

SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 



155 



heating was then continued over a fierce flame until a white 

 ash was produced. This residue, besides containing inorganic 

 matter from the tissue itself probably also includes a certain 

 amount of salt, deposited on the surface of the flesh by the 

 sea- water during the drying process, and also the sand and 

 mud lying in the gut of the animals. Since the amount of the 

 latter depends upon the vigour with which the animal was 

 feeding when caught, it is a variable quantity which is indepen- 

 dent of the actual body metabolism. The percentages have 

 therefore been reckoned on the wet ash free substance. This 

 does not make much difference so far as the fat and proteid 

 percentages are concerned, but alters the carbohydrate values 

 in some cases, since these are obtained by difference. 



The percentage results are given below without comment 

 since the work is still proceeding : — 



Morecambe Mussels. 



Percentages based on Wet Ash Free Substance. 



Date. 



Water %. 



Oil %. 



Proteid % 

 N X 6-25. 



Carbohydrate 



/o 

 (by difference). 



May 21* 



86-610 

 86-440 

 85-884 

 81-321 

 79-103 

 77-867 

 81-797 

 80-534 

 81-878 

 83-926 



0-629 

 0-525 

 0-867 

 1-267 

 1-484 

 1-516 

 1-277 

 1-454 

 1-678 

 1-160 



8-261 



8-647 



8-791 



10-960 



11-859 



12-681 



9-939 



11-228 



10-960 



9-286 



4-499 



June 10 



4-388 



Julv 7 



4-458 



„ 26 



6-452 



Aug. 20 



7-554 



Sept. 13 



7-936 



Oct. 8 



6-987 



„ 29 



6-784 



Nov. 25 



5-484 



Dec. 17 



5-628 







* In this sample the wet weight was obtained from the flesh after 

 removal from shell into dish, and not by difference of total weight — weight 

 of shell. The water contents therefore should be higher, and other per- 

 centages are affected accordingly. 



From the September sample onwards, transverse sections 

 have been cut through the region of the liver, with a view to 



