NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-28

Food of Seventeen Species

of Northwest Atlantic Fish

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Fisheries Center

Woods Hole. Massachusetts

January 1984
PREFACE

This issue of the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC series was

ori gi na11y presented as two May 1983 issues of th.e Woods Hole Laboratory

Reference Document series numbeiea82-16 and 82-17 by Ray E. Bowman and William

L. Michaels, and by William L. Michaels and Ray E. Bowman, respectively? In

its present form, most of the initial information is intact and given as two

separate sections accordingly. However, the "Abstract," "Introduction," and

"Method and Materials" have been combined and are found only in Part 1 to

avoid duplication. The "Acknowledgements" have been deleted; that information

is presented below.

We are especially grateful to Dr. Marvin Gross1ein for suggestions

regarding the preparation of the manuscript and also to Dr. Richard Langton,

Janet Murphy, Brian Hayden, Margaret McBride, Jacqueline Murray, James Towns,

Daniel Couture, Eleanore Beale, E1ke Bergholz-Nelson, Edward Brown-Ledger,

Caroline Karp, Lisa Urry, John Hauser, and numerous other summer students and

survey technicians who helped collect stomachs, analyze stomach contents, code

and enter the informati~ into the computer system, and tabulate the data. ,

This work is a component of the Marine Monitoring Assessment and

Prediction Program, MARMAP of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration.
ABSTRACT

The stomach contents of 16,631 fish representing 17 species common to

Northwest Atlantic continental shelf waters have been analyzed. Fish were

collected during annual spring and autumn bottom trawl surveys conducted in

offshore waters between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and Western Nova Scotia

in the years 1973-1976. In the first section, major types of food within the

entire study region are determined by examining the diet of predators

according to fish length and within geographic areas traditionally referred to

as the Middle Atlantic, Southern New England, Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine, and

Western Nova Scotia. A complete listing of all items identified in the

stomachs of each species, and yearly and seasonal differencEs or similarities

in the quantity and type of prey are noted and discussed in~he second

section. Examination of stomach contents revealed some species of prey were

widespread while others were more characteristic of a particular geographic

area. Organisms of major importance as prey throughout the entire region

sampled were Unciola irrorata, Dichelopandalus leptocerus, Cancer sp.,

Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Neomysis americana, Loligo pealei, silver hake

(Merluccius bilinearis), and herring (Clupeidae). rhe identification of

principal prey utilized by fishes within various geographic areas established

that much dietary overlap occurs between species. However, some principal

dietary components were often unique to fishes within a particular area, and

even more frequently were identified as prey within larger regions which can

be characterized as temperate (Middle Atlantic, Southern New England and

Georges Bank) or boreal (Gulf of Maine and Western Nova Scotia). The majority

of fish prey were found to be fish eggs, fish larvae or juvenile fish, and

were taken to some extent by all predators sampled. The mean stomach content

weight, when expressed as a percentage body weight according to fish length,

indicated smaller fish of most species tend to have relatively larger

quantities of food in their stomachs. Increases in the abundance of prey such

as American sand lance or Loligo sp. during 1976 were reflected in the diets

of Atlantic cod and silver h.ake for the same year.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

PART 1: EXAMINATION BY PREDATOR LENGTH &GEOGRAPHIC AREA

LIST OF TABLES.

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF APPENDICES.

INTRODUCTI ON.

Background

•

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Collection

Analysis

Presentation of

Vari abi 1ity.

Data - .

.

.

"

.

in Relation to Fish Length. Little Skate.

Atlantic Cod.

Haddock

Silver Hake

Poll ock

Red Hake.

Spotted Hake.

White Hake.

Ocean Pout.

Scup.

Butterfish.

Redfish

Longhorn Sculpin.

Fourspot Flounder

Witch Flounder.

American Plaice

Yellowtail Flounder

Food According to Geographic Area.

Percentage Body Weight of Stomach Contents

RESULTS

Food

DISCUSSION.

LITERATURE CITED.

TABLES.
FIGURES

APPENDICES.

PART 2:

LIST OF TABLES.

EXAMINATION BY YEAR &LISTING OF PREY SPECIES

INTRODUCTION &METHODS AND MATERIALS.

RESULTS

Little Skate.

Atlantic Cod.

Haddock

Sil ver Hake

Pollock

Red Hake.

Spotted Hake.

White Hake.

Ocean Pout.

Scup.

Butterfish.

Redfish

Longhorn Sculpin.

Fourspot Flounder

Witch Flounder.

American Plaice

Yellowtail Flounder

DISCUSSION.

Little Skate.

Atlantic Cod.

Haddock

Sil ver Hake

Poll ock

Red Hake.

Spotted Hake.

White Hake.

Ocean Pout.

Scup.

Butterfish.

Redfish

Longhorn Sculpin.

Fourspot Flounder

Witch Flounder.

American Plaice

Yellowtail Flounder

Variation in Feeding Intensity

Major Prey Species

,.
LITERATURE CITED.

TABLES.
PART I

EXAMINATION BY PREDATOR LENGTH &GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Ray E. Bowman and William L. Michaels
LIST OF TABLES

1 Number of ft$'h stomachs collected from each species

sampled for the spring and autumn of the years

1973·-19·76. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ...

2 Number of each species of fish sampled for stomach

content analyses within various geographic areas of the

Northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976, combined ••

3 Composition of the stomach contents of little skate,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach contents

weight versus fish length, for little skate collected in

the Northwest Atlantic from 1973 through 1976••••••

4 Composition of the stomach contents of Atlantic cod,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach contents

weight versus fish length, for Atlantic cod collected

in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973 through 1976 ••••

5 Composition of the stomach contents of haddock,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for haddock

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • .• • • • • • • . . • • • • • . .

6 Composition of the stomach contents of silver hake,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for silver hake

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • • ••.•••••••••.

7 Composition of the stomach contents of pollock,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents wei ght versus fi sh 1ength, for pollock

co11 ected in the Northwest Atl ant i c from 1973

through 1976 • • • • • • • • . • •

8 Composition of the stomach contents of red hake,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for red hake

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • .••.. .••.••.••

9 Composition of the stomach contents of spotted hake,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for spotted

hake collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 ........•..........
10 Composition of the stomach contents of white hake,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for white hake

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • • •••..••••

11 Composition of the stomach contents of ocean pout, expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for ocean pout

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • •

12 Composition of the stomach contents of scup,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for scup

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • • •••••••••••••

13 Composition of the stomach contents of butterfish,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for butterfish

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 ••••••••.•••..••••

14

15

Composition of the stomach contents of redfish,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for redfish

collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976 • • • . • • • • • • • • • • . • • •

Composition of the stomach contents of longhorn

sculpin, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length, for

longhorn sculpin collected in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976..•.••••• . . .. .

16 Composition of the stomach contents of fourspot

flounder, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length, for

fourspot flounder collected in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976 •.•.

17 Composition of the stomach contents of witch flounder,

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for witch

flounder collected in the Northwest Atlantic from

1973 through 1976•••••••.••••••••

18 Composition of the stomach contents of American

plaice, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length, for

American plaice collected in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976 ••••••.•• . . . .
19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Composition of the stomach contents of yellowtail

flounder, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length, for

yellowtail flounder collected in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976 ••.••••••

Food of fishes representing generalized dietary

categories in the Middle Atlantic. Data are

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight•...•••.••••••••

Food of fi shes representi ng general i zed di etary

categories in Southern New England. Data are

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight • ••••.•••••••••.

Food of fishes representing generalized dietary

categories on Georges Bank. Data are expressed

as a percentage of the total stomach contents

wei ght . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .

Food of fishes representing generalized dietary

categories in the Gulf of Maine. Data are

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents wei ght. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Food of fishes representing generalized dietary

categories in Western Nova Scotia. Data are

expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight .•..••••.• •...•

Listing of predators arranged to illustrate

differences and similarities in %BW of stomach

contents, overall composition of diet, caloric

value of diet, and gut measurements ••••••

. . . .

.. . . .

26 Fish prey consumed by Atlantic cod collected in

the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976.

Note the majority of fish consumed are juveniles.

27 Number of species of fish prey identified in the

stomach contents of fishes collected in the Northwest

Atlantic during the years 1973-1976•••.••••.•
1 Geogr~phic ~re~s

s~mpled for fish

1973-1976••••

LIST OF FIGURES

of the Northwest Atl~ntic

feeding studies during

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 Aver~ge percent~ge tot~l body weight of stom~ch contents versus fish length for

seventeen species of fish s~mpled in the

Northwest Atl~ntic during the ye~rs 1973-1976. . . .
A

B

C

LIST OF APPENDICES

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of little

skate collected in Southern New England and on

Georges Bank during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight)•••••••••

Geo9raphic breakdown of the stomach contents of

Atlantic cod collected on Georges Bank, in the Gulf

of Maine, and in Western Nova Scotia during

the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a

percentage weight) •••••••••••••

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of . haddock co11 ected on Georges Bank, in the Gu If

of Maine, and in Western Nova Scotia during the

years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a

percentage wei ght) ••••••••••'•••.•

D Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of

silver hake collected in the Middle Atlantic,

Southern New England, and on Georges Bank during

the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a

percentage weight) ••••••••••••• . . . .

E Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of

pollock collected in the Gulf of Maine and Western

Nova Scotia during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight)•••••••••

F Stomach contents of red hake collected

New England during the years 1973-1976

expressed as a percentage weight)•.•

in Southern

(data are

. . .. .

G Stomach contents of spotted hake collected in the

Middle Atlantic during the years 1973-1976 (data

are expressed as a percentage wei ght)••

H Stomach contents of white hake collected in the

Gulf of Maine during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight)••••

I Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of ocean

pout collected in Southern New England and on Georges

Bank during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed

as a percentage weight)••••.•.•••••••

J Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of

scup collected in the Middle Atlantic and Southern

New England during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight) .••••••••
K

L

M

N

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of

butterfish collected in the Middle Atlantic and

Southern New England during the years 1973-1976

(data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Stomach contents of redfish collected in the Gulf

of Maine during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight)•••••••

Stomach contents of longhorn sculpin collected

on Georges Bank during the years 1973-1976

(data are expressed as a percentage weight)••

Stomach contents of fourspot flounder collected

in the Middle Atlantic during the years 1973-1976

(data are expressed as a percentage weight)•••

.- .. ..

. . .

.. .. .. ..

. . .

.. .. e.- ..

o

p

Q

R

S

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of

witch flounder collected in the Gulf of Maine

Western Nova Scotia during the years 1973-1976

(data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents

of American plaice collected in the Gulf of

Maine and Western Nova Scotia during the years

1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage

weight) '.' ..

Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents

of yellowtail flounder collected in Southern

New England and on Georges Bank during the

years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a

percentage weight) ••.••••• •••••

Length-weight equation parameters for various

species of Northwest Atlantic fish. All

measurements are in millimeters or grams. bThe

1ength-wei ght equation is of the form W=aL • •

Total body weight and %BW of stomach contents

by fish length for seventeen fish species

sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. eo .. .•
INTRODUCTION

A significant element of the research program at the Northeast Fisheries

Center, located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, has been to describe the complex

predator-prey interactions of Northwest Atlantic fishes which contribute to

the limits and variability of fish production (Edwards and Bowman 1979;

Grosslein et al. 1979, 1980; Cohen et al. 1981, 1982). Principal prey

categories and dominant species of prey of many predators have been previously

documented (Edwards and Bowman 1979; Langton and Bowman 1980, 1981). However,

detailed analysis of the total species composition of prey in relation to size

of predator is necessary for quantitative analyses of predator-prey

interactions. In addition, temporal and spatial variability must be

considered.

The energy flow through pelagic and benthic components of the food web

within various marine shelf ecosystems has been described (Okata 1978; Edwards

and Bowman 1979; Grosslein et al. 1979, 1980; Cohen et al. 1981). Classification of food organisms into general categories or broad taxonomic levels

is almost a necessity when examining entire ecosystems, although major prey

species are usually noted in such studies. Because the names of many

important or subdominant prey species are often omitted in large scale

investigations, their importance to the structure and function of particular

communities within the ecosystem may be overlooked. For example, Bowman and

Towns (1981) documented that the gammarid amphipod, Gammarus annulatus, was a

major prey item for many fishes inhabiting the Nantucket Shoals area off Cape

Cod, Massachusetts; but G. annulatus would seldom, if ever, be mentioned as an

important prey in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem.

In this paper we document the principal species of prey in relation to

size of predator~ithin various geographic areas (Part I), during the spring

and autumn for each year from 1973 through 1976 (Part II), and provide a

complete listing of organisms (Part II) consumed by 17 species of fish caught

within various regions located in offshore waters extending from Cape

Hatteras, North Carolina, to Browns Bank, Nova Scotia.

BACKGROUND

Large scale studies of the diet of Northwest Atlantic fishes have been

undertaken during bottom trawl surveys conducted by the Northeast Fisheries

Center (NEFC) since 1963. The area sampled covers continental shelf waters

extending from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Browns Bank, Nova Scotia, and

is routinely surveyed during the spring and autumn of each year. The area has

traditionally been subdivided into five geographic areas, namely the Middle

Atlantic, Southern New England, Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and Western

Nova Scotia (Figure 1). Fishes within each geographic area have been

characterized according to their general dietary preferences based on results

obtained from initial food studies (1963-1972) (Bowman et al. 1976; Edwards

and Bowman 1979; Grosslein et al. 1980; Langton and Bowman 1980, 1981).

Species making up the largest portion of the adult fish biomass in the entire

study area are euryphagic or stenophagic feeders which fall into one of four
generalized feeding categories as follows: (1) principally piscivorous

(including squids); (2) predators on plankton other than fish or squid; (3)

principal consumers of benthic epifaunal crustaceans; (4) those which feed

primarily on benthic infauna and non-crustacean epifauna.

More intensive feeding studies were initiated in 1973 to help determine

the feeding chronology, digestion rate, consumption, and gross growth

efficiency of selected fish species. Species were chosen according to their

general feeding category, relative abundance within a geographic area, and

commercial value. The feeding category of a particular species is made up of

the principal prey of various trophic levels that link up and tend to focus

energy toward the selected fish species (Tyler et a1. 1981). The overall plan

was to monitor the food of at least one species representative of each general feeding category within each of the five geographical areas to determine

spatial and temporal changes that occur (if any) in prey organisms. Species

selected for the present study were little skate, Raja erinacea (Mitchi11);

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua (Linnaeus); haddock, MeTanOframmus aeglefinus (Linnaeus); silver hake, Mer1uccius bilinearis (MitchLl ); pollock, Pollachius

virens (Linnaeus); red hake, Urophycis chuss (Wa1baum); spotted hake,

Urophycis regia (Wa1baum), white hake, Urophycis tenuis (Mitchill); ocean

pout, Macrozoarces americanus (Schneider); scup, Stenotomus chrysops

(Linnaeus); butterfish, Pepri1us triacanthus (Peck); redfish, Sebastes marinus

(Li nnaeus); longhorn scu1 pi n, Myoxocepha1us octodecemspi nosus (Mit-chi 11 ) ;

fourspot flounder, Para1ichthys ob1ongus (Mitchill ); witch flounder,

Glyptocepha1us cynoglossus (Linnaeus); American plaice, Hippoglossoides p1atessoi~ (Fabricius); and yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginei'l (Storer) •

1A11 common and scientific names of fishes after Robins (1980).
METHODS AND MATERIALS

COLLECTION

Fish stomachs representing 17 species were collected during eight bottom

trawl survey cruises (Table 1). The surveys were conducted during the spring

and autumn for the years 1973-1976 as follows: 16 March-IS May 1973; 26

September-20 November 1973; 12 March-4 May 1974; 20 September-14 November

1974; 4 March-12 May 1975; 15 October-IS November 1975; 4 March-S May 1976;

and 20 October-23 November 1976. On spring cruises a two-seam modified Yankee

No. 41 trawl was fished, and during fall cruises a standard Yankee No. 36 was

used. The cod end and upper belly of both trawls were lined with 13 mm mesh

netting to retain smaller fish. A scheme of stratified random trawling was

conducted within the study area and fishing continued over 24 hours per day.

All tows were 30 minutes in duration at a vessel speed of 3.5 kn in the

direction of the n~xt station. Bottom water depths ranged from 27 to 365

meters.

During each cruise technicians were instructed to sample 50 juveniles and

50 adults per selected species from each geographic area. No more than 10

fish from each age group were to be taken at q particular station, and fish

were not to be sampled at two consecutive stations. The only exception to

this collection method occurred when, as the cruise progressed, it seemed that

50 juvenile or 50 adult fish of a species would not be collected within a

particular area. In this case fish were collected as necessary to obtain the

sample size requested. Stomachs of large fish were excised aboard ship,

individually wrapped in gauze with a label denoting vessel, cruise, station,

species, fork length (FL) when applicable, otherwise total length (TL), sex,

and maturity, and preserved in a 4.0 percent formaldehyde solution (by

volume). Small fish were preserved whole.

ANALYSIS

In the laboratory the preserved stomachs were individually opened and

their contents emptied onto a 0.25 mm mesh opening screen sieve to permit

washi ng without the loss of any food items. The stomach contents were sorted,

identified, counted, and damp dried on absorbent paper. Major prey items and

commonly occurring but relatively minor prey, in terms of weight, were

identified to species whenever practical. The wet weight of all stomach

content groups was determined to the nearest 0.001 g and all information

recorded. A stomach was considered empty when no food items could be

identified and the material found in the stomach weighed less than 0.001 g.

Data were analyzed with the aid of FORTRAN IV programs written for use on a

Honeywell SIGMA 7 computer system located at the \~oods Hal e Oceanographi c

Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

In the first two sections of the results (Part I), food data are

presented in terms of the mean stomach content weight and the percentage

weight each prey group made up of the total stomach contents weight. All
tables follow a standard format to aid in making dietary comparisons. Two

tables are presented for each predator species. The first table lists the

stomach contents for five centimeter fish length categories; the second table,

which may be found in the appendix, lists the food eaten by predators within

each geographic area. However, when describing foods eaten within geographic

areas all species are discussed together in the text, and five summary tables

(one for each geographic area) are furnished. Part II of this manuscript

includes tables listing all stomach contents identified, the number of each

item, the total weight of all stomach content groups and the percentage of the

total weight made up by stomach content groups for each predator species. A

second set of tables lists the major stomach content groups identified within

both the spring and fall of each year (1973-1976). In all the above noted

tables subtotals of the percentage weight of major stomach content groups are

offset to the left. The number of fish stomachs examined, number of empty

stomachs, mean stomach content weight, and mean fish length are given at the

bottom of the tables.

The last section of the results in Part I includes calculations of the

percentage body weight of the stomach contents representing various fish

length categories sampled for individual predator species. The mean stomach

content weight of various size fish of each species was converted to

percentage body weight (%BW) by first determining the median,value of each

five centimeter length category and transforming the value, to whole fish

weight utilizing length/weight equations for each species which were available

in the literature or as NEFC laboratory data; subsequently, the mean stomach

content weight values for each category were divided by the whole fish weights

and multiplied by 100. The %BW calculations were then plotted and comparisons

were made between the type of di et, %BW of stomach contents, and gut

morphology of the various species. Gut morphological measurements were

extracted from data given in a paper by Edwards and Bowman (1979) for all

species except spotted hake. Spotted hake data were obtained from NEFC

laboratory information.

VAR lAB ILITY

Sources of potential variation in the data presented in Part I and Part

II of this paper include size, sex, and maturity stage of fish, as well as the

time of day, area, season, bottom depth, and temperature when or where the

fish were caught. Each variable considered in Part I and Part II is treated

separately, i.e., the data were pooled over other variables with no attempt to

determine the possible confounding effects of different variables on the

results. Dietary trends noted within the variables examined here should be

considered only as preliminary observations.
RESULTS

The stomach contents of a total of 16,631 fish were examined. The number

of fish stomachs gathered from each species during the spring and autumn for

the years 1973-1976 are listed in Table 1. The total number of stomachs

collected for each predator is given in the right-hand column in the table. A

summary of the number of each species sampled for stomach content analyses

within various geographic areas of the Northwest Atlantic for the combined

years 1973-1976 is given in Table 2. Also presented in Table 2 is the

predator class, shown in the left hand column, which identifies principal

types of prey eaten by the various predators. The stomachs of five species

were collected in the Middle Atlantic and Western Nova Scotia; seven species

were sampled in Southern New England, the Gulf of Maine, and on Georges Bank.

Immediately below we discuss the more important prey groups identified in

the length specific analysis of the food data for each species. When shifts

in the type of prey consumed occur, apparently related to predator length,

they are noted. Subsequent to the aforementioned evaluation we describe the

relatively important foods, overall, of the combined species sampled within

each geographic area. Finally, relationships between the %BW of the stomach

contents, type of food consumed, and gut morphology among species are

presented.

FOOD IN RELATION TO FISH LENGTH

LITTLE SKATE

Crustaceans were the dominant prey of all little skate sampled (i.e., 6-

55 cm TL, Table 3). However, fish <35 cm TL preyed mostly on amphipods such

as Unciola irrorata, Gammarus annuliltus, Leptocheirus pinguis, and Monoculodes

edwardsi while those >35 cm TL ate large quantities of decapods (e.g., Cancer

borealis, irroratus, Crangon septemspinosa, Pagurus acadianus,

and Dichelopandalus leptocerus. Polychaetes, mollusks, and fish were also

taken as food but principally only by fish >20 cm TL.

ATLANTIC COD

Atlantic cod <50 cm FL fed mainly on decapod crustaceans with Hyas

coarctatus, Pagurus; acadianus, Dichelopandalus leptocerus, and PandalUS

montagui being especially important prey (Table 4). The stomachs of Atlantic

cod >50 cm FL contained large quantities of fish; more important species

identified, in terms of percentage weight, were Clupea harengus and other

herrings, Merluccius bilinearis and other hakes, Ammodytes americanus,

Cottidae, Scomber scombrus, and Sebastes marinus. Also of importance in their

diet were decapod crabs (represented by Cancer irroratus more than any other

species) and mollusks (e.g., pelecypods and cephalopods). Small quantities of

Coelenterata, Polychaeta, and Echinodermata were identified in the stomachs of

fish within several length categories <50 and >50 cm FL.
HADDOCK

The smallest haddock sampled (6-25 cm FL) had eaten mostly various

crustaceans such as euphausiids (Meganyctiphanes norveJica), amphipods (e.g.,

Unciola irrorata, U. serrata, and Leptocheirus pinguis , and decapods (mainly

Dichelopandalus leptocerus) as can be seen in Table 5. Polychaetes were also

an important prey of small haddock. Fish >25 cm FL also preyed upon

amphipods, but less intensively than the smaller haddock. The diet of larger

haddock also included fairly large quantities of polychaetes and echinoderms

(mainlyStronglocentrotus drobachiensis, Echinarachnius parma, Ophiura sarsi,

and Ophiopholis aculeata). Coelenterates, mollusks, and fish were identified

as part of the diet of both small and large haddock.

SILVER HAKE

Silver hake of all lengths preyed principally on either fish or

crustaceans (Table 6). However, the bulk of the food of silver hake <20 cm FL

was crustaceans (>80% of the di et on average), whereas the food of indi vi dual s

>20 cm FL was mostly fi sh and some squid (together these two prey categori es

averaged well over 50% of the diet). Crustacea eaten by silver hake 1-20 cm

FL were found to be amphipods (especially Ampeliscidae and Parathemisto in the

1-5 cm fish length category), decapods (e.g., Crangon septemspinosa and

Dichelopandalus leptocerus), euphausiids (exclusively Meganyctiphanes

norvegica), mysids (only Neomysis americana identified), and copepods. Fish

(mainly juvenile silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis, and American sand lance,

Ammodytes americanus) were also consumed by small silver hake. The diet of

silver hake >20 cm FL was primarily fish and included, in part, Clupeidae,

Merluccius bilinearis, Ammodytes americanus, Scomber scombrus, and Peprilus

triacanthus. Loligo pealei, the long-finned squid, was also important in the

diet of large silver hake.

POLLOCK

Crustaceans were an important dietary constituent of pollock within all

length categories, but were especially notable as a food of pollock <75 cm FL

(Table 7). Crustaceans made up more than 60% of the diet of fish wiThin most

length categories <75 cm FL. The largest contributors to the crustacean prey

were Euphausiacea 1f'1eganyctiphanes norvegica and Thysanoessa inermis) and

decapod shrimp (species of consequence were Pasiphaea multidentata, Pandalus

borealis, and Dichelopandalus leptocerus). Fish. although an important food

for pollock as small as 26-30 cm FL, were heavily preyed upon by pollock >65

cm FL (fish made up >50% of the diet of pollock within four length categories

>65 cm FL). Fish taxon identified as important prey of large pollock were

Clupeidae, Merluccius bilinearis, Pollachius virens, Aethoprora metopoclampa,

Scomber scombrus and Sebastes marinus. Loligo squid was found to be of

consequence only in the diet of the largest pollock sampled (>90 cm FL).
RED HAKE

Red hake <25 cm TL preyed almost exclusively on Crustacea (Table 8).

Amphipods (most:ly Unciola irrorata and Leptocheirus pinguis) and decapods

(principally Crangon septemsplnosa and Dlchelopandalus leptocerus) were the

crustaceans found to be of considerable importance as prey of small red

hake. Red hake >25 cm TL also ate substantial quantities of crustaceans

(especially the two species of decapods noted immediately above along with

Cancer sp., Munida sp., and Pagurus acadianus). In addition to crustaceans,

large red hake preyed heavily upon fish (Clupeidae, Ophidiidae, and

Pleuronectiformes were identified) and squid. Polychaetes were found in the

stomachs of both small and large red hake.

SPOTTED HAKE

The diet of spotted hake <25 cm TL consisted primarily of crustaceans,

whereas fish and squid were the principal food of fish >25 cm TL (Table 9) as

was previously noted for red hake. However, spotted hake prey differed from

that of red hake in that spotted hake 1-10 cm TL ate large quantities of

amphipods (>5~1o of their stomach contents by weight), and spotted hake 11-25

cm TL consumed considerable amounts of amphipods, decapods (mostly Crangon

septemspinosa and Dichelopandalus leptocerus) and euphausiids (almost

exclusively Meganyctiphanes norvegica). The majority of fish and squid found

in the stomachs of spotted hake >25 cm TL were not identified (but Merluccius

bilinearis and Ophidiidae were recognized as fairly important prey). Spotted

hake >25 cm TL also took considerable quantities of decapods as prey (e.g.,

Cancer irroratus, Crangon septemspinosa, Munida iris, and Dichelopandalus

1eptocerus).

