less on Echinoderms than is the 

 case with its ally the haddock. 



Of the whiting, 400 stomachs were examined, obtained mostly 

 during autumn and winter, and from the east coast. The food of 

 the whiting is almost limited to small fish and Crustacea; no Echino- 

 derms were found, and of molluscs only a few fragments of the 

 common mussel, probably nibbled from the hooks of line fishermen. 



