FOOD FISHES 



43 



the fish with which we are familiar, there exist in the sea 

 millions and millions of living creatures so small that many 

 of them to the naked eye appear as mere specks, and their 

 exact shape and form can only be seen under a lens. 



The commonest and most abundant of these tiny animals 

 are the Copepods, small shrimp-like or prawn-like forms 

 which are exceedingly rich in oil, and therefore highly 

 nutritious. The largest of these sometimes measure a quarter 



ABERDEEN FISH WHARF 



of an inch in length, but generally they are smaller than this. 

 Besides the copepods, and other similar minute creatures, 

 there are the countless hosts of the larvae of the lower forms 

 of animal life, which live on the floor of the sea, or in the 

 water just above it ; all these swim about in myriads in the 

 upper waters of the sea, and supply herrings and similar fish 

 with food. As these creatures are all so small, obviously a very 

 great number must be devoured by the fish which live upon 

 them, and it would be impossible for them to be seized one 

 by one. 



