SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 61 



PAKT I. 

 By Mr. Andrew Scott. 



Food in Fishes' Stomachs. 



During the past twelve months, 630 stomachs of fish 

 collected in various parts of the district have been 

 examined, with the view of obtaining further information 

 as to the food of our more important food fishes, and also 

 for comparison with the results arrived at in former years. 

 Of the true fishes, fully two-thirds of the stomachs 

 were empty or contained food matter that could not be 

 identified, the remainder gave results practically identical 

 with what has been recorded in our previous reports. 

 Therefore it is not considered necessary to give again a 

 detailed account of the contents of the stomachs in each 

 species of fish. All oar results are recorded on forms 

 and are available for consultation or for statistical purposes 

 at any future time. 



Mussels. 



Besides keeping up the examination of the stomachs of 

 this shellfish, an endeavour has been made to gain further 

 information regarding the time when the spawning takes 

 place in our own district. So far, the results bear out the 

 conclusions arrived at and stated in the report for 1894, 

 viz. : — that " the Mussel reaches maturity about the 

 middle of May." 



The Bouchot Experiment. 



An experimental Mussel Bouchot has been erected on 

 the shore behind Foulney Island in Barrow Channel. 