WHITE HAKE

More than one-half of the food of white hake (Table 10) 16-40 cm TL was

Crustacea (decapod shrimp, Dichelopandalus leptocerus and Pandalus borealis;

and the euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes norvegica were the principal species

identified). Fish >40 cm rL preyed almost exclusively on Pisces, namely

species such as Argentina silus, Clupea harengus, Merluccius bilinearis,

Urophycis chuss, o. tenuis, Scomber scombrus, Sebastes marinus, and

PseudopleuronecteS-americanus. Small quantities of Mollusca were identified

in the dietary of both small and large white hake.

OCEAN POUT

Amphipod crustaceans (most identified as being in the family Corophiidae)

accounted for a large percentage of the diet of 11-35 cm TL ocean pout (Table

11). Also of importance as food for fish in the above mentioned length range

were the decapod crab, Cancer irroratus, polychaete worms, mollusks, and

echinoderms (especially Echinarachnius parma which made up 88.1% of the

identified stomach contents of fish in the 26-30 cm TL category). Echinoderms

contributed more than 50% to the dietary of ocean pout in all length

categories >35 cm TL. Echinarachnius parma, in particular, was an especially

important food. Other echinoderms identified as food were the ophiuroids
Euryale sp. and Ophiopholis aculeata. Prey groups of lesser dietary

importance to fish >35 cm TL were Polychaeta, various Crustacea such as

amphipods and decapods, and Mollusca (primarily Placopecten sp.).

SCUP

The stomach contents of all scup sampled consistently contained

substantial quantities (>25%) of polychaetes (various families identified are

listed in Table 12). Crustaceans were also found to bean important food of

scup of various sizes. However, scup 6-10 cm FL consumed the largest

quantities of Crustacea (44.4%). Amphipods (primarily Unciola irrorata,

Leptocheirus pinguis and unidentified Gammaridae were noted), decapods, and

mysids were the predominant crustaceans identified. Mollusks, in particular

squid, were a notable prey of scup 11-15 cm FL, 21-25 cm FL, and 26-30 cm

FL. Coe 1enterata, Nemertea, Echi nodermata, and Pi sces, are noteworthy prey of

scup, but they are of 1ess di etary importance than the items mentioned above.

BUTTERFISH

Large percentages of the stomach contents of butterfish were made up by

unidentified animal remains (included in the Miscellaneous stomach content

grouping) in all fish length categories (Table 13). Several prey groups were

important constituents of the diet of butterfish ranging from 6 to 25 cm FL.

They include Coelenterata, Polychaeta (see various families listed in Table

13), Crustacea (mainly the amphipod Parathemisto sp., but also Decapoda and

Copepoda), Mollusca, and Thaliacea (mostly Larvacea and Hemimyaria).

Coelenterata and Thaliacea were especially important food of the few large

fish sampled (21-25 cm FL). Dietary items such as Ctenophora and Nemertea

also made up a small percentage of the gut contents of butterfish (note 11-15

and 16-20 cm FL categories).

REDFISH

Little variation was observed in the diet of redfish of varying

1engths. Crustaceans domi nated the di et of all red fish sampled, with the

decapods, Dichelopandalus leptocerus and Pasiphaea multidentata, and the

euphausiid Meganyctlphanes norveglCa being especlally lmportant food (Table

14). Fish was the only other prey group identified, and they were taken by

larger redfish (e.g., Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosa were eaten by redfish 21-

25 cm FL, and Merl ucci us bil i neari s were consumed by 31-35 cm FL predators).

LONGHORN SCULPIN

As with redfish noted immediately above, crustaceans constituted the

major portion of the diet of all longhorn sculpin sampled (Table 15).

However, longhorn sculpin 1-15 cm TL preyed heavily on amphipods (e.g.,

Unciola irrorata and Leptocheirus pinguis) and small decapods (mainly Crangon

septemspinosa), and longhorn sculpin >15 cm TL took prey such as Cancer

irroratus, Hyas coarctatus, Pagurus sp. and Dichelopandalus leptocerus. Also

included in the crustacean portion of their diet were isopods and mysids
(exclusively Neomysis americana) which were eaten to some extent by almost all

length categories sampled. The only other major prey groups identified in the

stomach contents of longhorn sculpin were Polychaeta and Pisces which made up

greater percentages of the diet of longhorn sculpin >15 cm TL than fish <16 cm

TL.

FOURSPOT FLOUNDER

Fourspot flounder of all length categories sampled fed intensively on

decapod crustaceans (Table 16). Cancer irroratus, Crangon septemspinosa,

Munida sp., and Dichelopandalus leptocerus were some of the most important

prey included in the diet of this flounder. Another important crustacean prey

group identified was the Mysidacea (almost solely Neomysis americana) which

was taken by fish >15 cm TL. Mollusca (almost totally squid} tended to make

up larger percentages of the food of fourspot falling within the longer fish

length categories (26-35 cm TL), whereas fish prey made up the largest

percentage of the stomach contents of relatively small fourspot flounder (16-

20 cm TL).

WITCH FLOUNDER

Pol ychaetes were of consi derab1e importance in the di et of witch flounder

of all sizes. A fairly extensive list of polychaete prey is presented in

Table 17. The smallest «20 cm TL) witch flounder sampled were feeding very

heavily on the euphausiid--crustacean, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (69.8% of

their diet). Euphausiids were also eaten in large quantities by fish 26-30 cm

TL (34.9%). Generally, the percentage of the witch flounder diet made up of

crustaceans became progressively smaller as the size of fish increased.

Conversely, the portion of their diet consisting of Echinodermata (the

principal contributor to this prey group was Holothuroidea) tended to get

larger for fish length categories representing longer and longer fish. The

remainder of the witch flounder diet (for fish of varying lengths) included

relatively small amounts of Coelenterata, Mollusca, and Ascidiacea.

AMERICAN PLAICE

Polychaeta, Crustacea, Mollusca, and Echinodermata all accounted for

large percentages of the food of American plaice <25 cm TL (Table 18).

Polychaetes were especially important prey of fistl <20 cm. American plaice

>25 cm TL fed to a lesser extent on polychaetes, crustaceans, and mollusks and

much more heavily on echinoderms such as the echinoid, Echinarachnius parma,

and the Ophiuroid, Ophiura sarsi. The aforementioned was especially evident

for fish within the three longest len9th categories (i.e., >40 Cm TL) where

Echinodermata made up >80% of all food.

YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER

Yellowtail flounder of all sizes preyed on Crustacea, but the percentage

of their diet made up by crustaceans steadily decreases as fish length

increases (Table 19). Amphipods (e.g., Byblis serrata, Unciola irrorata, and
Leptocheirus pinguis) and decapods (e.g., Crangon septemspinosa and

Dichelopandalus leptocerus) were identified as the major contributors to the

Crustacea port10n of the yellowtail flounder stomach contents. For the most

part, fish <20 cm TL ate amphipods and decapods, while those >20 cm TL fed on

a variety of" polychaetes. Other stomach content groups which contributed to

the diet of yellowtail flounder include Coelenterata, Nemertea, Mollusca, and

Urochordata, all of which were eaten principally by fish >15 cm TL.

FOOD ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Examination of the stomach contents revealed some species of prey were

fairly widespread while others were more characteristic of a particular region

(Middle Atlantic, Southern New England and Georges Bank, or the Gulf of Maine

and Western Nova Scotia) or geographic area. The controlling factor for the

distribution of many prey species is likely water temperature and/or bottom

sediment type.

Organisms taken as prey throughout the entire study area during the 1973-

1976 period were Polychaeta (various families), Unciola irrorata (amphipod),

Dichelopandalus leptocerus (decapod shrimp), Cancer sp. (decapod crab),

Me anyctiphanes norvegica (euphausiid), Neomysis americana (mysid), Loligo

pealei squid, Merluccius bilinearis (silver hake), and Clupeidae

(herring). The stomach contents of at least one predator species sampled in

all areas except the Middle Atlantic included Aphrodita sp. (polychaete),

Leptocheirus pinguis (amphipod), Axius serratus and Pagurus sp. (decapods),

Echinoidea, Holothuroidea, and Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel). One prey

species, Ammodytes americanus (American sand lance), was consumed by one or

more predators 1n each area except Western Nova Scotia. The remaining stomach

content groups discussed below were either characteristic as a food of at

least one predator species within a particular geographic area (or areas), or

were identified as important prey of one or more species sampled only in the

Middle Atlantic, Southern New England, and Georges Bank, or the Gulf of Maine

and Western Nova Scotia regions. Major prey groups of all species considered

together are listed in Tables 20-24 for ease of comparing prey between

geographic areas (also see Appendices A-Q for a listing of prey taken by

predators sampled within each area).

No major prey species were identified as unique food sources for the fish

in the Middle Atlantic (Table 20). In Southern New England, Gammarus

annulatus (an amphipod consumed by little skate) and Stenotomus chrysops

(scup, which were eaten by silver hake) can be considered as principally

endemic food sources (Table 21). Scallop viscera was the only dietary item

found to be fed on solely by fish on Georges Bank (it was eaten by Atlantic

cod, haddock, and ocean pout), and this occurrence probably resulted from the

fish feeding on the viscera after scallop fishermen discarded it (on Georges Bank) after removi ng the adductor muscl e, as has been reported previ ous1y by

Wigley 1956; Bowman 1975; and Bowman and Langton 1978 (Table 22). Food found

peculiar to Gulf of Maine fishes included Geryon quinquedens (red crab), which

were eaten by Atlantic cod; Pollachius virens (pollock), consumed by larger

pollock; and Urophycis tenuis (White hake), identified as prey of bi9ger white

hake (Table 23). Two species of fish were the only prey identified as being
taken solely by predators sampled in Western Nova Scotia (Table 24); namely

Gadus morhua (Atlantic cod), ingested by Atlantic cod of greater size, and

Melanogrammus aeglefinus (haddock), devoured by Atlantic cod and haddock

longer in length.

Organisms identified in the diet of predators within two or three

geographic areas are given immediately below. Ophiuroidea (brittle stars) was

of dietary importance to fishes on Georges Bank (Atlantic cod, haddock, and

ocean pout), in the Gulf of Maine (Atlantic cod, witch flounder, haddock, and

American plaice), and in Western Nova Scotia (Atlantic cod, haddock, witch

flounder, and American plaice). Sebastes marinus (redfish) was eaten by

Atlantic cod on Georges Bank (but it only accounted for <0.1% of their diet);

in the Gulf of Maine by white hake, Atlantic cod, and pollock; and in Western

Nova Scotia by Atlantic cod. Hippoglossoides platessoides (American plaice)

was preyed upon by Atlantic cod on Georges Bank and 1n Western Nova Scotia.

The last stomach content category within this group was the Thaliacea, which

were identified in the stomach contents of butterfish sampled in the Middle

Atlantic and Southern New England.

Two species were noted as major prey of fishes sampled in the Middle

Atlantic, Southern New England, and Georges Bank region. Crangon

septemspinosa was consumed by silver hake, spotted hake, and fourspot flounder

in the Middle Atlantic; silver hake, red hake, little hake, and yellowtail

flounder in Southern New England; and silver hake, little skate, longhorn

sculpin, and yellowtail flounder on Georges Bank. Peprilus triacanthus

(butterfish) was taken as prey by silver hake sampled in all three geographic

areas. The two species of prey mentioned immediately above, and other

organisms, identified as principal food in this region and commented on in

above paragraphs, are known to be primarily associated with warm waters. For

example, butterfish and scup are principally located in 2he southern part of

our sampling area (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; NEFC data) and the

distribution of Thaliacea, Gammarus annulatus, Crangon septemspinosa, and

Placopecten magellanicus (sea scallop) 1S mainly w1th1n the three geographic

areas referred to above (Gosner, 1971; NEFC data2).

Three species were noted as co-occurring prey of fishes in the Gulf of

Maine and Western Nova Scotia region. Only the stomachs of fishes sampled in

the Gulf of Maine and Western Nova Scotia contained fairly large quantities of

Pandalus borealis (white hake, pollock, redfish, and American plaice in the

Gulf of Maine, and pollock and American plaice in Western Nova Scotia),

Pasiphaea multidentata (pollock and redfish in the Gulf of Maine, and pollock

in Western Nova Scotia), and Thysanoessa inermis (pollock; only <0.1% in the

Gulf of Maine, and 1.5% in Western Nova Scotia). These three species along

with other prey noted in above paragraphs as being relatively unique food of

fishes within either the Gulf of Maine or Western Nova Scotia are organisms

which pri~arilY inhabit cold waters (Gasner 1971; Bigelow and Schroeder 1953;

NEFC data). It shou 1d be ment i oned that Geryon qui nquedens, a co 1d water

species taken by Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine also occur in large numbers

in the cold deep slope waters (mostly below 366 m) south of Cape Cod, beyond

2Contact authors for further information.
the sampling depth rang~ of the bottom trawl surveys. Surprisingly, large

populations of juvenile Atlantic cod and haddock occur on Georges Bank, but

they were only identified in the stomachs of Atlantic cod and haddock sampled

in Western Nova Scotia. The last species to be noted here is redfish, which

is a fish common to and preyed upon in the Gulf of Maine and Western Nova

Scotia (although <0.1% of the Atlantic cod diet on Georges Bank was also

redfish).

PERCENTAGE BODY WEIGHT OF STOMACH CONTENTS

Comparison of %BW of mean stomach content weight data to fish size, fish

diet, dietary caloric value and gut morphology of the various species revealed

striking relationships exist between many species. Appendix R lists the fish

length-weight equations (and their sources) which were used to convert mean

stomach content values to %BW. Figure 2 illustrates how the %BW of stomach

contents differ with fish size for the various species (data from which

figures were drawn are listed in Appendix 5). It can be seen in the figure

that the smaller fish of many species tend to have larger quantities of food

in their stomachs, in terms of %BW, than the larger fish (e.g., see little

skate, scup, butterfish, witch flounder, yellowtail flounder, and longhorn

sculpin in Figure 2) and that the stomachs of the largest fish of several

species contain more food in terms of %BW than the medium size fishes (e.g.,

see Atlantic cod, haddock, silver hake, pollock, red hake, and fourspot

flounder). The %BW of the stomach contents of various size fish of other

species were highly variable (e.g., see spotted hake, white hake, ocean pout,

redfish, and American plaice). A possible explanation for these phenomena is

given in the discussion.

The average %BW of the stomach contents was calculated (excluding all

fish 1-5 cm in length since they were obtained for so few species) and

compared with the composition of the diet, dietary caloric value, and gut

morphology for each species. The latter two data sets were taken from a paper

by Edwards and Bowman 1979. All data are listed in Table 25 wher~ species

have been grouped into three categories (i.e., gadiformes, pleuronectiformes,

and other fishes) to exemplify relationships noted between species. Further,

fish within each group are listed in descending order according to their

average %BW. Of interest is that, overall, withi n each group the species

whose stomachs contain the largest quantities of food tend to feed primarily

on fish, squid, and decapods (which are high in caloric value) and also have

fairly large stomachs in comparison to their intestine (see Nikolsky 1963 for

a discussion of morphological differences between various types of

predators). The size of stomach is indicated by the 5/1 ratio which was

calculated by dividing the stomach tissue weight by the weight of the

intestine and pylorus. Fishes whose stomachs contained the smallest

quantities of food fed on prey of relatively low caloric value (e.g.,

echinoids, ophiuroids, polychaetes, holothurians, and thaliaceans) and had

relatively large intestines (their 5/1 ratios were generally <0.5. Pollock

(within the "gadiformes") and redfish (within the "other fishes") were

exceptions to the trend noted above in that the stomachs of both species

contained small quantities of food (0.41 and 0.10%BW, respectively) of

relatively high caloric value, and they also have fairly large stomachs. It
should also be noted that ocean pout and American plaice, both of which fed on

large quantities of echinoids and ophiuroids (both low in caloric value as a

food) have the smallest S/I ratios within their groups. The points brought

out above provide some evidence that a relationship exists between the

quantity and type (or caloric value) of food consumed, and the digestive tract

morphology of a particular species.
DISCUSSION

Previous investigations have established that the food eaten by many

predators changes as they grow in length. Vinogradov (1972) and Bowman

(1980b) documented that silver hake in the Northwest Atlantic eat mostly

crustaceans when they are juveniles and are piscivores when adults. Daan

(1973) studied North Sea cod and found a pronounced shift from crustaceans to

fish in their diet as they increased in length. Similar dietary trends have

been noted for such species as red hake, white hake, and pollock (Vinogradov

1972, Tyler 1971, Steele 1963, respectively). Prey selection by individual

fish is principally dependent on the mouth morphology of the predator

(particularly mouth size), and the physical and behavioral adaptations of the

particular species for obtaining available prey. Food related size classes

for fish have been identified as "threshold lengths" by Parker and Larkin

(1959) and as "feeding stanzas" by Paloheimo and Dickie (1965) and Tyler

(1972). Hahm and Langton (1980) examined predator to prey weight ratios and

showed that different predators select different size frequencies of prey.

Hahm and Langton's work concentrated on a subset of the data considered in the

present study. Data presented herein corroborates information from these

earlier investigations, and further, documents that dietary shifts related to

fish size occur in other species as well (e.g., little skate, haddock, spotted

hake, ocean pout, longhorn sculpin, American plaice, and yellowtail flounder).

Overall, the analysis of the stomach contents reported on here indicates

that the smallest fish of each species sampled (juveniles) prey mostly on

amphipods, euphausiids (almost exclusively Meganyctophanes norvegica) mysids

(mostly Neomysis americana) and decapod shrimp (principally Crangon

septemspinosis and Dichelopandalus leptocerus). The juveniles of four species

(l.e., scup, witch flounder, Amencan plalce, and yellowtail flounder) also

fed to varying degrees on polychaetes, and one predator, namely butterfish

also took larvaceans as food. The larger adult fish of many species (i.e.,

Atlantic cod, silver hake, pollock, red hake, spotted hake, and white hake)

fed intensively on fish or squid, while others (i.e., little skate, longhorn

sculpin, and to a lesser extent, fourspot flounder) ate mostly decapod crabs

and shrimp. Of particular interest is that most, if not all, fish consumed

are either eggs, larvae, juveniles, or species of relatively small size (e.g.,

see Table 26 for names and sizes of fish eaten by Atlantic cod, the largest

predator sampled). Also note that all species collected prey to some degree

on fish (Table 27). Adult haddock, ocean pout, American plaice, and

yellowtail flounder took some combination of echinoderms and/or polychaetes as

their principal food. These data are fairly consistent with previous reports

on the food of the same species. For example, Bowman (1981) reported on the

diet of the juveniles of ten species of Northwest Atlantic groundfish. He

found that relatively few prey groups (e.g., copepods, amphipods,

Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Crangon septemspinosa, and Neomysis americana)

account for a large portion of the food of juvenile fish. Langton and Bowman

(1980, 1981) studied the dietary habits of gadiform and pleuronectid fishes

collected in the same geographic areas as the present study during the years

1969-1972. Our results for the same species agree well with their findings.

Our data are also in agreement with McEachran's conclusions (1973) on little

skate. He noted little skate <41 cm TL consumed mostly amphipods, while

skates >41 cm TL fed primarily on decapod crabs and shrimp during the 1969-

1970 period in the Northwest Atlantic.
The compositi on of the di et of few, if any, fi sh speci es rema ins the same

throughout their life. However, the type of food eaten by some species varies

little as they grow. Rae (1969) observed only a slight change in the diet of

different size witch flounder caught on Icelandic fishing grounds off

Scotland. He noted crustaceans were eaten more often than polychaetes by

smaller fish (ll-20 cm TL), but for all other size classes of fish (up to 50

cm TL) polychaetes were the most frequent prey consumed. Witch flounder

caught in the Gulf of Mai ne and Western Nova Scoti a for the present study had

similar dietary habits to the Northeast Atlantic witch flounder studied by Rae

(loc. cit.). Only the stomachs of fish <20 cm TL contained large quantities

of crustaceans (e.g., 69.8% Meganyctiphanes norvegica; see Table 17); for all

other length categories polychaetes made up the largest portion of the stomach

contents. Other predators whose diets only differed slightly between length

categories were redfish (prey was almost exclusively euphausiids and decapod

shrimp), scup (food consisted mainly of polychaetes), butterfish (hydrozoans,

polychaetes, and amphipods were important prey), and to a lesser extent

fourspot flounder (decapod shrimp was the principal prey of all fourspot

flounder sampled; however, some squid and decapod crabs were also taken by

fish >20 cm TL).

Predation patterns of fishes within each particular geographic area have

not changed sUbstantially over time. Langton and Bowman (1980, 1981)

described the food of gadiform and pleuronectiform fishes in the same study

area for the years 1969-1972. Many of the same or similar differences between

areas reported on here were established during their investigations. The

identification in this paper of the principal prey utilized by fishes within

various geographic areas also establishes that many prey species are

widespread in the study area. However, other organisms utilized as food are

often restricted to relatively small geographic areas.

Seasonal and spatial changes in the type and quantity of food consumed

according to prey availability are well documented (Tyler 1971, 1972; Turuk

1976). The data presented here and in previous reports. (e.g., Langton and

Bowman 1980, 1981) represent collections made during similar seasons and in

the same geographic sampling areas. Therefore, the consistent similarities

and differences noted in the prey consumed between areas are a measure of the

relative abundance of species utilized as prey. Because the most abundant

predators within each geographic area were chosen for this analysis, the

principal species of prey consumed within each area likely represent a

significant biomass. This can be documented for at least one species, namely

Pandalus borealis, a common prey of fishes in the Gulf of ~aine and Western

Nova Scotia region. Commercial vessels landed more than 10,000 tons of this

species annually during the early 1970's and the estimated biomass was more

than 20,000 tons during the same period in the Gulf of Maine and Western Nova

Scotia region (Clark et al., 1979). Prey considered here to be generally

restricted to specific areas likely tend to also segregate the fish species

which have developed prey-specific efficiencies. The affinity of some fish

species to concentrate in the vicinity of large concentrations of favored food

has been established (Templeman, 1965; Tyler, 1971).

Observations on the relationships between %BW of stomach contents, prey

types consumed, gut morphology, caloric value of food, and daily ration have

been described in some detail by Edwards and Bowman (1979). They noted the

caloric value of food (also digestibil ity of prey) and the S/I ratio (or gut
morphology) are related in that fishes which eat food of low caloric value

(e.g., polychaetes and thalaceans) and/or food which is hard to digest (e.g.,

echinoderms) tend to have heavier (and usually longer) intestines (thereby

reducing the 5/1 ratio) than fish which do not. Fish which feed on prey high

in caloric value (e.g., fish and squid) generally have relatively small

i ntesti nes.

Edwards and Bowman (loc. cit.) also hypothesized on the feeding behavior

of various size fish. They suggested that small fish feed several times per

day; medium size fish feed for the most part only once per day; and large fish

(which eat mostly large prey organisms) feed during a particular period of the

day, but not necessarily every day. The results presented herein indirectly

support their hypothesis in that the stomachs of small juveniles of many

species contained large quantities of food in terms of average %BW, which

would be expected if they fed several times throughout the day. In this

regard it should also be mentioned here that in addition to possibly feeding

more than once per day the juveniles of at least two species (haddock and

silver hake) are known to have heavier (larger) stomachs, in terms of %BW of

stomach tissue, capable of holding relatively more food than the stomachs of

adults (Bowman 198Ga, 198Gb). Moderate size fish, ,for the most part, had the

smallest %BW values of stomach contents (possibly indi~ating they may only

feed once per day and digest the majority of their food in less than 24 hr).

Large fish of species which take relatively large prey had the highest %BW of

stomach content values, an expected result if their prey remains in their

stomachs over long periods of time while being digested. Certainly there may

be other explanations for the above results, but the given hypothesis based

principally on empirical data seems reasonable.
LITERATURE CITED

Bigelow, H. B., and W. C. Schroeder. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine.

u.s. Fish Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53, 577 p.

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Mar. Fish.

46 p.

Bowman, R. E.

,roundfish.

1980b. Food of silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis). U.S. Nat.

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U.S. Dept. Comm.,

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Table l. Number of fi sh stomachs collected from each species sampled for the spring and autumn

of the years 1973-1976.

Year and Season

1973 1974 1975 1976

Predator Sprin 9 Autumn Sp rin9 Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Total

little skate 134 76 156 113 164 124 204 150 1121

Atlantic cod 172 361 224 191 180 1'00 214 172 1714

Haddock 107 213 121 260 122 268 165 223 14:79

Silver hake 196 515 389 333 274 357 309 352 2725

Pollock 89 135 95 52 76 64 117 64 692

Red hake 46 84 82 47 56 54 109 112 590

Spotted hake 47 79 30 74 67 54 96 94 541

White hake 45 103 79 87 70 56 56 59 555

Ocean pout 83 21 115 7 72 7 102 32 439

Scup 44 30 20 91 59 167 120 191 722

Butterfi sh 61 140 35 168 51 161 201 265 1082

Red fi sh 55 114 53 49 55 53 58 46 483

Lon9horn sculpin 50 73 104 71 142 106 106 61 713

Fourspot flounder 45 87 41 58 20 27 51 56 385

Witch fl ounder 150 142 123 107 62 120 98 45 847

American plaice 193 246 231 218 165 158 207 104 1522

Ye 11 owta i 1 fl ounder 121 128 137 120 152 73 164 126 1021

Total 16631
Table 2. Number of each species of fish sampled for stomach content analyses within various geographic

areas of the Northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976, combined.

Predator cl ass

Fish and squid

Predator

Sil ver hake

Atlantic cod

Whi te hake

Pollock

Middle

Atlantic

789

Southern

New England

918

Geogra phi c

Georges

Bank

915

591

Area

Gul f of

Maine

418

470

374

Western

Nova Scotia

669

295

Planktonic invertebrates

Epifaunalcru5taceans

Benthic infauna and noncrustacean epi fauna

Butterfi sh

Redfi sh

Little skate

Red hake

Spotted hake

Fourspot flounder

Longhorn scul pi n

Haddock

American plaice

Yellowtail flounder

Witch flounder

Scup

Ocean pout

678 394

486 579

481

531

366

692

642

502 502

450 262

239 184

466

87

714

426

747

784

386
,~-- ~-- --~ - ,--~

Table 3. Composition of the stomach contents of little skate, expressed as a percentage of tile total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, for little skate collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

throu9h 1976.

