FOOD OF THE cot). 213 



to remain at the bottom when the waters are troubled. It is more liltely that these stones are 

 swallowed on account of sea-anemones or other edible substances which may be attached to them, 

 in just the same manner that the shells of mollusks are taken in for the sake of the nutritious 

 parts which they contain. 



It is believed that certain schools of Codfish feed almost entirely at the bottom, while others 

 prey upon fish. The fishermen claim to be able to distinguish these two classes by their general 

 appearance, the first being heavier, with shorter heads, blunter noses, and smaller fins, and fre- 

 quently known as "grubbers" or "ground-keepers," while fish belonging to what are known as the 

 squid school, the herring school, and the lant school, which are probably the same fish at different 

 seasons of the year, are brighter-eyed, slenderer in form, with sharper head, and in every way 

 better adapted for swift locomotion. On the coast of Labrador, as well as in Scandinavia, Codfish 

 follow the schools of spawning capelin in to the shore and prey greedily upon them, and elsewhere, 

 at other seasons, they feed with no less voracity upon other species of fish which may be schooling, 

 and of which they destroy vast numbers, such as mackerel, menhaden, herring, alewife, salmon, 

 sculpin, fiounders, cunners, and haddock. 



In November, 1877, Mr. Vinal ]Sr. Edwards found in the stomachs of Cod taken at Noman's 

 Land many species of fish, some of which, like JEumesogrammus subbifurcatus, are found only at 

 great depths, and others, like the two-spined stickle-back, Gasteroseus biaculeatus, and the little 

 file-fish, Monocantlim setifer, must have been taken at the surface or near the shore. 



On the Grand. Banks, especially in shallow water about the Virgin Eocks, I have been told 

 that they follow the lant to the surface, pursuing them with great fierceness. Along our northern 

 coasts they replace, to some extent, the voracious blueflsh and bonito of the South. Captain 

 Atwood remarks that the amount of food which they consume is enormous, when the size of the 

 fish is taken into account. He has seen them on the coast of Labrador, where the capelin were in 

 great numbers, with their stomachs filled to the greatest possible extent, and capelin in their 

 mouths which they were unable to swallow for want of room, and in this condition they were still 

 biting at the hook. They even feed upon the young of their own kind. They are said to feed 

 largely upon herring spawn, though they are not seen in great numbers, about the spawning 

 grounds until the schools of parent fish have departed. The herring, also, is a favorite article of 

 food, and when these fish approach the shores or are seen on the banks it is a very good sign that 

 Cod will soon be abundant. Mr. Barll remarks : 



"I am told that in the spring of 1879 an immense school of herring moved closely across 

 George's Bank, and that with them came the largest school of Cod that has been seen in that 

 locality for a long time. The Cod remained constantly among the herring, so that when the latter 

 had passed the fishing fleet, the vessels were obliged to weigh anchor and follow them in order to 

 secure the Cod. 



"About Proviucetown the common squid sometimes appear in great numbers, and they are 

 most vigorously preyed upon by the Cod." 



The same accurate observer gives the following notes concerning their food while breeding : 



"During the spawning season the Codfish cease to search for food, and give less attention to 

 feeding than at other times, though they will usually take the bait when placed before them. That 

 they do not search for food is shown by the fact that the pasture school remained within a few 

 miles of a large school of sperling without being drawn after them ; and that the Ipswich Bay 

 school was largest after the sperling had left the coast, and remained for a number of months on 

 sandy wastes which supported only three species of invertebrates, Buccinum undatum, Fusus sp., 

 and Asterias vulgaris^ in any considerable abundance. The examination of the stomachs of several 



