CORMORANTS AND THE GIPPSLAND LAKES FISHERY 
111 
examined in September, 1938 making an effective total of 
thirty-eight. 
Anchovy continues to be the largest single item, but Gobies, 
Gudgeon, Hardyhead and Sprat form a considerable portion. 
During this and the following month the first three of these 
last named small fishes were in spawn and they were probably 
taken on or near their spawning ground. Six stomachs each 
contained a single Ludrick, which accounts for the prominence 
of that species in the diagram. Bream forms 5 24 per cent, 
of the total. 
The condition of the birds at this time was excellent, each 
stomach being coated with fat to a depth of 10-15 mm. This 
may reasonably be attributed to the oily nature and high food 
value of their main items of diet, commencing with Anchovy 
and passing on to Gobies and other small fishes. Many more 
birds now had assumed the white plumage patches on the 
ventral surface first noted in July, and most of those collected 
showed enlarging gonads. 
Uullet I 
Garfish | ~ 
Bream | 
Skipjack I 
Trevally | 
Flathead ~| 
Ludrick | 
Gudgeon | 
Hardjrhead I | 
Oohiee 
Sprat 
Anchovy 
Cobbler 
Oalaxiae 
Crab 
Prawn 
September diet ; percentage volume of each food species. 
October. — Fourteen effective stomachs received. 
It is apparent from the results for this month that the 
Anchovy must have left the lakes about the end of September. 
Mullet 
Bream 
Trevally 
Flathead 
Ludrick 
Eel 
Gudgeon 
Hardyhead 
Gobies 
Prawn 
FIG 14. 
October diet; percentage volume of each food species. 