Length category (em)

Stomach contents 6~ 10 11-15 16-20 21~25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51~55

COELENTERATA 0.4 1.3 0.4 0.2

NEt-IERTEA 0.6 0.1 ..-:0.1 0.7 1.2

POLYCHAETA 1.1 4.7 15.9 6.0 8.2 13.6 12.2, 7.9 30.5

Flabelligeridae 0.3 0.2 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.2

Aphrodi tldae 0.8 1.3 1.8 6.5

Glyceridae 0.4 2.3 0.4 2.9

Nephtyidae 0.3 0.9 1.5 0.6 2.8

Nereidae 1.1 <0. I 0.4 1.2 6.7

Other Polychaeta 1.1 4.7 15.9 5.4 6.9 9.1 6.2 3.7 11.4

CRUSTACEA 63.2 78.5 84.4 68.7 86.0 69.4 62.9 67.0 68.8 51.6

Amphi pada 29.2 39.3 39.3 46.0 35.1 32.7 18.1 14.7 10.7 4.0

Ampeliscidae 3.0 6.0 3.0 2.9 1.4 1.2 1.4 0.3 <0.1

Uncial a irrorata 10.3 13.7 9.0 2.7 1.8 2.4 1.6 0.5 <0.1

Other Corophlldae 0.7 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.7 5.7 1.3 0.2

Gammarus annulatus 6.3 10.1 5.2 0.1 0.1 1.8

Other Gammarldae 16.0 6.1 5.1 7.3 10.1 1.4 1.0 1.2 0.4

leptochei rus pi ngui 5 3.6 3.1 3.2 4.7 4.3 5.0 5.3 3.9 2.6

Ronoculodes edwardsi 2.4 1.0 3.3 7.9 10.1 7.8 1.1 2.0 1.1 0.1

O~edicerotidae 10.8 8.4 1.2 1.3 0.9 2.4 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.5

Other flmphipoda 6.0 5.8 6.1 1.2 4'.2 1.0 1.1 0.6 0.4

Oecapoda 4.9 24.3 32.7 ,15.3 40.2 21.4 36.2 45.1 53.8 42.9

Axi us serratus 1.0 1.1 2.6 1.8

Cancerborea lis <0.1 0.7 0.7 2.6 5.2

Cancer i rroratus 0.2 IS .7 1.3 0.5 7.2 5.2 5.3

~cancridae 0.8 0.2 2.1 3.4 4.4 4.0 2.9 16.5

Crangon septemspi nasa 4.6 14.4 29.5 12.3 16.3 13.2 15.3 8.7 6.3 5.8

UI~rangonldae 0.3 4.8 1.2 1.6 0.6 1.9 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.9

Pagurus acadianus 5.7 9.3 13.4 0.8

~llaguridae 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.6 2.2 1.9 11.0 2.7

Oichelopandalus leptocerus 2.3 3.3 0.1 3.8 5.9 4.0 0.8

rITner oecapoda 2.8 0.9 0.9 1.9 0.9 2.0 5.1 5.3 3.9

Isopoda 1.3 0.3 0.1 1.2 1.6 6.3 2.3 1.3 0.8 2.0

Cirolanfdae 0.4 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.5 6.3 2.3 1.3 0.8 2.0

Other Isopoda 0.9 <0.1 0.2 0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Other Crustacea 27 .8 14.6 12.3 6.2 9.1 9.0 6.3 5.9 3.5 2.7

MOLLUSCA 0.4 0.1 3.2 5.5 3.0 4.2 2.8

relecypoda 0.4 3.1 3.9 2.2 3.7 0.5

Other f~ollusca 0.1 0.1 1.6 0.8 0.5 2.3

PISCES 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.5 3.1 3.5 5.0 7.0 2.8

Ulvllrla subbi furcata 3.6

nInerPiseeS 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.5 3. I 3.5 5.0 3.4 2.8

MISCELLANEOUS 35.7 20.5 10.7 14.3 7.4 16.0 14.1 10.8 10.5 12.1

Number of stomachs examined 43 52 73 44 42 70 ltD 247 391 45

Number 0 f empty stomachs 6 2 3 2 2 6 9 18 50 2

Mean stomach content. weight(g) 0.018 0.051 0.158 0.257 0.522 0.537 0.874 1.268 1.(i24 1.395

r~ean Ii sh TL (em) 9 13 17 22 28 33 38 43 47 51 ,~--~-----
Tilbl e 4. Composition of the stomachcontentsof Atlilntic cod, expressed os a percentage of the total

5tomach contents weight versus fi sh length, for Atlantic wd co11 ec ted in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976.

--~~~~--------------"---'-"~---'----'-- ---rength category (cui)

___Stoma~~,!ntents 6-10 1[.15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 _._~.!.:,~- 56-60 ---_._- COELENT£RATA 0.5 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.8 0.7

POLYCIIAETA 0.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 5.0 4.3 3.3 5.1 4.2 2.4

Aphroditidae 2.8 0.3 1.7 4.1 3.8 0.9

Other Polychaeta 0.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.2 4.0 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.5

CRUSTACEA BB.3 78.5 81. 0 2B.4 83.0 49.7 57.6 37.9 42.1 35.0 38.5

Oecapoda 51.3 10.3 42.9 16.5 51. 9 39.0 44.0 31.5 38.4 32.3 3il.4

AXl us serratus 3.0 0.2 6.3 I.B 0.8

Cancer-liOreiilTs 0.3 2.1 0.6

Cancer irroratus <0.1 0.1 1.0 0.2 0.9 5.0 10.5

Geryon' qliTi1quede"ns

l1yas coarctatus 3.2 2.2 5.4 2.7 3.0 3.3 6.1

Pagurus acadlanus 1.0 0.1 0.6 0.4 B.5 4.7 3.4

Olche1opanda1"usl"epLocerus 40.1 3.7 B.9 5.0 24.9 13.4 12.6 10.2 9.0 3.1 2.9

J'iari{lalus monta9u1----- 3.4 7.3 4.2 3.0 6.8 1.7 a.s 3.2

Other rdIlO-aTTdile- 4.4 1.1 5.4 1.4 2.1 0.3 3.3 0.3 1.2

Other Oecapoda 11.2 6.6 29.6 7.0 10.1 17.6 16.3 10.7 5.4 3.5 5.7

Othe,' C,·ustacea 37.0 6B.2 38.1 11.9 31. 1 10.7 11.6 6.4 3.7 2.7 U

MOLLUSCA 3.8 B.3 7.1 10.9 14.7 22 0

Pelecypoda I.B 0.1 3.7 6.3 10.5 11 .8

Cyrtodat'ia siliguil Pectinidae --.. 3.7 5.5 9.5 11.8

Other Pel ecypoda I.B 0.1 O.B 1.0 <D. I

Cephalopoda 0.1 1.4 1.4 1.0

Loligo sp.

ofTii;;::'tepha lopoda 0.1 1.4 l.4 1.0

Other Mollusca 2.0 8. I 2.0 4.6 2.B 9.4

ECltlf10DERMATA 1.3 1I. 3 2.4 9.4 1.7 3.2 6.0

Ophi llt"oidea 0.1 4.9 2.4 5.6 1.4 2.3 4.7

Hololhut'ojdca 5.3 3.8 0.3 0.7 0.5

Other Echi t!ouerllla t.a 1.2 1.\ <0.1 ·-0.1 0.2 (l.U

Pisces 6.3 5.6 I.R 65.8 3.7 15.8 16. I 31. 3 29.0 39.0 25.0

Batrochoididae

~pea ~'~!.!.9~~ 2.7 1\,7

Other Clupeidae 12.0 4. <)

Gadusmorllua

MalcinoY"ammus aeglefinus HerTucci us bTll'ileaNs----

OtilerG-adidae------'

AIJII\lodytes <lrnCI' i callUS 6.7 11\.5 9.9 13.3 1.3 cCJTETClBe" ~-'--.---'-~ 0.2 0.4 0.2 U.2 <11.1

Scolllber scolilbrus 1.6 \.8

f;Ciili5 [oiiius-S-illTiilri x Sellil stes'·m,1iTrius--~- 3.3

IHPPclgTossoides-·pl iI tcssoi des inTier'rleuroriec-tHo-fri'les··-'-"·'·· 4.3 0.1 0.1

Other Pisce" 6.3 5.6 1.8 65.R 3.7 9.1 11. I 16.4 llj H.B J6.9

r~ISCELLAfj[OUS 3.0 15.9 1; . ? 4.6 9.1 13.2 <J.7 1!l.2 4.6 2.3 '1.2

sMm ArlO ROCK 1.7 5.4 0.1 0.4 ().7 l.t.' 0.6 5.5 O.J 1.0

Ilumher of stonh1chs (>X,1111i lied 3S B3 '.ij 41 81 11(, I/O III 13'.1 11 ~j L'G

f'lumher of empty s t:(illli'lchs B \4 III ! " 'I III B I; 1'l 1.1

HCMl stolllilch clmten t \wi~Jhl(g) 0.015 a.OBI O. jilL' . II ? 1.lfi!j O!jil I,!)] 4 614 7. '172 1/. J59 12.11 III

r1Ciln f ish FL (!:llIL _. __ U I;! II'~ ;'J III J3 .1.". ·13 iln !i3 !jl\
Table 4. (continued)

.-,6"-1::,-6,,5_~---,,6,,,6-::,7-,-,0 71- 75

3.1 3.8 0.3

1.1 0.5 1~0

16.9

15.8

0.1

0.7

8.9

4.0

22.8 4.5 47.9

16.3

4.7

7.1

0.3

0.3

15.3

15.3

9.8

19.1

22.4

7.0

13.1

5..1

4.9

0.3

{).1

0.3

1l.2

O.l'

<0.1

0.4

15.4

7B.5

0.1

6.1

24.1

4.1

8.9

0.4

0.7

5. I

23.2

23.n

0.4

0.'

0.2

<0.1

1.4

0.1

0.6

1.B

0.3

14.3

14.3

81.5

0.3

0.6

22 .5

26.6

0.1

1.1

0.6

7.2

3.3

35.1

0.6

0.4

0.2

11. 3

11.0

2.0

87.5

0.9

8.0

2.4

<0.1

0.2

49.2

0.2

0.4

0.2

28.8

18.2

18.0

5.5

7.0

4.5

0.2

1.7

1.3

9.6

8.5

48.9 33.4

2.4

3.5

3. ! 3.4

1.1 1.0

O. I U. 2

0.2

6.2

4.1

2.1

4.9 22.3

22.3

4.9 ,0.1

3.7 0.3

1.3 0.2

1.0

0.4

0.3

<0.1

8.6

72.4

16.5

15.5

11.1

3.7

0.7

<0.1

0.3

<0.1

<0.1

1.1

0.2

1.5

1.5

0.3

0.4

1.1

0.5

0.7

,0.1

1.8

0.7

6.0

6.0

14.0 0.8

2.8 0.2

8.4 7.1

4.8 7.7

<0.1

0.1

0.9

0.6

1.5

0.2

0.8

1.3

0.1

4.9

3.0

1.9

<0.1

2.2

8.4

13.9

13.8

0.1

0.8

7.6

2.2

1.9

0.6

0.2

1.0

10.0

1.4 2.2

3.2 1.3

3.8

2.1

0.3

0.2

<0.1

2.2

0.4

2.4 2.1

IS.6 33.5 7.1.2

2.4 2.8 2.2

0.7. 4. I 0.1

-'Lengtfi category (em)

76-80 81-85 86-90

0.6

0.8 0.1 0.8

0.3 1.5

2.0 0.2 D.?

0.1 0.4

58.8 68.0 88.9

15.4

10.8

10.8

1.4

20.0

19.6

0.6

0.4

9.3

IB.l

2.3

1.2

10.5

0.6

0.5

25,4

1.0

1.1

0.3

0.1

0.4

3.1

1.1

3.1

3.0

0.2

4.5

0.3

4.2

1.4

4.\

0.7

3.5

9.1

64.4

0.3

0.2

2.0

3.6

1.9

0.5

1..1

12.5

0.7

0.5

0.1

U.5

3.3

0.6

10.4

16.1

0.2

5.7

2.9

1.1

5.5

1.4

5;4

0.4

4.6

1.9

0.3

0.8

5.7

0.8

9.3

54.2

26.8

26.0

0.2

0.9

lL2

0.4

0.7

1.6

5.1

3.8

0.9

1.3

2.5

2.7

3.4

1.1

3.3

5.0

2.2

0.7

0.5

8.2

4.0

9.5

1.0

4.0

0.1

3.4

0.2

11.3

3.7

().7

3.4

40.0

15.5

12.2

32.5

29.8

3.1

1.3

)0.2

Stomach contents

COELENTERATA

POI.YCIiAETA

Apht'odi t idae

Other Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Decapoda

Axius serratus

CilncerboreaTTs Cancer Trroratus

teryon qurnqijeilens

11Y3SCoarc ta tus flilgli"r~dianus

OiCTieTOranda 1us kFtocerus

Panda 1us montagui --- ~"'fian~-

Other Decaroda

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Pelecypoda

Cyrtodaria s11 igua pecti~e·~~~

Other Pelecypoda

Cepha 1opoda

Loli~ sp.

Other Cephalopodd

Other Mollusca

ECHINODERMATA

Ophiul'oidea

1101 othu 1'0 idea

Other [chilloderlllilla

PISCES

Batrachoididile

C1 upea llarengus ITT.lirt;--CTUpel{1"5e

Gadus mbrhua

MeTanogramrnus ilegl efi nus

i:ferl ucc lus-bTlln'eilrls--- DTfle·r"GadTda~~--­

Arnlllodytes lllllcricaflUS CoTf.l(J;le ...._-_.--- .

SC()lIIber scombrus

POllia tomlissaTi"atr i x Sepasies-l1lmi\us-·~

TITiipo 91(;'5SO i des"""p1a to sso i de s OIlIer ·Pleuronec·t.noriiles--~

Otller· Pi sees

MISCELLANEOUS

SAUIl AUD ROCK

fluiliber of stOilltlchs ('xiJlI1ined

tlumhet- of empty SLOIHilchs

Heiln St.OOlM:h CfJl\lr:lIt ~Ieight.((l)

1~I~iln fish rL (un)

122

lU

12.413

6?

119

9

28.fJ36

67

III

9

l'fi. ~i «()

r;

1\4

9

:lll.liBl

Jl

II

4

11~. \93

!If'

57.1\0\

!If!

:J?

'I 711, }[,(,

'J",

:w

,

l'lG.I)[J7

97

19

3

\?2.095

lOt.'

IG

3

1(;5. g.1B

IUB

l-1

1\

\nn. t.ll n

.. l?~_.
·~-~._-~~....•_--- ......_-..__.

Table 5. ComposHion of tlle stomach contents of haddock; expressed as a percentage of the lotCll stomach

contents ~Jeight versus fish lengt.h, for haddock collected in the NorthHest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976.

2.Bl.B lUI D.l It.l.i s.n 0.7

IG,6 20,6 35.g "1/.9 ]J {] 17.B 21.3

1.1 2.l 11.1 '1.3 ,1 <1 Ii.l 1:'.3

2.1

0.4

1.3

20.2

3.1

3.8

0.9

0.9

1.1

0.1

I.B

0.2

2.8

5.3

0.2

0.6

1.5

3.0

0.2

0.2

2.7

0,7

2.3

1.6

1.1

0.4

19.0

2.9

0.1

2.7

0.1

12.5

4.3

I .3

26.5

16.5

8.7

3.9

2.4

2.4

5.8

0.2 4.6

2.9

0.7

B.O

9.6

3.9

3.3

<0. ]

2.3

2.7

4.6

3.6

3.5

0.1

2.6

2 6

1.7

8.4

1.7

0.4

,0.1

0.5

25.0

4.9

0.1

4.7

0,1

18.2

10.7

0.3

32.1

16.3

A.7

2.3

<0.1

2.2

B.l

0.4

0.6

·0.1

<0.1 -:0,

lUI 1.9

() ~.(J

0.7

17.7

2.0

0.2

1.5

0.3

14.9

13.8

0.1

31.1

11.4

3.8

0.3

1.8

0.3

5.2

13.4

0.2

4.5

4.B

3.9

4.5

4.5

<0.1

I.B

3.0

2.3

10.3

O.B

0.3

0.1

12.0

15.3

4.0

4.7

4. I

2.5

J.

0.7

1.6

2.2

0.8

1.3

0.1

21.0

2.2

0.2

2.0

31.5

19.1

7.0

4.6

0.7

6.B

10,8

4.5

3.4

0.1

2.8

12.1

0.4

0.1

0.1

4.4

2.2

B.B

5.3

0.8

0.3

15.8

0.4

1.1

5.3

n.1l

8.9

O.B

.-:0.1

,0.1

0.4

0.4

0.6

0.2

41.4

26.1

10.7

15.3

2.5

0.5

15.7

5.2

4.5

11. 4

2.7

4.3

2.4

6.2

21.1

I.B

0.3

B.O

2.7

4.9

0.3

50.4

21. 7

B.B

16.2

0.9

1.7

17.6

2.6

1.4

0.3

0.1

0.1

1.0

2.7

12.2

20.6

B.6

12.0

4.6

0.1

3.5

I.B

5.5

15.9

?B

2.6

0.2

57.4

16.3

5.5

19.3

-~~-·~'[.e;;-ng"'t"'hcategory {cinT'~---- -----.---.

11-15 16·20 21·25 26·3~..~~3.1.·3S__-:l6::4_0_~1·45

0.3 2.4 2.1

Stomach contents 6-10

COELENTERATA

Ceriantharia

Otllel' Anthozoa

POLYCHAETA 9.2

Spionphanes bombyx

iJtfiersploni<raeNicomache lumbricalis

5'ibeTfTdile

Aphrodltidae

Other polychaeta 9.2

CRUSTACEA 76.9

Amphi pada 7.3

Unciola irrorata

UnciOT.l scrrata

Garl1lnan da-e~~- 0.8

Leptocheirus pinguis

Uther -lIiiiPfiTPo~ 6,5

Oecapoda

Ax i us serra lus ITTcfie"lopamlarus leptocel~~

Pagundae

Other Oecapoda

Euphausiacea 61.7

Meganyctiphanes norvegica m~usiacea 61.7

Other Crustacea 7.9

HDllUSCA

Pelecypoda

Placopecten sp.

OTfier relecypoda

Gastropoda

Cephalopoda

Other Mollusca

EClll NODERMAT A

Echinoidea

tron91o~entrotus drolJachi ensi s.

Echi narilchn; us parma

Ol1ler[ChrnOT([e-a--

Oph i urai dea

Ophiura sarsi OphfUra sp:---- ~rlfi1u~ri dae

Qrhiopl!~ll~ ~.l:U!~ilJ.::..i!.

Otfler Ophiuroidea

l101othuroidea

Pso1us sp. mTier--1I0 10 thurui dea

Othr.r [chinodennrlt,l

PISCES

f~e 1ilrJogrilllullUs ~1::_1.1~~n~u! nuil"ci (l~e· .._--

Other pisces

HISCEtLAlIEOUS 12 2

S/iflll ANn lWeI: l.J

t~ulI\lJ(~r of ~;t:IlIII"t:h~ (~)(,_Hllirl('d

f-lUlllb(~r of Pilipty r;1.\Jllldchs

t1r:dli SLOlllilCh contr.'nl. y;cirjlll((/)

Hi~,l!lri$hn (C1n)

17

, IJ OJI

"

('Ull

11

() lilt]

11

Inc

1

0.1);:

Hi

'II

() .J'I'l

22

'J

I,T.

I . (ll,]

:lJ

ll.i4

9

1..1-1(,

37

J;'ll

7

2. !iG::

41
Table 5. (continued)

Stomach contents length catcgory-{"cmj--

46-50 51 M 55 56-60 . 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 ,,80 -~~_.-._--------~-

COELENTERATA <0.1 <0.1 2.2 0.1 5.8 7.4

Ceriantharia 0.1 5.8 7.4

Other Anthozoa <0.1 <0.1 2.2

POLVCIlAETA '.6 21.4 12.4 11.8 11. 7 12.' 48.1 27.6 Spionphanes -bombyx 0.7 0.7 1.4 1.8 Other Spioni~ 0.3 0.1 0.8 J.4 4.1

Nicomache 1umbrical i s 14.8 SabefTTdae 0.1 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.1 2.8 1.7 Aphroditidae 0.2 0.8 0.8 0.7 3.0 0.4 7.0

Other Polychaeta 8.3 19.• 11.4 •. 4 7.2 4.2 46,4 4.0 CROST ACEA I7 .5 11.2 12.2 12 .• 22.7 IS •• I.. 1I .5 Jlmphipoda 3.• 4.4 3.8 6.6 12.9 12.5 0.3 0.4

Unciol a irrorata 1.0 1.5 1.8 2.0 10.1 3.1 0.1 0.3 _~ serrata 0.3 0.1 <0.1 8.8 Gammarida-e--- 1.6 1.2 D.• 1.9 1.0 <0.1 <0.1

leptocheirus singuis 0.4 1.1 0.5 I.5 1.4 0.5 0.2

Other Amphi po a 0.6 0.6 0.6 1.1 0.4 0.1 O. I

Oecapoda 10.3 3.6 6.6 5.3 •. 0 3.3 0.2 10.6

Axius serratus <0.1 1.7 1.4 3.8 4.0 2.4

rrrcJiel opandaTUs ~ocerus 1.2 0.6 0.6 O. I 0.1 0.5

Paguridae 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.3 2.3

Other Decapoda 8.3 0.8 4.1 1.2 2.6 0.8 0.2 10.1

Euphausiacea 2.. 2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.6 <0.1 1.4 0.3 Meganycti~hanes norvegica 2.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.6 J.4 0.3

Other Eup ausiacea <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Other Crustacea 1.1 3.0 1.5 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.2

MOllUSCA 15.3 3.2 6.• 2.1 3.6 0.2 0.5 0.3

Pelecypoda 2.0 2.• 2.6 3.4 0.1 0.4 0.3

Pl acopecten sp. 0.6 2.5 0.1 2.4

other"i'e1ecypoda 1.4 0.4 2.5 1.0 0.1 0,4 0.3

Gastroroda 0,3 0.2 3.6 0.6 ,0, I 0.1 0.1

Cephalopoda 11.7 D.• Other Mollusca J.3 0.1 0.7 0.6 0.2 <0.1

WIINOOERMATA 26.2 38.1 27.2 40.5 38.0 27.9 19.8 5.• Echi noi dea 3.8 6.6 4.3 4.6 0.6 1.0 0.3

Stronglocentrotus drobachiensis 0.2 4.7 2.3 3.3 0.4 0.3 rcFiTnarachnlus parma--------- 3.3 I.. 1.6 1.2 0.2 0.7 0.3

ilffiCr-Echi noide-a-- 0.3 ,0.1 0.4 0.1 <0,1 <0.1

Ophiuroidea 18,9 28.5 20.6 29.0 29.3 24. 7 18.9 5.9

Ophiura sal'S i 3,5 4.3 3.5 7.9 14,2 7.3 1.1 0.7 npTilUl·-; sp--:-- 1.3 2.4 1.0 4.9

7\mphiuridae 0.6 2.1

Ophiopho1 is aculeata 9.3 17.8 lJ.4 12.6 11.5 9.7 7.2 0.4

UT.1leropnlUro-raea-- 4.0 4.0 4. I 3,6 3, () 5.6 10.6 5.3

llolothuroidei) 2.G n.B 0.5 1.7 3. I 2.0

rsolus sp. 0.6 0.7 1.2 2,5

OTTl~Ho1othuro i deil 2.0 0.1 0.5 IJ 5 0.6 " 0

Other [chi nodenni'l ta IJ 9 ~. 2 La 5 2 5 IJ 0,2 0.6

PISC[S I} 2 1.1 6.5 O.? (}.3 21.9

~~1E l.~!l?9.E~I~~I.I.l~~ ~~~.~.!5:f_!.r!.-us. G.1

Clupeid,le 21. 0

01.het' Pi sces O.r. J.I O. n.? 0.] U.9

MISCELLAUU)lIS i'2. B Ill. B I(i. 1 ?1I.] H. I, 5 (I 7.il 3.0

SAtlO -Arm ROCK B.iI f,. :-' l6.5 I? I 'l, 1 .1;', 3 1'1. S 29.11

t!ulIllJer 0 f s 1.01l1j'J(.hs (~Y.ilill i Ilpd I 3(j L'~l 11 l

j 11.1 :;1) ]:., I,j 9

l1uIllIJ('r "r (;lIIpt.y 5 1.(JIlI,Jch~> 7

" I" I 1 7 I) IJ ,

f1crJ n sl.nlllilch contenl. ~JI.'i~JhL(q} 3, ~;rO iI.2Hi !i. !)]O il33 9 :1% !ll,6U7 !(). O:I~l 24,021 f1e<lr1 fi ~!I FL (em) 111 ~? 51 63 f,j n 1]] R3 --------
Table 6. Composition of the stomach contents of silver hake. expressed <:IS a percentage of the tot<:ll stomach

contents weight versus fish length. far silver hake collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

through 1976.

length category (cm) -~-'''''''''------'~----

Stomach cont.ents 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 .. --!6..:..5L____.__'.5_L

POLYCHAETA 0,4 0.5 0,1 0,3 0,2 <0.1 0,1

CRUSTACEA B9,7 80.3 B1.6 77,3 2B,0 55,5 21.3 {.3 0.5 0.2 0,2 Amphi poda 5B,7 10,9 6,1 1.2 1.7 1.3 0,7 <0.1 <0.1 ,;0.1 Ampeliscidae 11.0 4,9 0,1 0,5 0,6 0.5 0,2 <0.1 <0. I Oedicerotidae 3,1 3,4 4,1 0,1 <0.1 0,1 0,1 <0.1

Parathemisto sp, 42,1 6,2 0,3 0,4 0,6 0,4 0,3

ITtiierAinphl pod a 2,5 4,4 1.6 0,2 0,5 0,2 0,1 <0.1 <0.1

Oecapoda II ,B 23,9 31.1 7,0 16.2 20.0 10,5 1.6 0,3 0, I 0, I Crangon ~temsPinosa 7,7 16,0 IB,7 3,7 4,3 6,1 q"J 0,3 0,1 <0. I ~i.£~~lopan aTUS .leptoce~ ],7 5,3 2,1 10,7 12.0 4,3 ],2 0.2 n.1

other Uecapoda 4,1 6,2 7,1 ],2 ],2 1.9 1.9 0,1 0,1 Euphaus i acea 1.9 5,7 23,7 64,4 7,B 16,4 B,B 0,6 0,2 0,1 Meganyct i pl1..a...nes n.2.!:.":'eg i ca 1.9 5,7 23,7 64,4 7,B 26,4 B,8 0,6 0,2 0, I

Mysidacea 4,2 12,1 12.8 3,9 0,2 6,7 0,6 <0.1 <0.1 0,1 Neomys i s americana 4,2 22,1 12,8 3,9 0,2 6,7 0,6 <0.1 <0.1 0, I Cumacea ~--- O,B 1.1 0,2 <0.1 0,2 <0.1 <0.1

Copepoda 1.7 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Othet· Crustacea 10.6 8,6 7,7 O,B 1.9 1.1 0.7 0,1 <0.1 <0, I <0.1 r~OllUSCA 17 ,8 3,4 14,9 14,3 0,1 12.0 lol i go pea 1cd IS.3 13,5 10.0 12.0 Oth'e-r-' Ce"lifi ~l(i'pud a "2,5 3,4 1.4 4,3 0,1 <0. 1

PISCES 4,B 13,9 14,0 19,9 52,B 38.7 62,4 83,4 98.9 87.8 99.8 Sculllheresox saIlY'US 5,6

clii ~erd;:le •..• _.....•...._- 3,5 3.!l B,O

t'lel'luccius Ioi 1i neal'i s 2,0 4,0 12,1 5.0 6,9 24.2 5,9 I'h'ycl-;;--cfies te'rT ....,---- J.2 /Cl(lii;'i·d.~i"les -~I"el;Tc iI nus 6,3 ?O ,,0,1 3, 1 0,4 7,7 S·c;iiu};r.l;- ;;coliITlr~lls-- ..-- 7.8 8,B 6,1 G.B 15. it

$ t"e"iirJ fillllus' clir.ys'tlpS 10.5

r'c;'p'f i'j tlsti" l'~l-Ciiilt.Tlus 2.1 3,4 zu.c OUiI2r:'Pi 5C£:"5-"·· .. ·····-- 4,8 5,6 8.0 19.9 30.7 33.7 :J! .2 37.5 60.7 81.0 (,3. I'

f~IS(EllAN[OUS !l.5 5,4 3,9 2,8 1.3 2,1 I.e <0.1 0,4 <0.

