38 UNUTILIZED FISHES. 



Goode, 1884 : 



They feed upon other fish — often on large ones, their swallowing powers 

 being practically unlimited. Mackerel, sculpins, sea ravens, dogfish, crabs, 

 squids, and lobsters have been found in their stomachs by observers of the 

 United States Fish Commission. They often attempt to feed on each other. 

 The common name refers to the fact that they have been known to swallow 

 live geese. A fisherman told me he once saw a struggle in the water and 

 found that a goosefish had swallowed the head and neck of a large loon, which 

 had pulled it to the surface and was trying to escape. There is authentic 

 record (jf seven wild ducks having been taken from the stomach of one of them. 

 Slyly approaching from below, they seize birds as they float upon the surface. 

 They annoy the fishermen by swallowing the wooden buoys attached to the 

 lobster pots. Mr. Minot. of Magnolia, Mass., caught one by using his boat 

 anchor for a hook. 



Linton, 1901 : 



August 30, 1887, a specimen taken south of Cuttyhunk had in its stomach 

 a large quantity of mud which was rich in mollusks. annelids, and small 

 crustaceans. 



August n. 1899, a small specimen had in stomach a winter flounder almost as 

 large as the goosefish. 



August 18, 1899, alimentary canal with fragments of fish. 



EXAMINATION OF DIGESTIVE TRACTS. 



The following table classifies the food of 40 goosefish which were 

 collected from the fish traps at Menemsha Bight, Marthas Vineyard. 

 From this table it will be seen that squid {LoUgo pealii) and skates 

 {Raja erinacea) constitute the chief food of the goosefish, each 

 of these species being found in 17.3J) per cent of the total num- 

 ber examined. Flounders {Paralichthys dentatus^ LopJiopsetta macu- 

 lata^ Pseudopleuronectes ainericaiiuH) are eaten in large numbers, and 

 it should be added that the specimens removed from the stomachs 

 were all large, averaging a foot or more in length. Lady crabs 

 {Ocalipes ocellatus) were present in 8 per cent of the goosefish, and 

 undoubtedly constitute an important item in their diet. Sand eels 

 {Ammodyt'es mnericanus) and squeteague {Cynoscion regcdis) were 

 each found on two occasions. There was also a sea robin {Prionotus 

 carolinus), a butterfish (Poronotus triacanthus) and an eel {Anguilla 

 chrysypa) , besides such miscellaneous material as eel grass, two skate 

 eggs, pieces of starfish, and a sand dollar. 



