of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



133 



points of interest. In the first place, the larger portion of the moUuscan 

 material consisted of either small species or the fry and young of other 

 forms. In the second place, it is important to note that whereas twenty- 

 one species of moUusca have been identified or allocated to their respec- 

 tive genera, not a single species has been found in more than two of the 

 ninety stomachs examined. This would seem to show that although of 

 frequent occurrence, the mollusca do not form an important part of the 

 haddocks' food so far as bulk is concerned, and that the haddock does not 

 show any especial preference as to species. 



Of the other groups of organisms which we have found in the stomach 

 of the haddock, it may safely be stated that the Hydrozoa and Actinozoa 

 do not form a staple portion of the food material. They occur so rarely, 

 and in such small quantities, that they are rather to be regarded as having 

 been accidentally swallowed with other food, and may be left out of con- 

 sideration for the present. 



Coming to the consideration of the fishes as a normal food of the 

 haddock, it will be seen that the present statistics do not supply much 

 information. Fish remains, which were too much digested to allow of 

 identification, were found in seven stomachs. A young specimen of the 

 Dragonet {Gallionymus lyra) was the only other species that could be 

 recognised. One thing, however, these statistics do show, namely, that as 

 compared with the cod, the fish diet of the haddock is not an important 

 item. 



Record is also made of the occurrence of fish ova in four stomachs. As 

 regards the ova taken from the stomach of a specimen from the Coquet, 

 these have been doubtfully identified as those of the herring. There were 

 only about six ova in the stomach, the greater portion of the contents 

 consisting of Crustacea, Mollusca and a few Annelids. The other three 

 instances refer to entirely different conditions. They are from haddock 

 caught in the vicinity of the Island of May during the spring spawning 

 period of the herring in that district. In these cases the stomachs were 

 crammed with herring ova to the complete exclusion of all other kinds of 

 food. Herring ova are evidently a great dainty, and during the period 

 referred to immense numbers of haddock and other fishes congregate 

 around the May for the express purpose of feeding on the ova. During 

 the time the trawlers get large takes of haddock. The line fishermen are, 

 however, not so successful, partly owing probably to the fact that the 

 haddock refuses other kinds of food when herring ova can be obtained. 

 Although the presence of spawning banks in the inshore waters undoubtedly 

 attracts large numbers of white fish to their vicinity during the spawning 

 period, it is questionable how far herring ova should be regarded as the 

 normal food of the haddock. In any case the supply is not constant, and 

 lasts only for a short time. On this account it appears that in studying 

 the normal food supply of the haddock, and its bearing on the supply of 

 fish, it is better to regard the occurrence of herring ova as local and of 

 only secondary importance. 



Unfortunately the present statistics are not sufficiently complete to 

 allow of even a temporary answer being given to several important 

 questions in connection with the food of the haddock. For instance, it 

 is impossible to say how far the food varies in different districts or at 

 different times of the year until our investigations have been extended 

 throughout the year, and to as many fishing stations as possible. 



Finally, it may be stated that so far as this, the first attempt, at a 

 classification of the food of the haddock is concerned, the following general 

 conclusions may be drawn : — 



1. The Echinoderms, particularly the brittle stars and the pea urchin, 