-"---_.__ ._._-,._._._~ ...._-_._- ..._-----------_._-_........_._--_.._.._.. .--_._...__.•._- ._---- -_._------------ -_._-~._- -~-_...__.__ .~--_._- -

fluillber of stomachs exami nf~d 344 603 216 86 243 444 42!l 147 61 2B 22

Number of empty st.olllachs 60 75 18 26 108 192 1Il9 63 29 11 l?

t1(lan sl.olllllch content vWight{g) 0.066 0.025 0.104 0.370 O. '152 0.545 1.1j4ll 7.278 10.321 32.0ll1 20. ,?62 r·ledll fi sh Fl (CIU) 4 7 I? 18 23 28 3:' 37 42 'HI 54 - .---- _ ..__._._._.._--.__.- _._------_. -". --_._--_.--...----_-.-
· _- -_•.--------------_ _--..__._

.~-----

Table 7. Composition of the stomach contents Of pollock, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length. for pollock collected in the Northvlesl

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976,

---rengfll category (cln) ._--...~---_.__ .•._--~~_.-

16- 20 21-25 26-30 31- 35 36-40 __.__4)-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 --~--_.._-_._•.. - ---- -"...-- ---~

99.9 87,9 66.1 84.7 79.3 66.6 30.7 96.7 60.4

2.1 17, 9 28.8 5.5 53. 1 4,5

0.7 0.3 2.8 2.7

31.0 4.2 13.5 24.6 54,3 n.7

2.9 1l.1 6.1 8.B 15.0 2.6

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

Decapoda

Pichelopandalus leptocerus

Pandalus borealis

Pasiphaea multldentata

llffier Oecapoda

Euph,ws i acea

Megdny~tiphanes norvegica

'l'liYsanoessa inermls ut"Fi"er-~us1 acea .

I~ys i dacea

Neomys i 5 amer1cana

Ot"tierCruslace-,---

MOLLUSCA

loligo sp.

~Cephalopoda

PISCES

Clupeidae

Merluccius bl'linearis

Herlucc-ius sp.

IfQTTiiCfilus vlrens

lie t hopror a metopoc1ampa scoiiioer scoiiim:u~--·:-­

5ebastesmarl"nus

~PTsce5--

M1SC£llANEOUS n.l

17.3 19.1

1.4 0.3 6.9 5.5

91.3 10.8 53.0 75.0 60. I 37.1 22.7

84.2 3.6 47.7 64.1 57.4 33.7 9.8

4.2 10.3 12.9

7.1 7.2 1.1 0.6 2.7 3.4 ·.0.1

0.5 0,7

0.5 0.7

8.6 77 .1 12.6 7.6 1.3 2.5

1.1

1.1

31.0 4.2 13.5 21\.6 54.3

12.1

6.9

44.1

2.1

43.0

43.0

0.6

0.7

\.!1

49.7

49.3

0.4

f.i,

.0

1.0

30,8

5.6

7.8

Number () f s tornachs exam i ned 15

Number of empty stomachs 1

Mean stomach contentweigiit{g) 1,006

.t~l~m .LUi!lXL._lc;.m1__, .~.. _. ..__lL

12 36 50

3 5 12

0,392 1.506 1.231

__ ?1..-. .~L8 __._33

43

4

2.631

~g.

