FOOD OF FISHES. 
By A. M. CAEK, B.Sc. 
The food of a number of starry rays, common dabs, long rough 
dabs, witches, whiting, haddock, cod, gurnards, catfish and anglers, 
taken from a depth of 30 to 48 fathoms between Hartlepool and New- 
biggin, has been examined. The fish were sent regularly from 
Shields market from May, 1907, to March, 1908. 
I would thank Professor Meek for his kindness in helping me 
throughout my work, and for identifying especially the Crustacean 
and fish food. The observations were begun by Miss Lcbour in 
connexion with her work on the Trematodes, and I have to thank 
her for the use of her notes, and also for naming the Mollusca. 
Nearly all the fish which did not contain food were landed 
during the months December to March. I can therefore confirm 
previous observations which have tended to show that fish eat little 
during these later winter months. 
I have also done some work on the age of these fishes by otolith 
and scale methods, but have not yet examined a sufficiently large 
and representative number to publish my results. 
Starry Ray, Raia radiata, Donov. 
105 fish, length 30 to 46 cm., breadth 18*9 to 33'5 cm. 
51 contained Crustaceans : 14 contained Crangon 
4 , , Brachyura 
1 , , Pagurus 
1 Pandalus annulicornis 
2 ,, Ampelitca macrocephala 
1 ,, Hippomedon denticuhitus 
1 , , unrecognisable Amphipods 
30 unrecognisable Crustacea 
15 contained Fisb : 4 contained Hippoglostus limandoides 
1 ,, Pleuronectes limanda 
1 ,, Lumpenus lampctriformis 
1 Scombresox sauras 
8 ,, unrecognisable fish 
9 contained Annelids: 1 contained Nereis 
8 ,, unrecognisable Annelids 
7 contained Mollusca : 7 Cephalopods 
6 contained unrecognisable food 
28 were empty 
