271 Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report. 



When under the influence of this abnormal craving the fish sometimes 

 approach the surface of the water even during the middle of the daj', and 

 have been observed by fishermen greedily feeding on insects (probably 

 Copepoda) and young fishes, and this is confirmed by the fact that several 

 of the herrings I examined at Tarbert at the time referred to had their 

 stomachs filled with young herring or sprats about an inch and a half in 

 length. This ravenous desire for food has been ascribed to some disease 

 in the fish, but Mr Brook was inclined to doubt this. Herrings which 

 are finest in quality have usually their stomach and intestines almost 

 empty and their internal organs covered with white healthy fat. 