16

7

3, ?35

4.1

15 17

5 3

0.B17 3.619

_____._..~L_. .__.__~l __ ...._

S6

7

2.901\

~-§-
~~~-~-----

Table 7. (continued)

length ca te gory-----rcmJ----

61-65 66-70 71~75 76-80 81-8~__~_~:.2Q..__~~~~_>~____.~__

67.2 32.7 63.0 42.0 54.2 32.9 12.1 15.2

10.1 4.6 46.5 17.1 36.9 20.2 10.7 2.4

0.6 2.7 1.4 0.6 1.6 12.8 0.2 O~

1.3 <0.1 0.1 1.1 3.0

0.4 0.6 45.0 16.1 33.0 12.2 9.B 2.2

1.1 <0.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 0.3 0.7 0.1

55.5 24.0 16.0 23.1 15.8 4.4 1.1 12.8

55.2 22.4 14.0 IB.4 14.7 3.0 1.1 12.8

3.8 0.4

0.3 2.4 2.0 0.9 0.7 0.6

1.6 3.3 0.5 2.6 1.5 0.2 0.3

0.6 0.4 <0.1 2.6 0.3 12.0 75.6

10.7 75.6

0.6 0.4 ,0~1 2.6 0.3 1.3 <0.1

29.4 57.1 29.0 50.2 35.1 65.7 74.0 6.5

9.1 14.6 11.5

6.1 11.7 1.3 35.8

15.0 27,9

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

lJecapoda

Oichelopandalus leptoce~us

Pandalus borealis

Pasfj)naea multldentata

Other Decapoda

Euphausiacea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

iTiysanoessa lOermlS

other1UPflilusraceaMys ldacea

Neomysis americana

Qtner"Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

loligo sp.

Other Cephalopoda

PISCES

Clupeidae

I~erl oed us bi 1i neari s

f.ferJucclUS sp.

PCiTTiiCilTi.is vi rens

Mthoprora metopoc 1ampa

Scomber scombrus

)eliiiSfe5mar'fiiUS

Other Pi sces--~

i~I SCEl.lANEOUS

23.0

0.3 48.0 14.4

2.0 10.2 7.6

9.9

2.B

23.7 22.4 36.5 25.5

7.0 8.1 1.1 1.9 2.7

6.5

~-~---~-----~-_.~~

Number of stomachs examined 54

Number of empty stonldchs 8

t~e<ln stofllilch content we i gilt (g) 6.686

f1ea~.i_~_~_J:.LJ.£~lL__~~__-, . .--'._§}~...__

55 63 60 74

12 12 11 16

6.360 8.372 12.060 14.536

_ ~} IL , ~L .J!3.

60

642

33 16

33.342 43.649 37.601

_____._. __flL.__,_.__ .. ._.2f_._,_._~ LPJL
---~--- ._---- ._--- -~- ~--- -- ~~

Table B. Composition of the stomach contents of red hake, expressed as a percentilge of the tolill stomach

contents weight versus fish length. for red hake collected in the Northwest Atlanticrrom 1973

tht"ough 1976.

Length ciltegory· (crn)-~---·-·----··-----·----------_·~------·-----~-._-

Stomach contents 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 ~~lQ......____3l:~.__ 36-40____~~_____~~______.____._ ---_..- POLYCflAETA 14.8 5.6 20.2 7.9 3.8 1.6 4.5 1.0

Aphrod i ta hastata 3.5

rrtllerPOTychaeta- 14.8 5.6 20.2 7.9 3.8 1.6 1.0 l.0

STPUNCULIDA 11. 2

CRUSTACEA 48.7 77 .2 03.8 84.3 52.8 40.4 50.8 38.3 36.4 12 4

Amphipoda 16.7 29.3 23.6 62.4 20.1 12 7.8 5.9 2.0 0.7

Aeginella sp. 1.9 1.5 0.6

UncfofaTrrorata 3.0 4.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 0.7 0.2 <:0.1 <0.1

Ganllnarldae 7.0 8.0 5.2 32.9 10.0 1.1 1.6 <0.1 0.2 0.1

leptocheirus ~9UiS 6.0 9.5 3.5 4.4 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.4

OTlierAmpIiTj)o a' --- ".7 10.4 7.2 29.5 3.6 2.4 2.6 3.8 0.1 0.2

Decapoda 3.0 36.6 24.3 10.5 22.0 20.8 34.3 27.9 32.5 10.2

Axi us serratus 0.7 2.7 0.5 0.6 0.2

canceroorearrs 0.3 4.1 2.7 5.5

(<lneer i rroratus 1.1 <0.1 2.4 1.9 0.6 2.0

Crango"n septernsp'j nosa 1.3 5.4 12.4 2.2 5.7 7.2 4.7 2. I 3.0 MUiilda-sp:-~---- 0.4 6.0 3.4

Pagurus .acadi~~ 6.9

D1 ctle lopanda Ius }ept~~ 22.3 4.6 13.4 7.0 10.9 7.6 16.4 0.9

Other Decapoaa 1.7 8.9 7.3 8.3 1.8 5.9 6.0 5.7 5.8 1.6

Isopoda <0; 1 1.5 0.5 3.1 0.2 0.2

Other Crus tacea 29.0 11.3 35.9 11.4 9.2 7.0 5.6 4.3 1.7 1.5

f~OLLlJSCA 4.6 0.1 1.3 33.8 5.7 14 6

Gastropoda 8.1 3.9 0.6 14 .6

Cepll<lloroda 4.5 1.1 29.4 5.1

Other f~o11usca 0.1 0.2 0.5 <0.1

[CHINO[)ERMATA 0.5 0.7 1.6 8.3 0.9

Iiolothuroided n.7 1.6 8.3 0.9

Olher [chi oodci"mata 0.5

PISCES 4.1 22.3 1.5.8 . 15.0 49.9 oJ. J

Clupeidae 0.1 20.4

Ophidiidile 5.3

Pl curoned i formes 10" 5 4.9 3. ,

Otller Piscp.s 1.1 1I .S 25.8 15.0 39.6 37.':i

NIS(EllAN[OUS 51.3 11.0 10.6 15.7 17.8 J7 .11 I G" 7 3.n 2.6 10.7

Numher of stolll'lchs eXilinined

Number of empty s tomilchs

Hean stolll'lch cont.ent ~Ieight(g)

t1.e.\!.D .. r..L~h.T L1.(;1l1L__ ._~. __ ..__.. -'--

76

18

0.006

. __4 _

73

12

o 031

_.. L__

44 15

1\ 2

(10ag 0.175

le .. . .. _17._

50

7

0.247

..~]L

103

20

() [,11]

;;;1

%

~I

n.'J:J9

32

73

17

2. B5 7

3!.__ ~_.

90

8

7.416

42

18

,

5.391

_q9_
Table 9. Composition of the stomach contents of spotted hake, expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versUs fish length, for spotted· hake collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

thl'ough 1976.

--------------~-

1.9

0.3

97.3

0.5

0.5

0.3

1.9

<0.1

97.3

7.0

0.9

2.3

0.2

0.2

17.7

4.2

3.3

5.1

15.6

7.7 40,9 15.6

0.3 0.1

17.3 55,2

1.4 0.4

5.3 9.2

7.7 11.6 46.0

.8 6.0 6.£

9.1

3.1

0.2

0.2

3.1

6.6

7.4

15.5

3.4

4.0

18.7

12.0

6.7

0.7

7.1

7.4

3.5

21.2

---l",iii""9Htlih-ci':a"tcc'"'9",oi'ry; (cmr------------ --------.-----.----.--

_-,1,-,1_-1~5, ~16~-2~_- ..._D-=~-_- 26-~ ..l~ >35 . .~_

85.5 09.9 81.1 34.9 23.0 0.8

35.2 6.0 1.7 0.1

22,9 39.6 21,8 16.5

0,9 2,2 0.6

17.7 3.8 1.5

3.3 1.6 8.7

0.2 2.7 0.1

11.7 8.6 4.5

5.8 2.9 1.1

36.8 54.3 16.1

36,S 54.2 16.0

0.3 0.1 0.1

7.5 3.3 2.2

0.4 8.0 41.0

0.4

13.1

0.7

12.4

9.6

2,2

21. 2

6-10

76,6

50,0

3.9

22.7

1-5

100.0

77 .3

Stomach contents

CRUST ACEA

Arnphi poda

Decapoda

Ia~cer irroratus

Crangon septernspinosa

HUliTMi rls

HUriTda

D~opandalus leptocerus

OtherOecapo'Cla

Euphausl<lcea

Meganyctiphanes norvegfca

offiC.rTUpnauSlacea

Other Crustacea

MOtLtJSCA

Cephalopoda

Other r~ollusca

PISCES

Merluccius bilinearis

Oplll dTl'Oae

Other Pisces

1~ISCEll.ANEOUS

Number of stomilchs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach i;ontent weight(g)

Mean fi sh II tern)

2 53 50 139 167

o 10 7 It 24

0022 0,041 0.140 U.329 ] .287

.~.~ __ ~. ,, ~._.. __._Jl__. !~. __ .~ 7,I __

82 37 11

15 12 4

2,845 2.667 13.790

___n.. ._1?_._,.__ ,_~~_. )?
Table 10. Composition of the stomach contents of white hake, expressed as a percentage of the total stomadi

contents weight versus fish length, for white hake collected in the Northwest. Atlantic from 1973

through 1976.

4.0

5.0

66.8

0.8

8.0

75.8

7.0

0.6

50.8

8.2

44.4

6.9

17.1

1.1

41. 1

2.

13.1\

7.6

3.2

13.4

21. 7

56.4

56.4

5.7

2.7

0.2

27.1

29.7

29.7

37.3

5.9

--LengtIlcategory""{CiilT -_.-------..--,----.-------~--.- -.--~

._.=2.=1-,,2,,5'--_-.-:2'.'6':-~_0 3_1_-_35_.__36_=__4..Q. ~_1 :~~ 46_-_50 ~.!:~.?_______ __ __

94.1 94.1 83.4 55.0 28.7 26.7 16.2

27.1 35.0 25.6 22.8 13.3 19.4 12.8

13.3 8.4 5.4 3.8 5.0 6.7

7.3 9.5 4.9 5.8 2.8

9.9 7.9 4.6 8.6 3.3

50.2 31.9 14.6 6.0 2.6

50.2 30.9 11.6 5.9 2.6

1.0 0.1

0.3 0.8 1.3

1.5 1.8 6.7

41.1 68.4 58.4

7.6

44.0

33.5

33.5

14.9

16-20

85.1

7.6

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

Oecapoda

Oichelopandalus leptocerus

Panda Ius boreal i5----

other Oecapoda

Euphausiacea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

i'fETier£uphausiacea -

Other Crustacea

MOl.LUSCA

PISCES

Argentina silus

tl u.E!! harengus

OTher Clupeldae

Merluccius bilinearis uropfiYCTScllii'S-s--~

uropliYC1S tenuTs

OrfierGadi~

Scomberscombrus

Sellastes-:rilan nus

PseuaoPTe~es americanus

OEller" Pisces -~----

MISCELt.ANEOUS

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomi'lchs

Mean stomach content ~Ieight(g)

~~.'!!!_ f i s t.!-l!:_js_n!l~~" __ ~~._.

9

3

0.197

19

15

5

0.373

_._.,,_.__.. ~._

24.._--_.

37

6

1.306

28

41

9

4.065

32

52

15

3.019

3(\

61 GO 41

18 18 13 9.~63 8.572 9.75q

.. 4~ ..1!~._. ..._,}} _
Table 10. (continued)

-_._--_. lengfll cilfegor-y'"TCiilJ ..__...__.•._--

St.omach contents 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 86-90 .·90 ---_._-- -- ._-------

CRUSTACEA 11.2 5.4 2.2 3.3 5.3 30.3 0.1 0.1

Oecapoda 9.3 5.2 1.9 3.1 4.7 30.3 0.1

Oi che1opanda lus leptocerus 0.8 2.1 0.5 0.2 13.8

PandaTus borealis 5.8 1.8 0.5 2.6

Other Oecapoda 2.7 1.3 0.9 2.9 2.1 16.5 0.1

Euphaus i acea 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0;4 0.1 <0.1

Meganyctiphanes norvegi ca 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 <:0.1

DtJier-tlijillaus 1 acea <0.1 <0.1

Other Crustacea 1.7 <0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

MOLLUSCA 0.4 <0.1 7.1 0.2

PISCES 88.1 84.5 97.3 96.6 93.7 62.6 99.9 99.7

Argentina s i lus 52,7

cTiijieaharen~us 18.2

other--Clupel ae 13.8 0,6

Merluccius bi 1i neari s 15,4 11.3 7.4 19.4 3.5 1.1

lJrOpfiYC1S "duss 4.7 1.9

Urophyci s tenui s 0.7 87.3

OffierGadiaa.e- 11.4 0.6 3.2

Scomber scombrus 3.1

Siiliastes~s 2,6 3.8

PseudopTeuronectes americanus 11.2

Other Plsces _._.--- 511,5 8.4 71.4 71.5 BO.l 62.6 99.9 0.1

MISCr.LLANEOUS 0.7 10.1 0.1 0.1 1.0 ·-0.1 <0.1

._---_.._----------------------------- .-._-_...•.. __ ...__._-------------- ---------------

Number of stomachs examined 47 38 44 42 ;;5 11 5 7

Number of empty stomachs 14 20 12 10 1 7 3 1

Mean stoillilch content wei ght. (9) 19.733 23.049 38.091 51 .081 II 3. 771 5.217 20.fl5D 359.022

!~<!.'-LiLw_l.L.LcJ!!t____._.___ . 57 63 67 73 78 82 87 1111 -_._------- ----....._._--- ----------------~_.._------- ------------ --.-- .._--._-..__._-.. ..._--_...__..--.-._-----
Tahle 11. Composition of the stomilch contents of ocean pout,expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length, for ocean pout collect.ed in the

Not'tllwest Atlantic from 1973 through 1976.

" . 9 2,2

0.8

0.5

3.8

1.1

,0.1

3.6

3. S

36.0

14.0

.:0.1

3.9

1.1

7.0

U.3 15.8 5.6 1.2 0.6

6.5 28.8 19.8 15.8 14.6

4.8 27.8 7.4 7.8 9.6

\.0 11. 7 1.1 0.5 \.7

3.8 16.1 6.3 7.3 7.9

\.5 0.3 10.1 8.0 14.9

2.8 4.7

0.2 1.6 5.2 8.0

1.3 0.3 8.5 <0.1 2.2

0.2 0.7 2.3 <0.1 0.1

0.1 5 4 5.9 4.4 5.0

1.4

0.1 5.4 5.9 4.4 3.6

88.1 61.6 73.7 59.8

88.1 61.6 73.2 56.8

88.1 10.5 35.0 32.5

51.1 38.2 2~.3

<0.1 <0.1 0.5

5.9

19.4

Length categor-y-RiiiT----·--------------" .. ,-,-- _---"="'--__,,26cc:-30 , l.! ~3~ }6-40 . 41-45 __~~~Q ,__

0.3 15.8 5.6 1.2 7.6

2.1

2.1

2.1

15.2

15.4 14.7

11-15 16-20 21-25

82. 5 70.1 74.7

82.5 53.0 74.7

40.2 12.0 5.1

42.3 41. 0 69.6

17.1

17.1

Stomach contents

POLYCItAETA

Aphroditidae

Dthel' Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Amphi roda

Bybl is serrata

CorophiT~

Other Amphipoda

Oecilpoda

Cancer ir'roratus

ITtIi"er'Cancr 1dae

Othet' Decapoda

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Placopectensp.

OIller Mollusca

ECflINOIJERMATA

Echinoidea

[chioaracll; nus parma

other-Echi noide-,---

Ophiuroidea

[uryale sp.

Opnlopnolis aculeata

Ol""Fi"ernph i tir>Ol<i""ea'~

Other Echi nodernlilta

MrSCEllANEOUS

SAND AND ROCK

Nwnber of stomilchs eXilm'ined

flumblT of empty stomachs

MeiJn stomach content weight(q)

~~il_n",~!.~!!.--T_~J_~L ,. ,_,_, _

"

3

0.012

14

6

I

0.061

17

11

6

0.051

12

26

15

0.736

18

'n

16

n. ObI

33

45

'3

1.210

37

37

15

I. SOli

42

50

16

1.625

48
Tahle 11. (continued)

length categor:yrc.liiT------~-----

Stomach contents !.iI-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 ,05 .~~~-~--_._._-

POLYCHAETA U.3 2.8 2.5 2.0

Aphrodi tidae 1.9 1.9

Other Polychaeta 0.3 0.9 0.6 2.0

mUSTACEA 8.7 9.6 7.8 3.6 1.5 2.B 7.3 6.2

J\mphi pod a 2.6 6.2 2.5 0.2 <0. 2.7 <0.1

l3ybl i s serrata 2.5 0.8 <0.1

Corophillie- 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.1 <0. I 2.7 <0.1

Other jlrnphi poda 2.2 3.5 1.0 0.1 <0.1 -:0.1

Oecapoda 6.1 3.0 4.6 3.3 1.5 0.1 7.3 6.2

Cancer i rroratus -:0.1 1.3 3.2 1.1

Other:-Cancri dae 1.8 0.3 0.4 0.1

Other Oecapoda 4.3 1.4 1.4 2.2 1.1 7.3 6.2

Other Crustacea 0.4 0.6 0.1

MOLLUSCA O.B 1.9 0.2 0.4 30.2

Placopecten sp. 0.3 0.6 0.4 30.2

OfIierMolTusca 0.5 1.3 0.2

ECHINOOERMATA 85.7 78.9 87.9 95.9 90.4 93.7 89.4 56.6

Echinoidea 78.7 78.7 82.0 95.6 9B.4 92.2 7.6 28.6

[chi narachi nus panna 68.1 ·65.6 72.6 87.1 89.2 45.1

lftli""e"r [chinorae~,-~ 10.6 13.1 9.4 0.5 9.2 47 .1 7.6 28.6

Ophiuroidea <0.1 <0.1 1.6 0.1 81.8 28.0

Euryal e sp. 20.1

OjiFi1CiPllolis acul~atiJ <0.1 1.6 0.1 81.B

Otheror\hlurOlde-,- <0.1 <0.) 7.9

Other Echi nodermilta 7 0 0.2 4.3 0.3 1.5

MISCEltAN[OUS 3.0 4.7 1.4 0.1 O. ) 0.1 1.3 0.6

SAND IUlO ROCK 1.5 2.1 U.2 3.4 6.4

--~-~~.- -~-.._------~~

.._.__.__. ~--- ._--_.__._... 

_. ----._--~--~-~_.~-~. __. ._-- -_..__... _.-

NUlllber of stomilchs exam i ned 54 61 42 26 16 11 2 10

NUillber of empty stomachs 12 19 10 6 4 4 IJ 4

~lean stolllach content weight(g) 5.0B5 6.17J 6.757 17.212 21.103 ;·~4. 962 H.206 12.376

Me~~ish...!~..(emL____________ 52 57 62 68 13 7 82 89 .__.------ ~------------ _. ------------ ..... -.•. __._-_._------ ---~~
Table 12. Composition of the stomach contents of scup. expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length, for scup·collected in the

Northwest Atlantic from 1973 through 1976.

~engTIi category (cmr -~------------

Stomach contents 6-10 II-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 '30 -----~---_._.-

COELENTERATA 0.1 3.9 8.6

Cerianthidea 5.3

Anthozoa 0.1 3.9 3.3

f1EMERTEA 0.5 0.1 4.0

POLYCHAHA 31. 3 32.0 45.8 42.9 30.6 25.8

Maldanidae 1.2 2.0 1.1 0.8 <0.1

Opheliidae 2.5 0.1 0.9 0.3 <0.1

Scal i bregmidae 2.9 18.8 25.0

Pmpharetidae 1.2 2.3 2.5 0.1

Sabcllidae 4.9 1.2 9.4 0.1

Glyceridae 1.2 0.4 0.0 6.7 3.4

lumbrineridae 1.6 4.1 13.0 2.7 0.1

Nephtyidile 5.7 0.7 3.2 6.5 0.4

Si gil 1i oni dae 0.5 6.6 0.0 0.1

Other Palychaeta 12.5 15.8 15.1 13.11 7.9

CROSTACEA 44.4 11. 7 16.5 12.7 3.1 1.0

mphi pada 15.7 6.4 7.1 8.9 1.4 1.0

Bybl is serrata 0.4 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.1

Gil pre ll"-raae- 1.2 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3

Unciola irrorata 3.6 1.2 2.8 0.7 0.3

Gammaridae--- 5.9 1.0 0.4 3.4 0.5

leptochei rus E! ngll1 3.4 1.3 1.3 3.3

Other Pmflhi poda 1.2 0.6 1.6 0.4 n.3 0.7

Oecapoda 9.6 2.1 7.0 0,6 1.7

Mys i dacea 9.4 0.3 0.1

Other Crustacea 9.7 2.9 2.3 3.2

MOLLOSCA 0.1 17.9 1.4 9. 7 26,8 119.0

Pe 1ecypoda 0.4 0.4 1.4 6.2

Gastropoda 0.1 2.9 1.0 0.4 0.2

Acoola stJ . 2.9 1.0

otJie-r--"Gas tropoda 0.1 <0,1 0 0.2

Cephalopoda 12,4 6.9 20,3

Other Mollusca 2.2 <0, I 1.0 0.1 49,0

[CI1INOOER~lATA 0.9 0.1 0.8 i! •5

PISCES 0.3 B.O 4.8

MISCElLANEOUS 23. 7 37.0 28.0 23.4 20 6

SAND fiND ROCK 0.1 0.1 2.6 7 0 19.4

------ --~._~-,._,.. ---_._-- -- _._-------_._~-

Number of stomachs eXiJlll i ned 1~4 213 163 138 ~2 11

Uumbel- of empl.y SlOillilCII$ 52 04 61 ~g 17

~lean SlOlllilC.11 COllten! ~lej~lllttrJ) 0.0113 0.131 0 733 1).214

" " 294 U. III

Mean fi sh fL (elll) e 11 17 ?J ?! 33
---- --- ----

Table 13. Composition of the stomach contents of uutterfish. expressed as a percentage

of the total stomach contents weight versus fish length, for butterfish collected

in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973 through 1976.

60.4

32.5

6.9

0.2

0.2

0,2

32.5

21-25

60.4

16-20-----"-~-

U

9.0

1.5 0.1

3.2 2.2

1.6

11.1 17.3

1.1

4.8 3.0

0.2 1.3

2.2 4.8

1.0 8.1

1.8 0.1

13.1 3.7

5.4 2.2

5.2 1.8

0.2 0.4

1.4 1.0

1.4 0.9

<0.1 0.1

5.3 <0.1

1.0 0.5

0.5 11\.5

14.5

0.5

21.8 17.2

12.8 2.9

3.0 13.9

6.0 0.4

48.8 34.4

4.4

2.3

7.6

0.3

0.1

0.1

2.6

2.3

4.8

2.0

1.5

0.5

0.1

[engfllCa tegory(Cril)

6-10 11-15

1.5 1.5

1.5

0.3

12.0

79.1

1-5

100,0

Stomach contents

COElENTERATA

Hydrozoa

Other Coelenterata

CTENOPHORA

NEMERTEA

POlVCHAETA

Glyceridae

Goilfadidae

lumbrineridae

Tomopteri s helgalandica Other Tomopte'rTdae-~ --~."

Other Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Amphi poda

Parathemi sto sp.

Other JiSllphl poda

Oec<lpoda

Axiidae

Other Decapoda

Copepoda

Other Crustacea

HOl-lUSCA

lal i go sp. ~o11usca

TIiAllACEA

larvatea

f1emimyaria

Other Thaliacea

MISCEllANEOUS

Number of stomachs eXilmined 23 160 551 :l30 15

Number of empty stomachs 2 23 156 j{'9 6

Mean stomachcontellt weight(g) 0.013 0.042 0,091 0.156 O,19<l

Me ar~ (1 sh £~J ~~~L_."_. .._. .~~ ~_~.. !] ~_~ ~L. . .__
Table 14. Composition of the stomach contents of redfish, expressed as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight versus fish length, fOl' redfish collected in the Northwest Atlantic from 1973

throu9h 1976.

length category(cm)

Stomach contents 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 >40

CRUSTACEA 41.2 96.0 98.7 23,8 94.1 83.7 95.3 99.8

Oecapoda 41.2 22.7 36.6 21.7 20.3 21. 7 37.4 42.2

Oichelopandalus leptocerus 36.6 10.7 3.8 5.3

Pandalus borealis 3.0

Other Pandaltdae 5.6

Pasiphaeamultidentata 3.7 16.7 13.6 17.3

Other Pasiphaeldae 0.2 4.8 24.9

Other Decapoda 41.2 22.7 21.7 5.9 1.0 5.1

Euphausiacea 60.0 3.8 1.7 69.5 59.9 53.8 53.8

~leganyctiphanes norvegica 57.8 3.8 53.8 59.7 52.0 53.8

Other Euphauslacea 2.2 1.7 15.7 0.2 1.8

Other Crustacea 13.3 58.3 0.4 4.3 2.1 4.1 3.8

PISCES 75.4 1.3 15.9 3.2

Merlucciusbilinearis 4.6

Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosa 75.4

Other Plsces 1.3 11.3 3.2

MISCELLANEOUS 58.8 4.0 1.3 0.8 4.6 0.4 1.5 0.2

Number of stomachs examined 2 12 21 25 90 164 134 18

Number of empty stomachs 1 4 19 20 66 79 39 7

~lean stomach content weight(g) 0.017 0.053 0.040 0.229 0.412 1.0B7 1.100 2.017

Mean fi sh FL (em) 9 12 IB 24 2B 32 37 42
Table 15. Composition of the stomach contents of longhorn sculpin, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length! for longhorn sculpin collected in the Northwest . Atlantic from 1973-1976.

Stomach contents Length category(cnl)

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 >35

POLYCI1AETA 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.6 2.0 0.9 1.0 1.0

CRUSTACEA 84.0 91.4 78.7 92.3 87.7 83.2 92.3 99.0

I\nphipoda 26.3 29.5 14.9 0.9 4.9 4.2 5.2 0.1

Unciola irrorata 7.0 2.2 0.2 0.2 2.6 0.7 0.8

Gammarldae 3.9 10.7 6.5 0.3 0.1 0.6 1.2

Anonyx liljebOr~~ 1.0 Ofner-l~aSSl ae 4.5 0.1 0.5

hf~tocheirus ~ingUiS 2.4 1.9 3.0 0.2 1.8 0.3 0.8

t er l\iiphi po a 13.0 10.2 5.2 0.2 0.3 1.1 2.4 0.1

Oecapoda 49.5 50.7 60.0 86.8 75.3 65.1 83.9 98.9

Axius serratus 0.1 0.5 2.1

Cancer borealis 0.5 4.5 2.4 1.6

Cancer i rroratus 0.1 0.6 65.2 15.6 25.6 48.2 98.9

~Cancr1dae 1.5 0.4 1.3 4.2 1.9 8.4

Crangon septemspinosa 20.2 29.1 17.2 1.2 9.9 7.1 1.0

Hyas· araneus 0.4 1.2

Uyas coarctatus 0.2 0.1 3.4 2.5

Pagurus .acadTa'ilus 0.3 4.5 2.5 2.4

Pagurus sp. 0.3 16.2 2.5 3.8 0.6

Other Paguridae 0.3 0.3 1.5 1.7

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 7.3 11.0 5.5 19.7 12.2 7.7

Other pandalT(Jie 3.1 2.9 1.1 0.2 0.9

Other Decapoda 29.3 9.0 14.2 9.5 12.9 4.1 5.6

lsopoda 4.8 2.5 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.5

Mys i dacea 1.5 0.3 5.4 11.7

Neomys is ameri cana 1.5 0.3 5.4 11.7

Dtner Crustacea 3.4 7.2 2.6 4.5 2.0 1.5 2.7

PISCES 1.6 4.6 3.0 8.8 4.4

Rajidae 1.2

Pisces eggs 4.9

Other Pisces 1.6 4.6 3.0 2.7 4.4

MISCELLANEOUS 15.4 6.7 19.0 2.0 5.6 4.2 2.2

SANO ANO ROCK 0.1 2.1 0.5 1.7 2.9 0.1

Number of stomachs examined 36 163 40 54 134 224 56 2

Number of empty stomachs 8 34 4 19 33 51 9 0

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.009 0.050 0.244 0.374 0.535 1.266 2.302 3.768

Mean fi sh TL (em) 4 7 12 18 23 27 31 37 .~~--~---
Table 16. Composition of the stomach contents of fours pot flounder, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length, for fourspot flounder collected in the Northwest

AtlantIc from 1973 throu9h 1976.

Length category (em) Stomach contents 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 >35

CRUSTACEA 100.0 66.5 75.9 65.6 51.9 82.4

/\mphi poda 0.9 0.8 0.6

Decapoda 100.0 39.8 55.4 53.3 47.7 82.4

Cancer irroratus 6.5 5.0 8.8

Other Canerl dae 1.0 6.0 2.4 11.4 14.3

Ctangon septemspinosa 100.0 15.8 10.7 4.6 7.4 44.8

Other Crangonidae 0.8 2.2 0.1 23.3

Munida irIs 2.9 1.1 4.9

Munida sP:- 15.9 2.3 0.8 9.2 ~opandalus leptocerus 17 .6 30.6 5.5

Other Pandalidae 1.7 1.0 2.6

Other Oecapoda 4.6 6.2 6.1 0.5

Mysidaeea 22.6 11.1 6.8 3.2

Neomysis americana 22.6 11.1 6.7 3.2

Othe r Mys tdacea 0.1

Other Crustacea 3.2 8.6 4.9 1.0

MOLLUSCA 0.3 8.4 12.4 44.6

Cephalopoda 0.3 8.2 12.4 44.6

Rossia sp. 10.1

Other Cephalopoda 0.3 8.2 2.3 44.6

Other Mollusca 0.2

PISCES 28.3 12.8 14.9 2.0

MISCELLANEOUS 4.9 2.9 7.1 1.5 17.6

Number of stomachs examined 4 40 165 132 36 6

Number of empty stomachs 3 18 58 44 18 3

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.014 0.134 0.185 0.367 0.783 0.047

Mean f1 sh TL (em) 15 18 23 27 32 42
lable 17. Composltton of the stomachconlcntsof witch rlounder. el<llreSsed as a I)erc(~ntageof I.helolal

stomach contents wetght versus fish length. for witch flounder collecled in the t10rlhwesl

Atlantic fronl 1973 through 1976.

0.1

<0.1

(J.4

97.3

0.6

0. J

0.5

"_1

0_\

,,0.1

91.7

3_8

4.4

2.1

0.2

2.4

0.6

0.3

0.6

·0.1

6.1

0.1

0.5

1.1

2.6

1.8

0.8

3.6

0.9

1l.2

0.1

1.1

1.1

I-Il

2.0

2.0

36_ 3

1.0

1.0

1.9

3.5

3.4

0.1

4.4

64.2

0.5

15.8 1.2

2.2 <0.1

._- ~- ~~~~ _. ~~_. .- ~_.

0_9

0_6

<0.1

3.9

1-0

0.6

0.4

1-2

1.2

1.1

1.5

1.0

1-1

2.4

1.6

1.1

2.5

0.9

2.0

4.2

1.9

1.3

1.6

2.1

0.1

0.1

2.6

0_\

<0.1

26.5

18.0

0_5

o. I

0.4

15.3

0.1

0.1

14.5

2.2

0.6

14.9

0.8

60.3

1-8

0.5

2_0

0_9

1.5

0.9

3_8

3.1

0.6

2.6

1-8

1.9

0.6

1.3

3.3

1.4

33.1

2.1

1.8

0.1

1.1

0_5

1.0

0.9

1.5

2.9

12.3

0.1

10.2

0.9

1l.6

0.3

11.3

1.5

1.9

13.9

62.3

0.3

0.5

<O.l

25_8

5.9

12.0

1l.2

0.4

3. 1

0_9

1.8

2.1

2_6

3. I

0.3

8.1

4.0

0.3

3.0

3.0

5.9

1\ .8

1l.1

0.1

8.1

0.3

6.5

1-1

1l_8

0.9

3.1

3_1

1.1

0.8

12_\

66.2

2.1

0.5

9.8

0.1

0.\

2.5

0.1

I-Il

0.2

2.5

1-1

5.8

2.1

0.4

3.5

4_6

0.4

34.2

9.8

<0.1

9.8

0.6

15.1

0_1

10_8

2_0

0.1

1-3

8.5

8.5

0.3

2.6

60.4

5.1

0.9

0.8

5.1

34.1

1.1

1-1

0.8

3.8

2_ 9

1-5

0_4

0.4

1-5

10.1

1-3

5_1

1.2

0.8

0.6

0_2

0.1

0.\

0.3

1-1

1.4

24.4

65.6

1.6

4.2

3.6

1.1

0.3

2.4

4.8

4.8

21.1

<0.1

0.5

1.3

1.2

4.0

0.5

0.6

1.1

1\ .4

31.1

1-4

1-1

0_3

34.9

34.9

0.8

0.5

45.\

--"[eng(nalegorYTciilr-~------.-·---·-·-----

21~25 ~_~_26~31!-._~_ 31 ~35 36-40 41 ~~~._. ~~~50~ 51-55 _~ __=-5~6~~I!-__~~_'~Q _

<0.1 5.9 <0.1 3.0 0.6

1.1

1.8

0.2

1_6

13.5

0.1

1.1

0.2

1.1

0.5

30.9

0_1

0.1

1.2

1.8

1-2

16.2

15.3

14. I

1.1

13.0

65.4

8.8

0.2

1.3

6_4

2_3

0.4

0.\

,20

1.0

0.2

1]5

2.1

1.5

0.6

69.8

69_8

1.6

Il_\

19.2

CO£l.EfHE 11M A

Ceriantharia

Allthuzoa

POI. YCIIAtTA

SIJlonidae

Halddnidae

Slcrflil5pidae

Capll.ellldi'le

Amptlilret tdile

Sahellldae

A,'abelltdae

[unlce pennata

f.mll'ildIaaelumbrtllcrls sp.

inlier-Liiiilb;::IncrIdae

Nellhlyldae

Onullhls cl'emtta

OiiiijifiE opalliia Onii~hi 5 sp-:----

OIfler'Ulluphidae

[Leune 511.

OUicr'-rhy1Iot!oc Idae

Other rolychaela

CROSIAClA

"Ilplii poJa

Gdllln1i1rldae

Olll<!rllmphilloda

[ullilaus Iace a

tleganycllehanes florvegtca

olliercriislacea- -- -

1I0LLIISCA

Voldla sp.

Dt1icr"'ol1usca

ECIIIIIOIlEIIIIAIA

Ollhlurotdea

0llhl uraSdrst

Oll\i!r~Opllluro Idea

110 loliluro Idea

lI.lYe lodIa scabra

()eiial~clllronaaOther 1It1lothuroidea

Other Echinodermata

ASCIUIAUA

IHSCHLAIIEOIIS

SAW) AIm ROCI(

Slomach contents-~-

flllmlJl~r of 5l11lllitchs examined

fluHlhr.r or empty stoUlachs

MciHl slollladi content wetghl(g) !'lCilll fish lL (till)

44

4

0.130

12

32

6

1l.220

28

63

9

0.223

33

95

8

0.341

31

141

20

0.411

43

199

11

0.566

41l

154

10

0.900

52

14

5

1.00ll

51

7

Il

5 957

66
-----_._-~

Table 18. Composition of the stomach contents of American plaice, expressed as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight versus fish length. for American plaice collected in the Northwest

Atlantic from 1973 through 1976.

Stomach contents. length cate90ry (em)

6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 >50

rOLVCflAETA 65.5 38.2 37.9 11.8 5.3 6.2 6.5 0.8 0.3 0.4

CRUSTACEA 25.3 28.5 27.8 34.3 33.1 24.4 25.5 3.7 0.9 U.3

Decapoda 0.4 0.1 24.7 26.4 13.0 21.3 1.7 0.8 <0.1

Oic~e~opandalus leptocerus 11.2 9.9 13.5 1.7

Pan a us boreaTis -- 5.7 2.6

OTIierOecapoda 0.4 0.1 13.5 16.5 7.3 5.2 0.8 <0.1

Euphausiacea 13.3 16.7 5.5 2.8 9.0 4.2 1.9 0.1 0.2

Meganyctithanesnorvegica 12.3 16.7 5.5 2.8 8.9 4.1 1.9 0.1 0.2

Other Eup ausiacea 1.0 0.1 0.1

Other Crustacea 25.3 14.8 11. 0 4.1 3.9 2.4 <0.1 0.1 0.1

MOLLUSCA 0.5 12.6 18.5 30.9 8.4 6.2 10.0 5.6 0.8 0.4

Pelecypoda 0.5 12.5 15.2 19.3 7.6 3.5 10.0 4.3 0.7 0.4

Cerastoderma Plnnulatum 3.0 3.5

Mher Pe lecypo a -- 0.5 12.5 15.2 19.3 7.6 3.5 7.0 0.8 0.7 0.4

Other Mollusca 0.1 3.3 11.6 0.8 2.7 1.3 0.1 <0.1

Ecll! NODERMATA 11.1 4.3 17.9 49.8 51.5 53.5 81.2 96.4 97.5

Echinoidea 12.5 25.2 23.9 14.3 31.1 78.7 90.5

Strongylocentrotus

drobachiensis 3.2 0.4 3.2 <0.1 0.3

EChlnarachm us parma 12.3 23.3 15.7 13.8 27.7 69.5 52.1

[chi naraChll1 us sP:--- 4.9 36.9

Other Echinoidea 0.2 1.9 5.0 0.1 0.2 4.3 1.2

Ophiuroidea 11.1 4.1 5.0 22.7 26.2 32.8 43.3 11.8 6.0

Ophi ura sars i 6.9 3.5 3.2 16.1 22.4 21.4 39.8 9.8 5.7

Oilier-Opbi uroidea 4.2 0.6 1.8 6.6 3.8 11.4 3.5 2.0 0.3

Other Echinodermata 0.2 0.4 1.9 1.4 6.4 6.8 5.9 1.0

MISCELLANEOUS 8.5 9.0 10.7 4.9 2.6 4.5 3.4 3.9 0.8 0.7

SAND AN8 ROCK 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.2 0.8 7.2 1.1 4.8 0.8 0.7

Number of stomachs examined 138 214 156 151 172 198 176 134 76 78

Number of empty stomachs 59 76 59 66 85 84 85 54 27 28

Mean stomach content weight(g)" 0.004 0.031 0.063 0.170 0.268 0.648 0.928 1.172 4.678 9.310

Mean fi sh TL (em) 8 13 18 23 28 33 37 42 47 56 ---------------
----------- -----------

Tab1eI9. Composltton of the SlOlllilCh contents of yellowtatl flounder, expressed as a IlI!rcentage of the total

slomach contents weight versus fish lellgth, for yellowtail flounder collected in the Rorthwest

Atlantic ffom 1973 through 1976.

___~Q!!!!£!!~!!t~!!h _

COElENIERATA

NENERTEA

l'OLYCIlAElA

Sp Io!!phancs bom~

llifier Splnnla.. FlalJelllgertdae

Maldantdae

IIsllpharclldae

Sabel1ldae

l.ullIbrlucr ltiae

tiellhtyldcUl

Olher Polychacta

CRUSTACEA

folllllhllJoda

Oybl Is sen-alii

Otller--Jlillpe11 sci dae

Unclola trrorata

GaulnlarTdae--·-

~~p.~~~_~~!lruI~ p.a!~~! Otlier "np I po a

DecallOda

Cl'iu!!Jon septemsp:nosa DlcneloeanaatUi !!p-flGcerus Oilierliecal'oda- ---

Olher Crustacea

MOLlUSCA

81 vatvia

UROCIIORIIAIA

I\sdtliacea.·

ImCIII All LOllS

SAIIO 0110 1l0CK

length category{cm) -----------~-,--------~-_.--~-

H 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 _2!:~ __]6-40_______~::4~______ :~~.____

1.1 0./ 4.3 8.1 2.6

0.5 <0.1 0.5 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.6

12.5 11.9 13.6 32./ 31.4 48.9 46.5 4/.9 31. II

II./ 5.8 0.9 10.3 12.0 12.0 10.6

0.6 1.8 2./ 4.9 9.8

6.2 1.2 0.1 1.2 0.4 <0.1

3.6 0.4 1.0 1.0 0.2

0.6 1./ 1.3 0.2

2.0 I.U 3.3 0.9 0.2

0.5 3. I 3.5 1.1 0.1 1.5

0.5 0.3 2.8 0.9 0_2 0.3

10.8 11.9 /.4 11.9 n.1 22.8 25.1 l5.4 18.6

108.0 61.0 61.8 50.8 32.3 37./ 20./ 15.4 8.6 5.5

32./ 13.6 31.5 22.1 15.5 14.2 13.3 8.4 5.4

1./ 2.0 8.6 1.2 1.2 2.4 2.5 1.6

14./ 0.8 1.8 0./ 2.4 2.3 1.4 0.6 0.6

2.2 3.6 15.3 12.9 11.9 5.3 3.4 0.3 <0.1

3.8 5.0 1.5 1.6 4.2 2.1 1.4 2.8 1.3

8.5 4.8 3.8 1.9 3.1 2.8

10.3- 4.2 2.4 1.5 2.0 1.4 1.6 0.2 1.9

41.4 9.1 4/.5 14./ 5.8 8.6 5./ 1.6 0.1

41.4 9.1 12.8 3.3 /. I 2.5 0./ 0.1

31.8 0.6 2.0 0.1

3.6 14./ 2.6 0.8 1.2 0.2

58.6 19.2 0./ 4.6 4.4 3.6 _0.8 0.5 0.1 U.I

0.2 0.1 0.3 0,_6 0.3 1.8

8.2 U.I 0.3 0.6 0.3 1.8 0.2 0./ 1:4 0.3

U.2 0.1 1.4 'U.3

0.9 0.6 1./ 10.2 8.2 10.2 1/.1 22./ 34.5

15.4 25./ 33.4 24.5 20.1 16.6 15.8 10./ 25.8 -----------~._----------_.._--------_.---_._-----~. __ .~ ..,-_.

39 11 21 23 63 186 33/ 191 60 20

22 25 6 9 16 63 108 62 20 4

0.001 0.U21 U.U/2 0.103 0.230 0.241 0.315 0.563 0.950 3.166

3 8 12 18 23 20 32 3/ 42 4" -------_._-----~--_ ..-.__._- ._-----.--------._--- ---.. ~~'-._--.--- ------ -----------..---_._,.

Uumller 0 f slomachs e)(i1m ined

UlIllIher 0 r empty slomftths

Mp.an stomach COil lent welght(g)

~~~~~~J.~,~~__!~J~:,~L .~ "'-
Table 20. Food of fishes representing generalized dietary categories in the Middle Atlantic.

Oata are expressed as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight.

Stomach contents

poLYGHAEfA

Aphrodi ta sp.

other Po!ychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Amphi poda

Unciola irrorata

Leptochel rus pl ngui s

Gammarus annulatus

Other Amph, poda

Decapoda

Axius serratus

Cancer sp.

Geryon qui nquedens

~ssp.

Crangon septemspinosa

Olchelopandalus leptocerus

Silver

hake

0.1

0.1

7.3

0.5

0.5

4.9

2.4

1.8

Mlddle

Spotted

hake

43.3

1.4

1.4

16.4

1.4

3; 3

4.7

At Iant1 c Fl shes

Fours pat

flounder Butterfi sh

9.S

9.5

64.5 6.3

0.5 4.9

0.5 4.9

52.2 0.1

12.1

7.7

19.7

SCUP

41.4

41.4

7.5

2.0

0.3

1.7

3.7

Pandalus borealis

Paslphaea multldentata

Other Decapoda

Euphaus; ace a Meganyctiphanes norvegica

Thysanoessa lnermlS

Other Euphausiacea

Mysidacea

Neomysis americana

Othe r MYSl dacea

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

aOli90 pealei ther Cephalopoda

Scallop viscera

Other Mull usea

THAll ACEA

ECHINODERMATA

Echi no idea

Ophiuroidea

Holothuroidea

Other Echinodermata

PISCES

t!.er~c"'-i us __ L)1 1~p.",r; s

CI U pel aae

Scomber scombrus

Ammodytes arnericanus

Stenotomus chrysops

Peprilustriacanthus

Sebastes marinus

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Gadus morhua

MeTa'ilograiiiiiiUs aegl efi nus

Pol lachl us Vlrens

Urophycis tenulS

other Pl sc-es--

MISCELLANEOUS

0.7

1.2

1.2

0.3

0.3

0.4

4.3

2.9

1.4

87.5

20.8

3.2

1.7

1.4

60.4

0.8

7.0

22.6

22.4

0.2

2.9

37.1

36.9

0.2

15.9

0.5

15.4

3.7

12.7

7.1

7.1

<0.1

4.7 1.3

19.2 10.1

19.1

0.1

25.2

11. 9

11.9

4.4 48.9

0.1

9.6

0.5

3.7

1.8

12.9

6.4

6.5

1.2

1.2

0.3

0.3

36.7

Number-of fish examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight(g)

789

180

1. 544

531

82

1.404

366

138

0.301

678

103

0.115

450

192

0.119
Tabl e 21- Food of fi shes representing generalized dietary categories io Southern New England.

Data are expressed as a percentage of the total stomach contents wei ght. ;,

Southerr. New England n Shes

Stomach contents Si lver Little Yellowtail Ocean

hake . Red hake skate Butterfish Scup flounder pout

POL Yl.HAETA 0.1 3.9 15.5 20.3 32 ... 4) . 7 2.7

Aphrodita sp. 1.4 2.4 ,--., other Po Iychaeta 0.1 2.5 13.1 20.3 32.4 47.7 D.e

CRUSTACEA 7.3 34.0 61.4 12.0 21.2 24.9 6.3

Amphipoda 0.2 5.1 22.9 0.9 12.9 19.0 :. 5

Unciola i rrorata 0.6 2.4 2.9 6.9

Leptoc helrus r1'1 9UiS 0.9 7.9 3.6 3.3

Gammarus annu atus 4.1

otner Amphl poda 0.2 3.6 8.5 0.9 6.4 8.8 3. c:

Oecapoda 2.6 25.0 30.5 3.4 3.8 4.7 Z. (.

