4 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
sand, upon closer examination proved to contain set of annelids, 
with occasional shreds of cuticle. As the body of the annelid is 
being digested, the intestine, gorged with sand and mud, often 
remains in a condition that admits of identification as annelid remains. 
It is doubtless true that much of the material recorded as ostracodes 
and small univalve shells has been introduced with annelids. 
In the beginning of this work the author was often greatly puzzled 
when attempting to determine the quantitative values to be placed 
on the different food materials. After some practice, however, one 
develops a method which takes into account such material as can 
readily be separated and classified, and often makes it possible to 
reduce the unidentified débris to small proportions. In view of the 
nature of the food of many annelids it is to be noted that the per- 
centage of materials counted as annelid does not always indicate 
similar percentage of food ingested. Doubtless, also, especially in 
the beginning of these studies, the estimated percentage of débris is 
sometimes larger than it should be, due to the fact that portions of 
the mucous membrane, which are detached when the contents of 
the alimentary canal are removed, become mixed with the food 
proper. 
Plant material was noted in only 20 of the flounders, approximately 
5 per cent of the whole number examined for food. In all instances 
where plant remains were noted in the contents of the alimentary 
canal, the amount was always both absolutely and relatively small. 
Usually it consisted of a few fragments of filamentous alge, the pres- 
ence of which could be accounted for as material which had acci- 
dentally been taken in along with the proper food of the fish. No 
place, therefore, was given for plant remains in the table of quantita- 
tive estimates. 
It would seem, however, that the winter flounders may, on occa- 
sion, make use of plant food. Irom unpublished food notes made in 
connection with the examination of winter flounders for parasites, 
mostly by Vinal N. Edwards, out of 82 examinations, 23 records note 
the presence of plant remains in the alimentary canal. In some 
cases considerable amounts of plant material were present. Thus, 
on three dates—April 14, November 7, and 12—the record reads, 
“Stomachs filled with eelgrass;’? on August 31, ‘Stomach and intes- 
tine filled with green seaweed; on September 30, “Stomach full of 
alex (Ulva).” It is likely that the eelgrass is eaten for the incrusta- 
tions of the tunicate Botryllus gouldit. 
A detailed account of the results of the examination of each of the 
398 small flatfish would make a very bulky report, and is considered 
unnecessary. Illustrative details, omitting some of the notes on 
Entozoa, are here given for one station only. 
Foop AND ENnTOzOAN PARASITES OF SMALL WINTER FLOUNDERS. 
STATION 19. KATAMA BAY, JULY 27, 1915. 
[Fish seined in water 1 to 4 feet in depth. Bottom, sand with red seaweed and other alge. The bay had 
been closed on the ocean side for the preceding six years; there was, therefore, little current produced 
by the tide. Winter flounders, few. Figures referring to food represent average per cent of volume; 
lengths are given in millimeters.] 
1. Length, 28.—Food: Copepods, 95; débris, 5. Entozoa: 141 appendiculate dis- 
tomes, 1 ivory-white sporozoan cyst on intestine. 
2. Length, 30.—Food: Alimentary canal empty. Entozoa: 317 appenciculate dis- 
tomes in stomach, 6 in intestine, 
