3 



We have to thank Mr. Eobert A. Dawson, the Super- 

 intendent of the Fisheries, Captain Wignall, of the fishery 

 steamer, and the various fishery officers, for the willing 

 assistance rendered us in carrying out the various experi- 

 ments, and for supplying material for examination in the 

 laboratory. 



Examination of Food in Stomachs. 



In the course of the past twelve months 3,389 stomachs 

 of marine animals from different parts of the district 

 have been examined for the purpose of ascertaining what 

 forms the chief food of the animals in the area in which 

 we are more especially interested. 



The following are the sources from which the stomachs 

 have been derived : — 



Food fishes up to three inches 296 



,, ,, above ,, 1664 



Other fish 67 



Cockles 529 



Mussels 523 



Shrimps 290 



Shanks 20 



3389 

 The Food of Young Fishes. 



From a further investigation into the food of the 

 young fishes in order to find out what forms the chief 

 source of nourishment after the contents of the yolk-sac 

 have been used up, it seems pretty certain now, as was 

 suggested in a former report, that after the larval fishes 

 have absorbed the food supply stored up in the yolk-sac, 

 they pass to the stage in which copepoda form the chief 

 food, and when that stage is passed they take to feeding 

 on larger invertebrata, such as small annelids, mollusca, 

 &c. 