Axi us serratus 0.6 4.3 3.3

Cancer sp. 4.3 11.4 •C

Geryon qui nquedens

Pagul'us sp. 0.9 2.5

Crangon septemspinosa 1.0 3.0 5.9 2.2

OJ che Iopanda ius

leptocerus 1.2 7.8 2.7 1.9

Panda Ius Dorealis

Pasi phaea multidentata

Other Deea poda 0.4 8.4 3.7 0.1 3.8 0.6 . 5

Euphausiacea 3.4

Meganyc ti phanes

norveg; ca 3.4

Thysanoessa i nermis

other Euphausiacea

Mysidacea 0.7 1.3

Neomysis americana 0.7

other Mysldacea 1.3

Other Crustacea 0.4 3.9 8.0 7.7 4.2 1.2 :). l

MOLLUSCA 13.7 13.9 4.8 <0.1 10.5 0.6 0.8

301i90 pealei 13.0

ther Cephalopoda . 0.7 10.6 8.4

Scallop vi scera

Other !1011usca 3.3 4.8 <0.1 2.1 0.6 G.S

THAll ACEA 8.5

ECHINODERMATA 3.0 0.4 88.3

Echinoidea sa.2

Ophi uroi dea

Holothuroidea 3.0

Other Echinodermata <0,1 0.4 v.,

PISCES i8.4 37.7 4.8 5.3

Merl ucci us bi1inearis 7.9

C1 upel dae 1.3 2.7

Scomber scombrus 6.0

Ammodytes .amerlcanus 0.4

Stenotomus ChrySo~S 4.1

Peprl Ius tral cant us 2.2

Sebastes mari nus

H1PpogioSsoraespiatessoides

Gadusmorhua

Me \ anogrammus

aegl efl nus Po1 i achl us Vlrens

UrOphYC1S tenursOther plsc-es------ 66.5 35.0 4.8 5.3

MISCELLANEOUS 0.5 7.5 13.5 59.2 29.2 26.8 1.9

Number of fi sh examined 918 481 486 394 262 502 239

Number of empty stomachs 367 97 35 108 76 163 73

Mean stomach content

wei ght (9 ) 1.815 1.532 0.810 0.087 0.219 0,323 3.95 ::
Table 22. Food of fishes representing general i zed dietary categori es '" Georges Bank.

Data are expressed " d percentage of the total stomach contents weight.

Georges Bank Fl shes

Stomach contents Si lver Atlantic Li tt 1e Longhorn Yellowtai 1 Ocean

hake cod skate sculpin Haddock flounder pout

DOLiI..,riAtTA v.I i.) 8. ) 1.1 25.4 40.0 0.1

;',chrodi ta sp. 1.4 1.5 1.1

Ot her P61ychaeta 0.1 0.3 7.2 1.1 24.3 40.5 0.1

CRUSTACEA 16.4 28.0 72.0 86. d 17.1 13.8 6.4

Am phi poda 0.4 10.1 2.9 10.1 10.3 2.0

iJnciola i rrorata 0.3 0.7 4.2 2.8

Leptochei rus Pl ngui s 2.6 0.6 0.8 1.6

Gammarus annu~

Other Alriphl poda 0.4 7.2 1.6 5.7 5.9 2.0

Oec3.poda 5.5 27.1 56.6 74.0 4.9 2.9 4.1

,<l..d us serratus <0.1 <0.1 0.6 OJ

"",fle2r sp. 17.1 12.0 38.9 1.9

Get'jon qu i r-,quedens

~agur'uS sp., . 3.8 26.3 6.5 0.3 . L.l·angrSeptemsP1 nasa 1.3 8.6 6.3 1.8

DjCrlE ooandalus

i.:ptocerus 4,4 1.6 3.4 lL5 0.3 0.4 Pa. flC a. ]us borea1is

?a.s i phaea 'l1ultidentata

O:ne r Decaood", 0.8 4.6 6.3 10.2 3.6 0.7 2.2 ~;,.; Dha.u s i acea 7.9 0.1

:I;eganycti phanes

'10 rvegi ca 7.9 0.1

Tnysanoessa i nermi s

Ut,1er c.'Jpnaus 1acea <0. 1

;·I/s; dacea 1.2 7.3

:':eomysis americana 1.2 7.3

Ot'1er ~lys i dacea

2:her Ci'ust:lCea 0.4 0.9 5.3 2.2 1.4 0.6 0.3

!·1Dl.L'jSCA 6.7 13.-+ 0.7 3.3 0.6 3.6

Lo 1i go pea 1ei 6.7 2.3

Oc:her (epna iopoda <0.1 0.3 <0.1

Scallop vjscera i .3 1.2 3.1

Qt"'er i1011:.Jsca 3.5 OJ 2.1 0.6 0.5

7H,il,L:,il,C::ft,

EU r:;OOEEr·1ATA 1.3 18.,5 86.5

Ec:hi r'oidea 1.0 79.4 G~~i:Jroidea 0.8 16.6 4.5 :-1oiJt~;jrcide3. 0.3 0.7

O:her Echj nodermata 0.2 0.2 2.7

?ISCES 76.4 50.2 6.8 6.6 0.4

:'ler1uccius bj1i~,earis 0.4 0.2

C1 u ::lei .j2.€ 5.0 29.1

SCJmoer scomorus 21.1 3. 5

tmmodytes amerlcanus 4.3 0.4

':lo:enoo:omLOS ,:;hrjSO os

?eDri I:.JS cria::anthus 8.9

Seoastes :nar1nus <0.1 ~i:J;:>Jglossoides

;;l:ttessoldes 0.9

"ad '..IS :110rhUd

;,1",1 anogrammus

aegle:finus

Poll,~ci1juS viren:;

:.lre pnyc 1 S tenu 1 S

Ot~er p~ sees 36.2 15.1 5.8 6.6 0.4

:HSCEl.LAi1EOUS 0.4 5.4 1l.S 5.9 35.3 45.0 3.3

ilumbe of fi s h examined 915 591 579 692 642 502 423

:,jUrn ::e of emoty stomachs 268 31 62 iS9 33 169 140

>!esn tomac'1 on tent

'tiE 9fH ':g) 1.080 29.254 1.234 0.732 3.S93 0.512 5.603
Table 23. Food of fishes representing genera 1i zed di etary categories in the Gul f of Maine.

Data ece ex pres sed as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight.

Gu if of Ma; ne Fishes

Stomatn contents liJhi te Atl antic Hitch American

hake cOd Pollock Redfi sh flounder Haddock pl a1 ce ?OtYCHAE I A 0.6 61.3 J.6 4.0

Aphrodi ta s p. 0.4 0.8

Other Pci: ychaeta 0.2 67.3 2.8 4.0

CRUSTACEA 9.3 9.7 37.0 89.5 3.5 6.4 7.7

Amp hi poda 0.9 0.6

Unciola i rrorata 0.1 0.4

Leptochel rus r nguis 0.1

Gammarus annu atus Othef Amphl poda 0.7 0.2

Decapoda 5.7 8.4 24.7 2i .8 3.1 6.6

Axius serratus <0.1 2.7

Cancer so. 0.9

Garyon quinquedens 3.5

Dagurus sp. <0.1 <0.1

Cl"angon septemsoinosa

Dichelooandalus

!eotocerus 1.4 0.9 0.7 3.5 0.1 1.4

Pandalus borealis 1.9 1.7 1.1 1.4

Pas i ohaea mui tide~tata 21.9 18.2

Other DecapOda 2.4 3.1 0.4 5.0 0.3 3.8

Euphaus i acea 3.1 10.9 58.4 1.7 2.0 0.7

Neganytt i :::lhanes

norveg;ca 3.1 10.1 55.1 1.7 1.7 0.6

Thysanoessa inermis <0.1

Other Eu phaus i ace a <0.1 0.8 3.3 0.3 0.1 ~!ys i dacea <0.1

iieomys i s americana <0.1

Other Mysldacea

Other Crustacea 0.5 1.3 1.4 3.3 0.9 0.7 0.4

,"IOLLUSCA 0.5 17.9 8.5 0.3 0.6 5.4

La1 i go pea 1ei 15.6 7.3

Otner (eDna lopocia 2.1 1.2

Sca 11 apyi scera

Other i'loi lusca 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.6 5.4

7;;AUACEA

~C:-iI (;ODERi·1ATA 1.9 U.B 74.8 76.5

Echinoidea 2.2 3.7

Ophiuroidea 1.3 1.6 59.1 58.5

Holothul'oidea 0.2 10.2 0.9

Other Ecni nodermata 0.4 12.6 14.4

:11 SeES 88.6 68.8 49." 9.2 0.9

j·j'''':lJcci us. bi 1i neari s 3.9 5.4 2.3 2.0

Clupeidae 4.2 13.2 l. .3

Scomber scombrus 0.7 10.9 3.1

;!;J1fl1oaytes amen carlUS 9.4

Stenotcmus chrysops

Clean :ustriacantrus

Sebanes ma ri nus 0.9 3.5 0.9

riiopoglossoldes

platessaides

Gadus mornua

t'le] anogrammus

aeg Iefi nus ?ol,achius v;rens 14.4

'Jroohyci s t€nuis 20.4

Othe r Pisces 53.5 26.4 26.9 7.2 0.9

,'·jISCELl..MIEOUS 1.6 1.1 5.1 1.3 16.6 13. 7 6.3

ilumber of fi sh examined 470 418 374 466 426 87 714

Number of empty stomachs i49 54 65 232 33 12 318

Mean stomach content

'deight(gJ 22.987 27 321 12.400 0.375 0.614 3.951 Q. -1.2 9
Tabl e 24. Food of fi shes representing generalized dietary categories in Western Nova Scotia.

Data ace expressed as a percentage of the total stomach contents we i ght.

Western Nova Scot; a Fl shes

Stomach contents Atlantic Witch American

cod Po 11 ock Haddock flounder Plai ce

POLY CHAETA 1.0 11.2 55.2 2.1

Aphrodita sp. 0.6 1.5

Other Polychaeta 0.4 9.7 55.2 2.1

CRUSTACEA 17.2 42.1 15.6 9.5 7.3

Amphipoda: 4.6 2.4

Unciola i rrorata 1.9

Leptochei rus pi ngui s 0.8

Gammarus annu~

btherAmphi poda 1.9 2.4

Oecapoda 15.5 16.4 8.5 4.5

Axius serratus 3.0 2.8

Cancer sp. 1.9

Geryon quinquedens

Pagurus sp. 0.1 1.6

Crangon

septems pi nasa

Dicheiopandalus

leptocerus 2.5 9.9 1.1 2.3

Panda I us borealis 0.1 !j. C

Pasiphaea mUltidentata 5.8

othe, Decapoda 8.0 0.6 3.0 1.5

Eu phausiacea 24.6 1.6 5.2 2.2

Meganyctiphanes

norvegica 22.4 1.5 5•.2 2. ;:

Thysanoessa inermis 1.5

Other Euphausracea- 0.7 0.1 <0.1

tJJys i dacea <0.1

Neomysis americana <0.1

Other MysTOaCea---

Other Crustacea 1.7 1.1 0.9 1.9 . 0.6

MOLLUSCA 6.0 10.0 5.1 2.5 3.0

Loligo pealei 9.8

Other Cephalopoda 1.2 0.2 2.8

Sca 11 op vi scera

Other Mollusca 4.8 2.3 2.5 3.0

THALIACEA

ECHINODERMATA 3.5 32.1 16.5 84.0

Echinoidea 5.7 i4.0

Ophi uroi dea 1.4 21.8 0.3 9.5

Holothuroidea 1.9 2.1 16. 0

Other Echi nodermata 0.2 2.5 0.2 [i.5

PISCES 66.6 45.0 5.1

Merluccius bilinearis 21. 6

C1 upei dae 5.4 4.0 2.3

Scomber scombrus 7.1

Ammodytes amerlcanus

stenotomus chrysops

Pepr; ius triacanthus

sebastes mannus 15.5

Hi ppoglossoi des

platessoldes 5.9

Gadus morhua 5.2

Me lanogrammus

aegl efi nus 6.3 2.0

Poll achl us Vlrens

Urophyci s tenul s other Plsces 21. 2 19.4 0.8

MISCELLANEOUS 5.7 2.9 30. g 16.3 3.6

Number of fish examined 669 295 747 386 784

Number of empty stomachs 77 50 44 41 288

Mean stomach content

weight (9) 15.135 9.345 2_631 0.499 1 .5.l2
Table 25. Listing of predators arranged to illustrate differences and

similarities in % BW of stomach contents, overall composition

of diet, caloric value of diet, and gut measurements.

Species Major prey

Caloric value(Kcal)

per gram food 2 S/I 2,3

Gadi formes

Silver hake

Spotted hake

Whi te hake

Red hake

Atlantic cod

Ocean pout

Pollock

Haddock

Pl eu ronect i formes

Fou rspot flounder

Yellowtail flndr

American plaice

Wi tch flounder

Other Fishes

Longhorn sculpin

Little skate

Butterfish

Scup

Redfi sh

1.43

1. 09

1.02

0.75

0.73

0.51

0.41

0.26

0.28

0.25

0.23

0.14

0.71

0.44

0.24

0.23

0.10

Fish, squid, decapods

Squid, euphausiids, decapods

Fish, decapods, euphausiids

Fish, decapods, squid

Fish, decapods, squid

Echinoids, decapods,

ophiuroids

Fish, decapods, euphausiids

Ophiuroids, polychaetes,

amphipods

Decapods, squid, fish

Polychaetes, amphipods,

decapods

Echinoids, ophiuroids,

decapods

Polychaetes, holothurians

euphausi ids

Decapods, mysids, fi sh

Decapods, amphi pods,

pol ychaetes

Thaliaceans, polychaetes,

squi d

Polychaetes, squid, amphipods

Euphausiids, decapods, fish

1.152

1. 056

1.173

1.050

1.092

0.582

1.084

0.809

1.114

0.921

0.600

0.831

1.059

1. 019

0.351

0.636

0.963

1.40

1.14

0.73

0.68

0.68

0.29

0.48

0.40

2.14

0.67

0.30

0.60

1. 05

1.46

0.47

0.17

0.53

1Average of all fish length categories except 1-5 cm group.

2Taken from Edwards and Bowman 1979.

3Stomach tissue weight(s) divided by weight of intestine and pylorus (I).
Table 26. Fish prey consumed by Atlantic cod collected in the Northwest

Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Note the majority of

fish consumed are juveniles.

Cruise

Number

sampled

Mean

length

(em)

Mean length of

predators with

fish prey (em)

Percentage of

predators with

fish prey

Prey

species

Length_ ( cm) 0 1

r

rey species

)=No. of prE

1973 Spring

1973 Autumn

1974 Spring

1.914 Autumn

172

362

224

191

49.7

52.2

62.6

51.5

78.4

69.7

76.3

61.1

19.2

21.0

32.1

31.4

At1. herring

Pearlsides

L.H. sculpin

Flatfish

Rockee1

L.H. sculpin

Alligatorfish

Ocean pout

Herring

Flatfish

Redfish

Ocean pout

Hookear sculpin

Skate

Sculpin

Yellowtail

Unid. fish

At1. mackerel

Herring

Amer. plaice

Silver hake

Gadids

Redfish

Flatfish

Unid. fish

Windowpane

Flatfish

L. H. sculpin

Herring

Redfish

Unid. fish

18

5

7.5, 7.5

10

4,10.4

5.5,17,10

9

6

14.7,14.7,

14.7, 9

2.5, 8.5

6

6,17,18,15,5,

18(12) ,16.5,1

16(5), 18(8),

16(4) ,16.5,

17(18), 18(4)

16(6), 20, 16

18, 19(6)

17

14, 12(5)

7, 6

16(17)

6

3.5

4.8, ~.

20(3)

13, 17

5
Table 26. (continued)

Mean Mean length of Percentage of Lengths of

Number length predators with predators with Prey prey species

Cruise sampled (cm) fish prey (cm) fish prey species (em) ( )=#

1975 Spring 178 60.7 66.9 22.5 Summer flotmder 10,7,6,4

Gadids 5-14(31)

At!. mackerel 18,17(8) ,19

L.H. sculpin 4,8,4.8

Silver hake 7.0(4), 6 (14) ,

12,13

Fish larvae

Unid. eel 1.6

Unid. fish 15

1975 Autumn 200 48.9 54.7 26.5 Flatfish 2.5

Unid. fish 33,9,3,18,6,

16,16,4,14,17,6

1976 Spring 213 45.5 69.3 13.6 Am. sand lance 12,17,14,18(4) ,

14

L.H. sculpin 6.5, 19(2)

Alligatorfish 12

Hake

Flatfish

At!. herring 28 (5)

Gadids 17

Unid. fish 4.5,7.5

1976 Autumn 171 57.2 62.8 21.0 Am. sand lance 15,19(82)

Sculpin 6.5

Red hake 9.5

Gadid 8.3(2)
Table 27. Number of species of fish prey identified in the stomach

contents of fishes collected in the Northwest Atlantic

during the years 1973-1976.

Predator

Little skate

Number of prey fi sh

s peci es

10 species - eggs and larvae

Number of fish, eggs, larvae

37

16 3

Silver hake

Atlantic cod

Haddock

Pollock

Whi te hake

Red hake

Spotted hake

American plaice

Fours pot flounder

Yellowtail flounder

Witch flounder

Butterfi sh

Scup

Redfish

L.H. sculpin

Ocean pout

13 s peci es

30 species -

eggs and larvae

10 species -

eggs

16 species -

larvae

15 species

5 species

7 species -

1arvae

3 spec i es

2 species

1 species

1 species -

eggs

1 species -

1a rvae

1 species

4 species + larvae

5 species + eggs

1 species

277

502

23

184

124

21

125

12

11

7

1

4

4

8

125

1

150,425

39

625

15

1

1

47

4

10
00>

. ..,- a"l

•

Figure 1. Geographic areas of the Northwest Atlantic sampled

for fish feeding studies during 1973-1976.
1.0 LITTLE SKATE WITCH FLOUNDER

0.8 0.4 fen

Iz 0.6 0.3 - W

Iz 0.4 0.2 - 0

u 0.2 0.1 -

== .... u a a <:: 6-10 26-30 46-50 26-30 46-50 ::;: 16-20 36-40 36-40 56-60

0

I- 0.5

en §£!J.E. YELLOWTAIL

l.L. 0.4 0.8 FLOUNDER

0

I- 0:3 0.6

(!) == 0.2 w 0.4

:;: 0.1 0.2

>-

0.

0 a a 6-10 26-30 26-30 co 6-10

16-20 16"20 36-40

W.

(!): 1.0 8UTTERF1SH 1.0 LONGHORN

<::

I- SCULPIN

Z 0.8 0.8 w.

e)

a: 0.6 0.6 w .. 0-;.

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0 a

6"10 26-30 6-10 26-30

16"20 16-20

FISH LENGTH (em) FISH LENGTH (em)

Figure 2. Average percentage total body weight of stomach contents versus

fish length for seventeen species of fish sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976.
ATLANTIC COD 1.6 POLLOCK

1.2

0.4

0.8

6-10 26-30 46-50 66-70 86-90 106-110 0 16-20 36-40 56-60 76-80

16-20 36-40 56-60 76-80 96-100 26-30 46-50 66-70 86-90

HADDOCK

1.4

1.0

0.6

O.Z

0.4 1.5

Q3 1.2

O.Z 0.8

en

fZ

li.J

fZ

o

'-'

>-

o

o

OJ

6-10 26-50 48-50 66-70

16-20 38-40 56-60 76-80

640 26-30

16-20 36-40

FOURSPOT FLOUNDER

o 16-20

26-30

FISH LENGTH (em)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

SILVER HAKE

0.4

OW-l...J.-I-J....l-l....l. --I

6-10 26-30

16-20 36-40

FISH LENGTH (em)

li.J

'"'

<:: 1.6

fZ

li.J 1.2

'-'

a::

li.J 0.8

0.

Figure 2. (continued)
o L..,\2:::6..,-3"'0!-'~4-::6-.I.;5,.,:0U.--:!:-66::l-'::7~0--J.---' 36-40 56-60

REDFISH

AMERICAN

PLAICE

o 6-10 26-30 46-50

16-20 36-40

FISH LENGTH (em)

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.3

WHITE HAKE

SPOTTED HAKE

o "'6...4"'0.......J-2'-6-'--'0"'-------......

16-20

0.8

0.4

1.2

1.2

1.6

0.8

0.4

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

o L..-:-::-,=-",-,:~:---,---:::",=-L..._....J 26-30 46-60 66-70

,6-40 56"60 76-80

FISH LENGTH (em)

(/)

IZ

LlJ

IZ

o

u

U

<t

::;:

o

l-

(/)

u..

o

lI

Cl

UJ

;;:

:>-

o

o

c::l

LlJ

Cl

Z

LlJ

U

a:

LlJ

a.

Figure 2. (continued)
APPENDIX A. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of little skate

collected in Southern New England and on Georges Bank during

the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Sou the rn Geo rges

Stomach contents New Engl and Bank Total

COELENTERATA 1.4 0.2 0.6

NEMERTEA 0.5 1.1 0.9

POLYCHAETA 15.5 8.7 11.1

Fl abel] i geri dae 0.6 0.3 0.4

Aphroditidae 2.4 1.5 1.8

Glyceridae 0.4 1.4 1.0

Ne phtyi dae 2.6 0.2 1.1

Nereidae 1.1 1.2 1.2

Other Polychaeta 8.4 4.1 5.6

CRUSTACEA 61.4 72.0 68.2

Amphi poda 22.9 10.1 14.7

Ampeliscidae 1.7 0.4 0.9

Unciola irrorata 2.4 0.3 1.0

Other Corophiidae 3.1 <0.1 1.1

Gammarus annulatus 4.1 1.5

Other Gammaridae 1.6 1.8 1.7

Leptocheirus pinguis 7.9 2.6 4.5

Monoculodes edwardsi O.g 2.5 1.9

Other Oedicerotidae 0.1 1.6 1.1

Other Amphi poda 1.1 0.9 1.0

Decapoda 30.5 56.6 47.2

Axi us serratus 4.3 <0.1 1.5

Cancer borealis 3.0 1.5 2.0

Cancer irroratus 4.8 5.8 5.4

Other Cancridae 3.6 4.7 4.4

Crangon septemspinosa 5.9 8.6 7.6

Other Crangonidae 1.1 0.7 0.8

Pagurus acadianus 0.9 16.3 10.8

Other Pagu ri dae 1.6 10.0 7.0

Oichelopandalus 1eptocerus 2.7 3.4 3.3

Other Decapoda 2.6 5.6 4.4

Isopoda 2.0 0.9 1.3

Cirolanidae 2.0 0.9 1.3

Other Isopoda <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Other Crustacea 6.0 4.4 5.0

MOLLUSCA 4.8 0.7 2.2

Pe1ecypoda 2.9 0.5 1.4

Other Mollusca 1.9 0.2 0.8

PIS CES 4.8 6.8 6.1

Ulvaria subbi furcata 3.2 2.1

Other Pisces 4.8 3.6 4.0

MISCELLANEOUS 11.6 10.5 10.9

Number of stomachs examined 486 579 1065

Number of empty stomachs 35 62 97

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.810 1. 234 1.0d l

Mean fi sh TL (em) 38 38 38
APPENDIX B. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of Atlantic cod

collected an Georges Bank. in the Gulf of Maine. and ; n Western

Nova Scotia during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a

percentage wei ght).

Georges Gu 1f of Western

Stomach contents Bank Ma; ne Nova Scot; a Total

COELENTERATA 0.8 <0.1 1.1 0.6

PDLYCHAETA 1.7 0.6 1.0 1.2

Aphrodi tidae \.4 0.4 0.6 0.9

Other Polychaeta 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.3

CRUSTACEA 28.0 9.7 17.2 19.7

Decapoda 27.1 8.4 15.5 18.5

Ax; us serratus <0.1 <0.1 3.0 0.8

Cancer borea 11 5 3.0 0.9 1.7 2.0

Cancer ; rroratU5 14.1 0.2 5.3

tie ryonqu 1nquedens 3.5 1.0

Hyas coarctatu5 0.9 0.8 2.4 1.3

Pagurus aCadlanU5 3.8 <0.1 0.1 1.7

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 1.5 0.9 2.5 1.6

Pandalus montagul 0.4 0.4 2.0 0.8

Other Pandalidae 0.1 1.2 0.8 0.6

Othe r Deea pacta 3.2 0.7 2.8 2.4

Other Crustacea 0.9 1.3 1.7 1.2

MOLLUSCA 13.4 17.9 6.0 12.8

Pel ecypoda 8.2 4.3 4.8

Cyrtodaria siligua 2.7 0.7

pectl"l dae 7.3 3.2

Other Pelecypoda 0.9 1.6 0.9

Cepha1opoda 2.6 17.7 1.2 6.7

aO~igO sp. 2.3 15.5 5.8

t er Cephalopoda 0.3 2.1 1.2 0.9

Other Mollusca 2.5 0.2 0.5 1.3

ECH! NDDERMATA 1.3 1.9 3.5 2.1

Ophiuroidea 0.8 1.3 1.4 1.1

Holothuroidea 0.3 0.2 1.9 0.7

Other Echinodermata 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3

PISCES 50.2 68.8 65.6 60.0

Batrachoididae 4.8 1.4

Cl upea ha rengus 1.7 9.5 3.6 ~Clupeidae 17.4 3.7 5.4 10.2

Gadus morhua 5.2 1.3

NeTaii"ogrammusaegl efi nus 6.3 1.5

Merl ucci us bi 1i neari s 0.2 5.4 1.7

other Gad,dae 1.1 . 1.8 1.5 1.4

Ammadytes americanus 0.4 9.4 3.0

Cattl dae 2.4 <0.1 2.7 1.8

Scamber scombrus 3.5 10.9 7.1 6.5

Pomatomus saltatrix 4.5 2.0

Sebastes marinus <0.1 3.5 15.5 5.1

A,ppoglossoldesplatessoides 0.9 5.9 1.9

Other Pleuronectiformes 3.7 5.5 <0.1 3.3

Other Pisces 14.4 14.2 17 .0 !5.1

MISCELLANEOUS 3.1 1.1 3.9 2.8

SAND AND ROCK 1.5 <0.1 0.7 0.8

Number of stomachs e>:amined 591 418 669 1678

Number of empty stomachs 31 54 77 152

Mean stomach content weight(g) 29.254 27.821 !5.135 23.258

Mean fish TL (em) 53 56 50 53
APPENDIX C. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of haddock collected

on Georges Bank~ in the Gulf of Maine~ and in Western Nova Scotia

during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage

weight).

