SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 155 



in the food of this fish. It is possibly its omnivorous 

 habits that enable it to get on so well in the struggle for 

 existence with other fishes. 



The contents of the stomach of a cod caught off 

 Blackpool in December last are interesting, viz. : — 

 3 dabs 6 to 8 inches long, 

 7 other flat fishes (too much decomposed for 



identification), 

 3 herrings (or sprats) 3 to 5 inches long, 

 9 other round fishes (not herrings, very much 

 decomposed), 

 13 shrimps, 



and a large mass of semi-digested matter, chiefly 

 composed of fish bones. 



Other Minor Investigations. 



Herring in Carnarvon and Cardigan 



Bays. 

 Several lots of herring sent by the bailiffs on the 

 instructions of Dr. Jenkins were examined in the labora- 

 tory. About half of these fish were " spent " and the 

 other half were " full " herrings. It is evident that the 

 winter herrings spawn somewhere on the coasts of Wales, 

 and close attention will be paid to the occurrence and 

 condition of this fish during the next year. 



Trawling Observations. 

 During the last year some interesting hauls with fish 

 and shrimp trawls were made in Luce Bay, in the Scottish 

 District; and in Fishguard Bay in the Milford Haven 

 District. These hauls are quoted and discussed further 

 on in this Annual Report. Large plaice were still 

 abundant in Luce Bay in October and November, 1905. 

 In Fishguard Bay we took a varied and abundant catch 

 of fishes in the shrimp trawl. 