Georges Gul f of Western Stomach contents Bank Maine Nova Scoti a Total

COELENTERATA 3.0 0.7 1.8

Ceriantharia 3.0 1.5

Other Anthozoa <0.1 0.7 0.3

POLYCHAETA 25A 3.6 11.2 18.1

Spionphanes bombyx 1.3 0.7 OtherSploni~ 1.9 1.0

Nicomache lumbricalis 1.3 0.7

Sabell idae 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.9

Aphroditidae 1.1 0.8 1.5 1.2

Other Polychaeta 18.4 2.7 9.4 13.6

CRUSTACEA 17.1 6.4 15.6 15.7

Amphipoda 10.7 0.6 4.6 7.5

Unciola irrorata 4.2 0.4 1.9 3.0

Unciola serrata 2.5 0.1 1.3

Gammandae 1.7 0.1 0.7 1.2

Leptocheirus pi ngui s 0.8 0.8 0.7

Other AJriphl poda 1.5 0.1 1.1 1.3

Decapoda 4.9 3.1 8.5 6.2

Axius serratus 0.7 2.7 2.8 1.7

Olchelopanda[us 1eptocerus 0.3 0.1 1.1 0.6

Paguridae 0.3 <0.1 1.6 0.8

Other Decapoda 3.6 0.3 3.0 3.1

Euphausiacea 0.1 2.0 1.6 0.9

Meganyctiphanes norvegica 0.1 1.7 1.5 0.8

Other Euphausiacea <0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Other Crustacea 1.4 0.7 0.9 1.1

MOLLUSCA 3.3 0.6 5.1 3.8

Pel ecypoda 2.2 0.5 1.2 1.7

Placopecten sp. 1.2 0.6

other pelecypoda 1.0 0.5 1.2 1.1

Gastropoda 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.6

Cephalopoda <0.1 2.8 1.1

Other Moll usca 0.1 0.8 0.4

ECHINODERMATA 18.5 74.8 32.1 28.1

Echinoidea 1.0 2.2 5.7 3.0

Stronglocentrotus drobachiensis 0.4 2.2 2.9 1.6

EChlnarachnius parma 0.5 2.6 1.3

Other Echlnoide-a----- 0.1 0.2 0.1

Ophiuroidea 16.6 59.1 21.8 21.8

Ophiura sarsi 5.3 16.1 5.3 6.1

Ophlura 1.2 1.7 1.3

,Amphl uri dae 1.2 0.7

Ophiopholis aculeata 8.0 16.0 10.2 9.5

OtherOphiuroidea 2.1 27.0 3.4 4.2

Holothuroidea 0.7 0.9 2.1 1.3

Psolus spo 1.5 0.6 ~Holothuro;dea 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.7

Other Echinodermata 0.2 12.6 2.5 2.0

PISCES 0.4 0.9 5.1 2.4

Mel anogrammU5 aegl efi nus 2.0 0.8

Clupeldae 2.3 0.9

Other Pi sees 0.4 0.9 0.8 0.7

MISCELLANEOUS 10.3 12.5 23.1 15.7

SAND AND ROCK 22.0 1.2 7.1 14.4

Number of stomachs examined 642 87 747 1476

Number of empty stomachs 33 12 44 89

Mean stomach content weight(g) 3.893 3.951 2.631 3.258

Mean fi s h FL (cm) 40 38 37 38
APPENDIX D. Geographi c breakdown of the stomach contents of silver hake

collected in the Middle Atlantic, Southern New England, and

on Georges Bank during the years 1973~1976 (data are expressed

as a percentage wei ght).

Middle Southern Georges . Stomach contents Atlantic N'2W Engl and Bank Total

POL YCHAETA 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

CRUSTACEA 7.3 7.3 16.4 9.5

Amphi poda 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.3

Ampeliscidae 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Oedicerotidae 0.2 <0.1 0.1 0.1

Parathemisto sp. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Other Amphi poda 0.1 <0.1 0.1 <0.1

Decapoda 4.9 2.6 6.5 4.1

Crangon septemspinosa 2.4 1.0 1.3 1.1

Di chelopandalus 1eptocerus 1.8 1.2 4.4 2.2

Other Decapoda 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.8

Euphausi acea 1.2 3.4 7.9 3.9

Meganyctiphanes norvegica 1.2 3.4 7.9 3.9

Mysidacea 0.3 0.7 1.2 0.7

Neomysis americana 0.3 0.7 1.2 0.7

Cumacea-- 0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Copepoda <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.1

Other Crustacea 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4

MOLLUSCA 4.3 13.7 6.7 8.9

Lo li 90 pealei 2.9 13.0 6.7 8.2

Other Cephalopoda 1.4 0.7 <0.1 0.7

PISCES 87.5 78.4 76.4 80.8

Scomberesox saurus 6.1 1.6

Clupeidae 3. 2 1.3 5.0 2..8

Merluccius bilinearis 20.8 7.9 0.4 10.0

Phyci s chesteri 0.8 0.2

Ammodytes americanus 1.7 0.4 4.8 1.9

Scomber scombrus 6.0 21.1 8.0

Stenotomus chrysops 4.1 1.8

Peprilus triacanthus 1.4 2.2 8.9 3.7

Other Pisces 60.4 56.5 29.3 50.8

MIS CE LLAN EO US 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.7

Number of stomachs examined 789 918 915 2622

Number of empty stomachs 180 357 268 805

Mean stomach content weight(g) 1.544 1.815 1. 080 1.477

Mean fi s h FL (em) 17 22 20 20
APPENDIX E. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of pollock collected

in the Gul f of Mai ne and Western Nova Scot; a duri ng the years

1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Gul f 0 f Western

Stomach contents Mai ne Nova Scoti a Total

CRUSTACEA 37.0 42.1 38.9

Decapoda 24.7 16.4 21. 6

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 0.7 9.9 4.1

Pandalus borealis 1.7 0.1 1.1

Pasiphaea multidentata 21. 9 5.8 15.9

Other Decapoda 0.4 0.6 0.5

Euphausiacea 10.9 24.6 16.0

Meganycti phanes norvegi ca 10.1 22.4 14.7

Thysanoessa inermis <0.1 1.5 0.6

Other Euphausiacea 0.8 0.7 0.7

Mysidacea <0.1 <0.1 0.1

Neomys i s ameri cana <0.1 <0.1 0.1

Other Crustacea 1.4 1.1 1.2

MOLLUSCA 8.5 10.0 9.0

Lo 1i go sp. 7.3 9.8 8.2

Other Cephalopoda 1.2 0.2 0.8

PISCES 49.4 45.0 47.7

Clupeidae 1.8 4.0 2.6

Merl ucci us bil i nea ri s 2.3 21. 6 9.5

Mer I ucci us sp. 1.5 0.6

Po II achi us vi rens 14.4 9.0

Aethoprora metopoclampa 3.0 1.1

Scomber scombrus 3.1 1.9

Sebastes marinus 0.9 0.6

Other Pi sces 26.9 14.9 22.4

MISCELLANEOUS 5.1 2.9 4.4

Number of stomachs examined 374 295 669

Number of empty stomachs 65 50 ll5

Mean stomach content weight(g) 12.400 9.345 11. 053

Mean fishFL(cm) 66 59 63
APPENDIX F. Stomach contents of red hake collected in Southern New

England during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed

as a percentage weight).

Stomach contents

Southern

New England

3.9

1.0

34.0

POLYCHAETA

Aphrodita hastata

Other Polychaeta SIPUNCULIDA

CRUSTACEA

Amphi poda

Aeginel1a sp.

Unclola lrrorata

Gammaridae

Leptochei rus pi ngui s

Other Amph; poda

Decapoda

Axi us serratus

Cancer boreal i s

Cancer lrroratus

Crangon septemspinosa MUnlda sp.

Pagurus acadianus

Dlchelopandalus leptocerus

Other Decapoda Isopoda

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Gastropoda

Cephalopoda

Other Moll usca

ECHINODERMATA

Holothuroidea

Other Echinodermata

PISCES

Clupeidae

Ophidiidae

Pl euronecti formes

Other Pisces

MISCELLANEOUS

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight(g)

Mean fish TL (cm)

13.9

3.0

37.7

6.5

5.1

25.0

0.4

3.5

481

97

1.532

27

1.4

2.5

0.9

0.6

0.6

0.9

2.1

0.6

3.0

1.3

3.0

3.1

0.9

7.8

5.3

3.0

10.6

0.3

3.0

<0.1

2.7

2.1

3.3

29.5
APPENDIX G. Stomach contents of spotted hake collected in the Middle Atlantic

during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage

weight).

Stomach contents

Middle

Atlantic

43.3

1.4

16.4

1.4

3.3

3.4

1.8

4.7

1.8

22.6

22.4

0.2

2.9

37.1

CRUSTACEA

Amphi poda

Decapoda Cancer irroratus

Crangon septemspinosa Munlda irls

Munida sP:-

Dlchelopandalus leptocerus

Other Deca poda Euphausiacea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

Other Euphauslacea Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Ce pha 10 pod.. Other Mollusca

PIS CES

Merluccius bilinearis

Ophl all dae

Ot her Pisces

MISCELLANEOUS

1"5.9

3.7

36.9

0.2

0.5

2.9

12.5

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weicrht(g) Mean fish TL (cm) "

531

82

1.404

21
APPENDIX H. Stomach contents of white hake collected in the Gulf

of Maine during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed

as a percentage weight).

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

Decapoda

Dichelopandalus leptocerus Pandalus bOrealis

Other Decapoda Euphausiacea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica Other Euphauslacea

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

PISCES

Argentina silus

Cl upea harengus

Other clupeldae

Merluccius bilinearis

OrophyclS chuss

Orophycls tenuls

Other Gadidae

Scomber scombrus

Sebastes marinus

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Other Pisces

MISCELLANEOUS

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight(g) Mean fish TL (em)

Gul f of

Mai ne

9.3

5.7

1.4

1.9

2.4

3.1

3.1

<0.1

0.5

0.5

88.6

4.3

1.6

2.6

8.9

1:1

20.4

1.5

0.7

0.9

2.6

44.0

1.6

470

149

22.987

53
APPENDIX I. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of ocean pout

collected in Southern New England and on Georges Bank during

the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Southern

Stomach contents New Engl and Georges Bank Total

POLYCHAETA 2.7 0.1 1.1

Aphroditidae 1.9 0.8

Other Polychaeta 0.8 0.1 0.3

CRUSTACEA 6.3 6.4 6.4

Am phi poda 3.6 2.0 2.7

Byblis serrata 1.3 0.5

Corophi i dae 0.2 0.8 0.6

Other Am phi poda 2.1 1.2 1.6

Decapoda 2.6 4.1 3.5

Cancer irroratus 0.1 1.5 0.9

Other Cancri dae 0.9 0.4 0.6

Other Decapoda 1.6 2.2 2.0

Other Crustacea 0.1 0.3 0.2

MOLLUSCA 0.8 ,3.6 2.5

Placopecten sp. 3.1 1.9

Other Mollusca 0.8 0.5 0.6

ECHI NODERMATA 88.3 86.6 87.3

Echinoidea 88.2 79.4 82.9

Echinarachnius pa rma 78.1 58.7 66.4

Other Echlnoidea 10.1 20.7 16.5

Ophi uroidea 4.5 2.7

Euryale sp. 1.8 1.1

Ophiopholis aculeata 2.0 1.2

Other Ophiuroidea 0.7 0.4

Other Echinodermata 0.1 2.7 1.7

MISCELLANEOUS 1.7 1.1 1.3

SAND AND ROCK 0.2 2.2 1.4

Number of stomachs examined 239 184 423

Number of empty stomachs 78 62 140

Mean stomach content weight(g) 3.959 7.739 5.603

Mean fi sh TL (em) 46 55 50
APPENDIX J. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of scup collected

in the Middle Atlantic and Southern New England during the years

1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Middle Southern

Stomach contents Atlantic New Engl and Total

COELENTERATA 1.6 2.6 2.1

Ceri ant hi dea 1.1 0.6

Anthozoa 1.6 1.5 1.5

NEMERTEA 0.1 <0.1

POLYCHAETA 41.4 32.4 36.6

Maldanidae 0.4 1.8 1.1

Opheliidae 0.5 0.3

Seal i bregmidae 6.6 3.4

Ampharetidae 0.1 2.9 1.5

Sabell i dae <0.1 0.7 0.4

Glyceridae 6.6 4.1 5.3

Lumbri neri dae 12.8 0.5 6.4

Nephtyidae 0.7 2.3 1.5

Si gal ionidae 4.1 0.1 2.0

Other Polychaeta 16.7 12.9 14.7

CRUSTACEA 7.5 22.2 15.1

Amphi poda 2.0 12.9 6.9

Bybl i s serrata 0.5 1.1 0.8

Caprell i dae <0.1 1.2 0.6

Unciola irrorata 0.3 2.9 1.6

Gammaridae 0.6 3.0 1.1

Leptochei rus pinguis 3.6 1.9

Other Amphi poda 0.6 1.1 0.9

Decapoda 3.7 3.8 3.8

Mysidacea 1.3 0.7

Other Crustacea 1.8 4.2 3.7

MOLLUSCA 12.9 10.5 11. 7

Pel ecypoda 1.3 1.3 1.3

Gastropoda 2.3 0.2 1.2

Acoe 1a sp. 2.2 1.1

Other Gastropoda 0.1 0.2 0.1

Cephalopoda 6.4 8.4 7.4

Other Mollusca 2.9 0.6 1.8

ECH INODERMATA 1.2 0.4 0.8

PI SCES 0.3 5.3 2.9

MISCELLAENOUS 34.3 23.3 28.8

SAND AND ROCK 0.7 3.3 2.0

Number of stomachs exam i ned 450 262 712

Number of empty stomachs 192 76 268

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.119 0.219 0.156

Mean fish FL (em) 15 16 15
APPENDIX K. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of butterfish

collected in the Middle Atlantic and Southern New England

during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage wei ght).

Middle Southern

Stomach contents Atlantic New Engl and Total

COELENTERATA 9.3 6.5

Hydrozoa 8.2 5.7

Other Coelenterata 1.1 0.8

CTENOPHORA 3.5 2.4

NEMERTEA 0.8 0.6 0.7

POLYCHAETA 9.5 20.3 12.8

Glyceridae 0.7 0.5

Goniadidae 5.0 3.5

Lumbrineridae 0.9 0.2 0.7

Tomopteridae heloglandica 1.1 7.9 3.2

Other Tomopteridae 0.6 12.2 4.1

Other Polychaeta 1.2 <0.1 0.8

CRUSTACEA 6.3 12.0 8.0

.Arnphi poda 4.9 0.9 3.7

Parathemisto sp. 4.7 0.1 3.3

Other .Arnphi poda 0.2 0.8 0.4

Decapoda 0.1 3.4 1.1

Axiidae 3.3 l.0

Other Decapoda 0.1 0.1 0.1

Copepoda 0.4 6.9 2.2

Other Crustacea 0.9 0.8 1.0

MOLLUSCA 10.1 <0.1 7.0

Lo 1i go sp. 9.6 6.7

Other Moll usca 0.5 <0.1 0.3

THALIACEA 25.2 8.5 20.2

Larvacea 8.2 8.5 8.3

Hemimyari a 12.5 8.9

Other Thaliacea 4.5 <0.1 3.0

MISCELLANEOUS 35.3 58.6 42.4

Number of stomachs examined 678 394 1072

Number of empty stomachs 203 108 311

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.115 0.087 0.105

Mean fish FL (em) 13 14 13
APPENDIX L. Stomach contents of redfish collected in the Gulf of Maine

during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage

weight).

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

Decapoda

Dichelopandalus leptocerus Panda Ius borealis

Other Pandalidae

Pasiphaea multidentata

Other Pasiphaeidae Other Decapoda

Eu phausi ace a

Meganycti phanes.,. norvegi ca

Other Euphausiacea

Other Crustacea

PISCES

Merluccius bilinearis

Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosa

Other Pi sces

MISCELLANEOUS

Number of stomachs exami ned

Number of empty stomachs - Mean stomach content weight(g) Mean fish FL (cm)

Gul f of Mai ne

89.5

27.8

3.5

1.1

2.0

14.1

4.1

3.0

58.4

55.1

3.3

3.3

9.2

2.0

1.1

6.1

1.3

466

232

0.875

31
APPENDIX M. Stomach contents of longhorn sculpin collected on Georges Bank

during the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage

weight).

Stomach contents

POLYCHAETA

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Unciola irrorata

Gammaridae

Anonyx liljeborgi

Other Lysianassidae

Leptochei rus pingui s

Other Amp hi poda Decapoda

Ax i us serratus

Cancer boreal i s

Cancer irroratus

Other Cancn dae

Crangon septemspinosa

Hyas araneus

Hyas coa rcta tus

paqurus acadianus

Pagurus sp.

Other Paguridae

Dichelopandalus leptocerus

Other Pandalidae

Other Decapoda

Isopoda

Mysidacea

Neomysis americana

Other Crustacea

PISCES

Raji dae

Pi sces eggs

Other Pi sces

MISCELLANEOUS

SAND AND ROCK

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight(g)

Me an fi sh TL (cm)

Georges Bank

1.1

86.4

2.9

0.7

0.4

0.6

0.1

0.6

0.5

74.0

0.6

2.4

32.7

3.8

6.3

0.5

2.4

2.3

2.9

1.3

11.5

0.5

6.8

0.5

7.3

7.3

1.7

6.6

0.7

1.5

4.4

4.0

1.9

692

159

0.732

19
APPENDIX N. Stomach contents of fourspot flounder collected in the

Middle Atlantic during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight).

Stomach contents

CRUSTACEA

Pmphi poda

Decapoda

Cancer irroratus

Other Cancri dae

Crangon septemspinosa

Other Crangonldae

Munida iris

Munlda sP:-

Dlchelopandalus leptocerus

Other Panda" dae

Other Decapoda

Mysidacea

Neomysis americana

Other Mys 1 dacea

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Cephalopoda

Rossia sp.

Other Cephalopoda

Other Mo 11 us ca

PISCES

MISCELLANEOUS

Number of stomachs examined

Number 0 f empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight(g)

Mean fish TL (cm)

Middle

Atlantic

64.5

0.5

52.2

6.4

5.7

7.7

0.7

2.6

4.1

19.7

1.5

3.8

7.1

7.1

<0.1

4.7

19.2

19.1

4.4

14.7

0.1

11.9

4.4

366

138

0.301

25
APPENDIX O. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of witch

flounder collected in the Gulf of Maine and Western

Nova Scotia during the years 1973-1976 (data are

expressed as a percentage weight).

Gul f of Western

Stomach contents Maine Nova Scoti a Total

COELENTERATA 0.1 3.4 1.5

Ceri antha ri a 0.1 1.4 0.7

Anthozoa 2.0 0.8

POLYCHAETA 67.3 55.2 62.2

Spi oni dae 1.9 1.1

Maldanidae 1.2 0.1 0.7

Sternaspidae 1.6 3.4 2.4

Capite 11 i dae 1.6 0.4 1.1

Amphareti dae 1.8 0.4 1.2

Sabel Jidae 1.6 1.4 1.5

Arabell i dae 1.2 0.7

Eunice pennata 1.1 4.8 2.7

Goniadidae 4.0 1.3 2.9

Lumbri nerissp. 1.1 1.6 1.3

Other Lumbrineridae 8.0 3.8 6.2

Nephtyi dae 2.8 1.8 2.4

Onuphi s eremita 0.3 2.4 1.2

Onuphi s opa1i na 0.9 1.1 1.0

Onuphls sp. 0.7 2.3 1.4

Other Onuphidae 3.8 2.5 3.2

Eteone sp. 0.4 0.2

Other Phyllodocidae 0.1 1.2 0.6

Other Polychaeta 33.2 26.7 30.4

CRUSTACEA 3.5 9.5 6.0

Amp hi poda 0.9 2.4 1.5

Gammari dae 0.4 0.9 0.6

Other Amphipoda 0.5 1.5 0.9

Euphausi acea 1.7 5.2 3.2

Meganyctiphanes norvegi ca 1.7 5.2 3.2

Other Crustacea 0.9 1.9 1.3

MOLLUSCA 0.8 2.5 1.5

Yoldia sp. 0.4 1.4 0.8

Other Mollusca 0.4 1.1 0.7

ECHI NODERMATA U.8 16.5 13.8

Ophiuroidea 1.6 0.3 1.1

Ophiura sarsi 1.2 0.2 0.8

Other Ophiuroidea 0.4 0.1 0.3

Holothuroidea 10.2 16.0 12.6

Havelockia scabra 1.3 0.7

Dendrachl rotl da 1.5 0.9

Other Holothuroidea 7.4 16.0 11.0

Other Echinodermata 0.2 0.1

ASCIDIACEA 0.8 1.4 1.1

MISCELLANEOUS 15.5 10.1 13.2

SAND AND ROCK 0.2 1.4 0.7

Number of stomachs examined 426 386 812

Number of empty stomachs 33 41 74

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.614 0.499 0.669

Mean fish TL (em) 43 44 13
APPENDIX P. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of American plaice

collected in the Gulf of Maine and Western Nova Scotia during

the years 1973-1976 (data are expressed as a percentage weight).

Gulf of Western

Stomach contents Maine Nova Scoti a Total

POL YCHAETA 4.0 2.1 2.5

CRUSTACEA 7.7 7.3 7.4

Deca poda 6.6 4.5 4.9

Dichelopandal us 1eptocerus 1.4 2.3 2.1

Panda1us borealis 1.4 0.6 0.8

Other Decapoda 3.8 1.6 2.0

Euphausiacea 0.7 2.2 1.9

Meganyctiphnes norvegica 0.6 2.2 1.9

Other Euphausiacea 0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Other Crustacea 0.4 0.6 0.6

MOLLUSCA 5.4 3.0 3.5

Pe1ecypoda 5.2 2.4 3.0

Cerastoderma pinnulatum 3.4 0.7

Other Pelecypoda 1.8 2.4 2.3

Other Moll usca 0.2 0.6 0.5

ECHINODERMATA 76.6 84.0 82.6

Echinoidea 3.7 74.0 59.9

Strongylocentrotus drcbachiensis 1.1 0.9

Echi na rachrll us parma 57.6 46.0

Echi narachni us sp. 1.7 12.2 10.1

Other Echlnoidea 2.0 3.1 2.9

Ophi uroi dea 58.5 9.5 19.4

Ophiura sarsi 41. 6 7.7 14.6

Other Ophiuroidea 16.9 1.8 4.8

Other Echinodermata 14.4 0.5 3.3

MISCELLANEOUS 5.1 1.4 2.0

SAND AND ROCK 1.2 2.2 2.0

Number of stomachs examined 714 784 1498

Number of empty stomachs 328 288 616

Mean stomach content weight(g) 0.429 1.542 1.012

Me an fi s h TL (cm) 29 26 27
APPENDIXQ. Geographic breakdown of the stomach contents of yellowtail

flounder collected in Southern New England and on Georges

Bank during the years 1973-i976 (data are expressed as

a percentage weight).

Southern

Stomach contents New Engl and Georges Bank Total

COELENTERATA 1.9 3.5 2.9

NEMERTEA 0.6 0.5 0.5

POLYCHAETA 47.7 40.6 43.3

Spionphanes bombyx 4.4 13.2 9.8

Other Spi oni dae 4.4 3.1 3.6

Fl abell i geri dae 1.2 0.1 0.5

Malanidae 0.9 0.6 0.7

Amphareti dae 1.5 0.1 0.6

Sa bell i dae 3.3 0.3 1.5

Lum bri neri dae 2.6 1.5 1.9

Nephtyi dae 2.7 0.3 1.2

Other Polychaeta 26.7 21.4 23.5

CRUSTACEA 24.9 13.8 18.1

Amp hi poda 19.0 10.3 13.6

Byblis serrata 2.2 1.4 1.7

Other Ampeliscidae 2.4 1.0 1.5

Unciola i rrorata 6.9 2.8 4.4

Gammari dae 2.3 1.7 1.9

Leptochei rus pi ngui s 3.3 1.6 2.3

Other Amphipoda 1.9 1.8 1.8

Decapoda 4.7 2.9 3.7

Crangon septemspinosa 2.2 1.8 2.0

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 1.9 0.4 1.0

Other Decapoda 0.6 0.7 0.7

Other Crustacea 1.2 0.6 0.8

MOLLUSCA 0.6 0.6 0.6

Bivalvia 0.6 0.6 0.6

UROCHORDATA 0.8 0.4 0.6

Ascidiacea 0.8 0.4 0.6

MISCELLANEOUS 15.7 17.9 17 .1

SAND AND ROCK 7.8 22.7 16.9

Number of stomachs exami ned 502 502 1004

Number of empty stomachs 163 169 332

Mean stomach contentweight(g) 0.323 0.512 0.417

Mean fish TL (cm) 30 29 30
APPENDIX R. Length-weight equation parameters for various species of

Northwest Atlantic fish. All measurements are in millimeters or grams. The length-weight equation is of the form

W=.aLb.

Species a b Source

Little skate -5 .2662xl0 3.1200 Wari ng, 1978

Atlantic cod -5 .6031xl0 3.0979 Wil k et a 1 . , 1978

Haddock -4 .4284xl0 2.8053 Brown, 1971

Silver hake .355"ox10-5 3.1109 Wilk et al., 1978

Pollock -4 .1542xl0 2.9393 Kohler et al., 1970

Red hake -5 . 2841x1 0 3.1510 Wilk et a 1 . , 1978

Spotted hake -5 .4118x10 3.1406 Wilk et al . , 1978

White hake -5 .1927xl0 3.2351 Wilk et a1 . , 1978

Ocean -6 pout .6529xl0 3.3475 Wilk et a1 . , 1978

Scup .9502xl0- 5 3.1693 Wilk et a1 . , 1978

Butterfi sh -4 .1541xl0 3.0602 Wil k et al . , 1978

Red fi sh 6 -4 .19 2xl0 2.9621 Kohl er et. al., 1970

Longhorn sculpin -4 .1008xl0 3.0260 Wilk et a 1 . , 1978

Fourspot flounder -5 .7010xl0 3.0095 Wi 1k et a1 . , 1978

Witch fl ounde r

-6 .2123xl0 3.5617 Wi 1k et a1 . , 1978

American plaice -5 .1109xl0 3.3450 Lux 1969

Yellowtail flounder -5 .4514xl0 3.1257 Wil k et a1 . , 1978
·~--~-.--_._~~~~- ..._--------------_.... -------------

APrEtlDIX S. Total body weight and % BW of stomach contents by fl sh length for seventeen fish species sainp1ed in the

North\~est Atlantic duri"9 the years 1973-1976.

--·~··-1-Iea"iMl·TISh__rengfn__rmmr-- .~------ ~- ---._----~-------,.~- ---~.- --~-- -------- ..._....._- -'--',' ...

Spec i es 25- 75 125 175 225 275 325 375 425 475 525 __ 57-S--~=,=---015-~~rs-~,!£~----s25~"tl7Y-- ~3"'-~'=~]=_--"1025" -----lO}!J" I. ittTe'ska te·-----·-'~---- -------_.. -_._---._~---.-

BW(g) 1.9 9.3 26.5 58,1 108.6 182.9 285.9 422.5 597.7 816.8

',~ 13\~ stam. cont. 0.95 0.55 0.60 0.44 0.48 0.29 0.31 0,30 0.27 0.17

Atlantic cod

BW(g) 3.9 18.9 53.6 116.7 217.4 364.7 568.2 837.3 1181.7 1611. 3 2135.8 2765.3 35U9.8 4379.6 5384.7 6535.4 7842.2 93154.010966.0 I?WJ3.1J 14B39.0

~1; Bioi slam. cont. 0.90 0.43 0.26 0.95 0.54 0.56 0.47 0.55 0.67 0.79 0.58 0.81 0.82 0.65 0.72 0.69 0.73 0.76 I. 34 O. % 1.10

Haddock

8W(,) 7.8 32.7 84.0 170.0 298.5 476.9 712.5 1012.2 1378.9 1831.1 2363.4 2986.3 3705.9 4528.5 5460.2

':~ BW s tom. con L. 0.40 0.24 0.16 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.19 0.25 O. 2~i 0.23 0.23 0.25 0.26 0.46 0.37

Si her hake

aw(g) 0.1 2.4 11. 9 33.8 73.8 137.8 231 .8 361. 7 533. 9 754.7

;:'. BW starn. cont. 82.50 1.03 0.88 1.10 0.61 0.40 0.62 2.01 I. 93 4.25

Po 11 od

81,( g) 60.4 126.4 228.0 372.6 567.5 819.8 1136.8 1525.6 1993.3 2546.9 3193.4 3939.8 4793.0 5759.9 6847.4 8062.4

", BW s tom. cant. 1.67 0.31 0.66 0.33 0.46 0.39 0.07 0.24 0.15 0.26 0.20 0.21 0.25 0.25 0.49 0.54

Red hake

8W(9) 0.1 2.3 11.5 33.2 73. 3 138.0 233.6 366.6 543. 9

;'. B\~ 5tom. con t. 8.31 I. 35 0.77 0.53 0.34 0.45 0.42 0.78 1.36

Spotted hake

~W(g) 3.2 15.8 45.5 100.4 188. 9 319.6

tn-I s tOIl1. cont. 1.30 0.89 0.72 1 .28 1. 51 0.83

White hake

8W(g) 78.4 150.1 257.7 409.4 613.7 879.5 1215.8 1631 .9 2137. I 2741.3 3454.3 4286.1 5246.9

BW slolll. cant. 0.48 0.87 I. 58 0.74 1.54 0.97 0.80 1.21 1. 08 1. 39 I. 49 1.02 0.10

Ocean pout

8W(g) 48.8 95.6 167.3 270.0 410.6 595. B 832.9 1129.4 I'I93.0 1931 .7 2453.7 3067.5

IlW s tOIll. con t. 0.10 0.77 0.04 0.45 0.37 0.27 0.61 0.55 0.45 0.89 0.86 0,81

Scup

8W(g) 8.3 42.0 122.1 270.8 51 I. 4

.~ 13W s tom. cont. 0.52 0.31 0.19 0.09 0.06

Buttcrfi sh

BW(g) 0.3 8.4 40.3 112.7 243.2

(GWSlOlll. cont. 4.45 0; 50 0.23 0.14 0.08

Redfish

8W(g) 3.19 86.5 182.0 329.8 540.9 826.5

':. BW s tom. conl. 0.17 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.20 0.13

lOflIJho1'n seu'l pi n

8W(g) 0.2 4.8 22.3 61.8 132.2 242.6 402.2

.ml st01ll. cont . 5.26 1.05 1.09 0.61 0,40 0.52 0.57

FOUI"spot fl auntie r

aW(g) 39.5 84.1 153,8 254.2

OW s tOlll. can t. 0.34 O.2~ O~24 0.31

Wi t.eIl floundcl'

IlW(g) 50.7 103.5 187.7 312.5 4RfI.l 725.3 1036.0 1432.4

BW StOIll. cont. 0.37 n.?? 0.12 0.11 0.U9 0.08 0.09 (!.Ill

fllli~ricdn plai ce

BW(g) 2. I 11 .5 35.3 81.8 160. I 280.0 451.9 fiS6.9 996. ~i

BW stOIll. can t . 0.1') 0.2'1 0.18 0.21 O. I 7 0.23 0.2] fl. ] 7 0.'17

YeljrJwta j 1 floundr~r

BW(g) f).1 3. J 16.2 46.3 lfJl.li 190. e 3eO. G :ill] . /41 .

1M s t.rim. conI. . 11.95 0.64 0.45 0." o.n (1.1 ] 0.1/ n.11 u. J]

- -- ----_.-_._--
PART 2

,

EXAMINATION BY YEAR &LISTING OF PREY SPECIES

by

William L. Michaels and Ray E. Bowman
LIST OF TABLES

1 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for little

skate (Raja erinacea) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category •••••.••••••

2 Listing of all stomach contents categories identified for Atlantic

cod (Gadus morhua) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category •••••••••••.

3 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for haddock

(Melanogrammus aeglefinus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during

the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category •••••••••••••

4 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for silver hake

(Merluccius bilinearis) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category. •• • • • •••

5 Li sti ng of a11 stomach content categori es i dent ifi ed for po11 ock

(Pollachius virens) sampled inthe Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category ••••••.•••••

6 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for red hake

(Urophycis chuss) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years

1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach

contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of organisms for

each stomach content category. . • . • . • • • • •• • •••.•

7 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for spotted

hake (Urophycis regia) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contentsz weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category ••.••

8 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for white hake

(Urophycis tenuis) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category ••••••••••••
9 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for ocean pout

(Macrozoarces americanus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during

the year 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category •••••••••.

10 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for scup

(Stenotomus chrysops) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, an~ number of

organisms for each stomach content category •••• ; •••••••

11 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for butterfish

(Peprilus triachanthus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category. • • • • • ••.

12 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for redfish

(Sebastes marinus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the

years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total

stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number of

organisms for each stomach content category. • • • • • ••••

13 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for longhorn

sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) sampled in the Northwest

Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight, tutal weight in

grams, and number of organisms for each stomach category •••••

14 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for fourspot

flounder (Paralichthys oblongus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic

during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of

the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organisms for each stomach content category •••

15 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for witch

flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) sampled in the Northwest

Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in

grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category

16 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for American

plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) sampled in the Northwest

Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in

grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category

17 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for yellowtail

flounder (Limanda ferruginea) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic

during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of

the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organisms for each stomach content category •••••..•.••
18 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of little skate (Raja erinacea) sampled during

the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from

1973 through 1976. • • • •• •••••••••• • •••

19 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) sampled during the

spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from 1973

through 1976 .' • • • . • . . • . . . • . . • • . . . .

20 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) sampled

during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantlc for each year

from 1973 through 1976 •••.••••••••••••.••.••

21 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) sampled

during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year

from 1973 through 1976 _ .

22 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of pollock (Pollachius virens) sampled during the

spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from 1973

through 1976 ....•. '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

23 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of red hake (Urophycis chuss) sampled during the

spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from 1973

through 1976 ••.•••••••••.•.•••.•.•••....

24 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of spotted hake (Urophycis regia) sampled during

the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from

1973 through 1976 II •

25 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of white hake (Urophycis tenuis) sampled during

the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from

1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • •

26 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus) sampled

during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year

from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

27 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of scup (Stenotomus chrysops) sampled during tyhe

spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from 1973

through 1976 . . •• . • • • • • . . • . .••.••••...•

28 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) sampled

during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year

from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . •
29 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of redfish (Sebastes marinus) sampled during the

spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantlc for each year from 1973

through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • . • • • • • . . • . .

30 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus

octodeci mspinosus) samp 1ed du ri ng the sp ri ng and autumn in the

Northwest Atlantlc for each year from 1973 through 1976••••

31 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of fourspot flounder (Paralichthys oblongus)

sampled during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for

each year from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ,

32 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus)

sampled during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for

each year from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

33 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides)

sampled during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for

each year from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

34 Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach

content categories of yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea)

sampled during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for

each year from 1973 through 1976 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
INTRODUCTION

&

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The "Introduction" and "Methods and Materials" for Part 2 are identical

to those in Part I: Examination by Predator Length &Geographic Area by Ray

E. Bowman and William L. Michaels. Please consult Part 1.
RESULTS

Below we note the principal prey in terms of percentage weight of the

total stomach contents and the numbers of various prey organisms (when

pertinent) first, and then discuss seasonal and yearly variations in the diet

for each individual predator species.

LI TTLE SKATE

The stomach contents of little skate (Table 1) indicate they fed

principally on benthic crustaceans (67.4%). Oecapods (47.4%) were the most

important prey group identified, and Pagurus acadianus (10.0%), Crangon

septemspinosa (9.0%), Cancer irroratus (5.3%), Oichelopandalus leptocerus

(4.1%), Cancer borealis (1.9%), and Axius serratus (1.9%) were the more

important species identified. C. irroratus , C. septemspinosa, and P.

acadi anus were a common food duri ng both sp ri n9 and autumn (Table 18T. A wi de

array of amphipods (more than thi rty species represented by almost 20,000

individuals) made up a substantial percentage of little skate prey (14.0%).

The most common species identified were Leptocheirus 1ingUiS (4.3%),

Monoculodes edwardsi (1.8%), Gammarus annulatus (1.4%, Unciola irrorata

(1.2%), and Byblis serrata (0.5%). Polychaetes (10.7%) also comprised a

significant portion of the stomach contents with Aphroditidae (1.7%),

Glyceridae (1.0%), Nepthyidae (0.9%), and Nereidae (0.9%) being identified as

food. Incidental, prey groups included fish eggs and larvae (5.6%), and

Pelecypoda (3.0"10).

Little skate showed no strong seasonal variation in their foods habits.

Most of the above mentioned prey were consumed fairly consistently in the the

spring and autumn of the years 1973 through 1976 (Table 18).

ATLANTIC COO

Fish (61.5%) accounted for more than half of the Atlantic cod diet (Table

2), although they also fed on a wide variety of invertebrates. Major fish

prey were identified as Scomber scombrus (10.5%), Clupeidae (9.5%), Sebastes

marinus (4.7%), Clupea harengus (3.3%), Pleuronectiformes (3.0%), Ammodytes

americanus (2.8%), and Merluccius bilinearis (2.3%). Over 150,000 fish eggs

made up a portion (0.3%) of the unidentified fish remains. Oecapoda (17.9%)

constituted most of the crustacean component (19.0%) of the stomach

contents. Predominant species of crabs included Cancer irroratus (5.9%),

Cancer borealis (1.9%), Pagurus acadianus (1.7%), Axius serratus (1.3%), and

Hyas coarctatus (1.2%). Pandalid shrimp (2.8%), especially Dichelopandalus ~ocerus (1.5%), also made up a portion of the decapod prey. Remaining

stomach content groups included Pelecypoda (4.4%), Gastropoda (1.7%),

Echinoidea (1.8%), Ophiuroidea (1.0%), Polychaeta (1.1%) especially Aphrodita

sp. (0.8%), and Loligo sp. (5.2%) which constituted most of the Cephalopoda

(6.2%).
The invertebrate portion of the stomach contents of Atlantic cod appeared

to be fairly consistent over the four year period sampled (Table 19).

However, certain species of fish and squid were predominant in the cod diet

only during certain seasons and years. Clupea harengus (43.9%) was the most

important prey in the autumn of 1974. Ammodytes americanus (24.1%), Scomber

scombrus (24.5%), and Loligo sp. (48.3%) were important prey during the

autumns of 1976, 1974, and 1976, respectively.

HADDOCK

Prey identified for haddock (Table 3) was a diverse assortment of benthic

organisms. Echinoderms (28.0%) were the predominant prey group with

Ophiuroidea (21.9%) such as 0phiopholis aculeata (9.5%) and Ophiura sarsi

(6.1%) observed as the most commonly occurring species in the diet of

haddock. A large array of polychaetes (18.1%) were identified, with the

families Spionidae (1.6%) and Aphroditidae (1.2%) being most important.

Unciola irrorata (3.0%), Unciola serrata (1.4%), Leptocheirus pinguis (0.7%),

and Monoculodes edwardsi (0.3%) were some of the dominant species of Amphipoda

(7.5%) identified. A wide range of decapod species were consumed, however,

only Axius serratus (1.7%) and Dichelopandalus leptocerus (0.6%) occurred in

significant amounts. Mollusks (3.8%), mostly Pelecypoda (1.6%), were also

identified in the 'stomach contents. The fish (2.3%) component of the haddock

dietary included Clupeidae (1.0%) and Melanogrammus aeglefinus (0.8%) among

other species of little dietary importance.

Ophiuroids and fish were consumed in larger quantities by haddock in

autumn while polychaetes made up a larger percentage of their food during

spring (Table 20). Twice as many haddock stomachs were sampled in the autumn

than the spring. Overall, only 6% of the haddock stomachs were found to be

empty.

SILVER HAKE

Fish (80.7%) dominated the stomach contents of silver hake (Table 4).

Merlucciusbilinearis (9.2%), Ophidiidae (7.5%), Peprilus triacanthus (3.5%),

Clupeidae (2.7%), and Ammodytes americanus (1.8%) were some of the fish prey

identified. Another important prey species of silver hake was the squid,

Loligo pealei (7.6%). Shrimp-like crustaceans formed the remaining bulk of

the diet and included, among others, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (3.7%),

Dichelopandalus leptocercus (2.0%), and Crangon septemspinosa (1.4%).

Fish and the above mentioned shrimp were consistently eaten along with

small quantities of mysids and amphipods throughout the 1973-1976 period

(Table 21). However, the fish COmponent of the diet varied according to year

and season. For example, Stenotomus chrysops (18.4%) were identified in the

stomach contents of silver hake only during the autumn of 1976. A. americanus

(33.4%) were also eaten intensively during the autumn of 1976. 111 both the

spring and autumn of 1973, silver hake displayed cannibalism by preying on

their own juveniles. Scomber scombrus (33.3%) were consumed by silver hake

during the spring of 1975.
POLLOCK

More than one-half of the diet of pollock was fish (47.2%) and squid

(7.7%) (Table 5). Predominant fish prey were Merluccius bilinearis (9.4%),

Pollachius virens (8.4%), and Clupeidae (2.4%). Longfin squid, [oligo sp.

(7.7%) was also an important prey. Crustaceans (40.0%) were secondary in

importance in the pollock's diet. Pollock displayed a stron9 preference for shrimp~like prey. The prevailin9 decapod shrimp (20.6%) taken as food were

Pasiphaea multidentata (15.2%), Dichelopandalus leptocerus (3.9%), and

Pandalus borealis (1.0%). Other shrimp-like crustaceans included the

euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes norve9ica (13.8%) and the mysid, Neomysis

americana (3.0%). Over 23,000 N. americana and over 13,000 M. norvegica were

identified in the stomach contenrts of the 669 pollock sampleCi.

No seasonal trends in the food habits of pollock were apparent (Table

22) • The maj or di etary component of pollock du ri ng the autumn of 1976 was

Loligo sp. (81.2%) which was not consumed during any other year of season. In

the autumn of 1974 and the spring of 1976, pollock preyed upon its own

juveniles (19.7% and 51.9%, respecitvely). M. bilinearis (46.1%) was

intensively eaten by pollock during the sprinrg of 1974. Pollock fed heavily

on the mysid, N. americanus (17.7%) in the spring of 1975.

RED HAKE

Crustaceans (38.1%) and fish (34.8%) were the most important constituents

of the red hake diet. However, most of the fish were unidentified (27.2%).

The only major fish prey identified were Pleuronectiformes (3.1%), Clupeidae

(2.5%), and Ophidiidae (2.0%) (Table 6). A variety of decapods (29.0%) made

up a significant portion of the diet. Dichelopandalus leptocerus (12.4%) was

the most common prey identified. Other important decapods included Crangon

se temspinosa (3.1%), Munida sp. (2.9%), Cancer borealis (2.8%), Cancer

i rroratus 1.3%), Pa9urus acadianus (0.8%), and Axius serratus (0. 7%).

Leptocheirus pinguis (0.8%), Unciola irrorata (0.6%), and the caprellid,

Aeginella sp. (0.8%) were amphipods frequently found in their diet. Dietary

groups of lesser importance were Cephalopoda (9.8%), Polychaeta (3.7%),

Gastropoda (3.0%), and Holothuroidea (2.7%). The polychaete, Aphrodita

hastata (1.3%) was the only prey identified to species within these lesser

groups.

In the autumn of 1975, holothuroideans (81.6%) constituted a major

portion of the red hake's diet (Table 23). Red hake fed heavily on clupeids

(28.8%) in the spring of 1973. C. septemspinosa was eaten during the spring

and autumn of all years, but in the autumn of 1974 especially large quantities

were consumed (14.0%). Overall, the food habits of red hake appeared to be

relatively consistent during the entire sampling period.
SPOTTED HAKE

Almost half of the diet of spotted hake was crustaceans (43.6%) including

groups such as euphausiids (23.1%), decapods (16.3%), and amphipods (1.4%)

(Table 7). The euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (22.9%) was the single

most important prey species. Dichelopandalus leptocerus (4.7%), Munida iris

(3.3%), Crangon septemspinosa (3.2%), and Cancer irroratus (1.4%) were the

dominant decapods identified. The stomach contents of spotted hake contained

a significant number of amphipods, with the hyperiids Parathemisto sp. (0.4%)

and Euthemisto bispinosa (0.4%) being the more common. Mollusks (35.5%) were

the second most lmportant prey, with unidentified cephalopods (36.5%)

comprising the bulk of this group. Among fish (15.9%), Ophidiidae (2.8%) was

the major family identified. Numerous larval and juvenile fish were also

identified in the stomach contents (e.g., Merluccius bilinearis (0.5%),

Pleuronectiformes (0.2%), Pristidae (0.1%), and other unidentified fish larvae

(0.6%)).

Seasonal and yearly observations revealed that the euphausiid, M.

norvegica was eaten only during the spring of 1975 and 1976. Anothe~

observation was thatD. leptocerus made up large percentages of the diet in

the autumn of all years (Table 24). Ophidiidae (28.5%) were intensively preyed upon during the autumn of 1974.

WHITE HAKE

White hake ate mostly fish (88.5%) (Table 8). The majority of the fish

prey was unidentified (45.3%) because it was well digested. Fish identified

as food of white hake were Urophycis tenius (19.4%), Merluccius bilinearis

(8.5%), Argentina silus (4.1%), Clupeidae (2.6%), Pseudopleuronectes

americanus (2.5%), Clupea harengus (1.5%), and Urophycis ChUSS (1.1%). The

second most important prey group, crustaceans (9.1%), was mostly made up of

shrimp such as the euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (3.0%) and the

decapod shrimps (5.8%) Pandalus borealis (1.8%) and Dichelopandalus leptocerus

(1.3%). The white hake sampled were fairly long and had a relatively large

mean stomach content weight (23.0 g for a mean fish length of about 51 cm).

Various types of shrimp were consumed during the spring and autumn of the

four years sampled (Table 25). The largest amounts of P. borealis (14.7%) and

M. norvegica (11.7%) eaten occurred during the autumn oT" 1976 and spring of

11975, respectively. Variation in fish prey showed Scomber scombrus (6.5%) and

P. americanus (26.4%) were fed on by white hake only in the autumn of 1973.

L;lupea harengUS were consumed in the spring and autumn of 1975 (7.5% and 7.8%,

respectively) while other unidentified clupeids (35.0%) occurred in the white

hake diet during the autumn of 1976. White hake preyed intensively on its own

juveniles (51.9%) in the autumn of 1974. During the spring of 1975 and 1976,

juvenile M. bilinearis (26.5% and 10.7%, respectively) were preyed on by white

hake. -
OCEAN POUT

The sand dollar, Echinarachnius parma (66.3%) was the most important prey

species identified for ocean pout (Table 9). Decapods (3.8%) preyed upon were

mostly crabs, with Cancer irroratus (0.9%) being the major species. Amphipods

(2.6%) accounted for a small quantity of the stomach contents (but was made up of almost 11,000 organisms), with Unciola irrorata (0.5%) and Byblis serrata

(0.5%) being common species identified. Of somewhat lesser importance as food

were two types of brittle stars, Ophiopholis aculeata (1.2%) and Euryale sp.

(1.0%), and the mollusk, Placopecten sp. (1.8%). Similarly, polychaetes

(1.1%) made up only a small portion of the diet of ocean pout.

The number of stomachs sampled and the mean stomach content weight of

ocean pout was much higher during the spring of the years 1973 through 1976

(Table 26). During the spring ocean pout fed almost entirely on E. parma. The smallest amount of E.parma eaten during spring occurred in 197"4 (18.8%).

Crustacea (6.5%) appeared more important as food during the autumn. C.

irroratus (24.6%) were heavily preyed upon in the autumn of 1975. DUlCing the

autumn of 1974, ocean pout preyed intensively on O. aculeata (47.8%).

SCUP

The diet of scup included large percentage of polychaetes (39.1%) (Table

10). Major polychaete families identified as food were Lumbrineridae (5.9%),

Glyceridae (4.9%), Nepthyidae (3.4%), Sabellidae (3.3%), Scalibregmidae

(3.1%), and Sigalionidae (1.8%). Among crustaceans (14.2%), scup fed more

often on amphipods (7.2%) than decapods (3.6%). Leptocheirus pinguis (1.8%),

Gammaridae (1.7%), and Unciola irrorata (1.6%) were the main amphipods

identified. Principal decapods consumed were Pagurus sp. (0.4%) and Cancer

irroratus (0.4%). Cephalopods (6.9%) were the common mollusks (10.8%) preyed

upon. Anthozoa (1.5%) were also identified in the stomach contents of scup.

With the exception of Scalibregmidae (22.5%) which were identified as

food in the spring of 1976, scup consumed polychaete worms, such as

Glyceridae, Lumbrineridae, Nephtyidae, and Sigalionidae, mostly during the

autumn (Table 27). Anthozoa (31.7%) and unidentified mollusks (33.6%) made up

the bulk of the diet of scup in the spring of 1973, while most of the stomach

contents for the spring of 1974 and 1975 were unidentified (60.8% and 60.4%,

res pecti ve1y) •

BUTTERFISH

Chordata (20.1%) was the largest single prey group eaten by butterfish

and included Larvacea (8.3%), Thaliacea (11.8%), and a trace amount of

Ascidacea (Table 11). The second most important prey was polychaete worms

(12.8%). Tomopteridae (7.3%), especially Tomopteris helgolandica (3.2%), and

Goniadidae (3.5%) were the predominant polychaetes identified. The crustacean

portion of the diet consisted mostly of amphipods (3.6%) and copepods

(2.7%). The remaining stomach contents were Mollusca (7.0%) of which most was

Loligo sp. (6.7%), Hydrozoa (5.7%), Ctenophora (2.4%), and fish larvae (0.3%).
The food habits of butterfish appeared to change throughout the eight

seasons, however, no seasonal trends could be determined (Table 28). The

hyperiid amphipod, Parathemisto sp. occurred in large quantities in the

stomach contents only during the spring of 1974 (59.3%). Butterfish fed on

the polychaetes Goniadidae (24.5%) and Tomopteridae (26.0%) during the autumn

of 1974 and spring of 1976, respectively. The squid, Loligo sp. made up a

major portion of the diet of butterfish in the autumn of 1976 (25.8%). In the

spring of 1975, butterfish fed intensively on Hemimyaria (85.6%). Most

butterfish samples were obtained in the autumn periods.

REDFISH

Redfish fed pricipally on Meganyctiphanes norvegica (57.9%) (Table 12).

Decapod shrimp, including Pasiphaea multidentata (13.8%), Dichelopandalus leptocerus (4.5%), and Pandalus borealls (1.1%) made up most of the remalning

portion of identified crustacean prey. Juvenile fish (9.1%) were also eaten

by redfish. Merluccius bilinearis (2.0%) made up the largest quantity of

juvenile fish in the redfish diet. Approximately one-half of the redfish

samp Ied had empty stomachs •

Redfish preyed heavily on M. norvegica throughout almost all seasons and

years sampled (Table 29). High--percentages of P. multidentata were found in

the autumn samples for all years except 1976. rruring the autumn of 1976, D.

leptoceras (61.2%) made up most of the redfish diet. Redfish preyed -- intensively on fish (70.7%), such as Merluccius bilinearis (31.5%) and

Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosa (16.5%) in the spring of 1974.

LONGHORN SCULPIN

Nearly three-fourths of the diet (Table 13) of longhorn sculpin was

decapods (72.1%). Cancer irroratus (31.4%) was the predominant decapod

prey. Dichelopandalus leptocerus (11.5%), Crangon septemspinosa (6.2%),

Pagurus acadianus (2.5%), Hyas coarctatus (2.5%), and Cancer borealis (2.3%)

were also ldentified. A wlde variety of amphipods (4.9%), especially

Leptocheirus pinguis (0.7%) and Unciola irrorata (1.0%), as well as the mysid,

Neomysis americana (7.0%) made up most of the remaining crustacean prey.

Unidentified fish eggs (3.8%) constituted part of the fish portion (6.4%) of

the diet of longhorn sculpin.

Decapods were the major prey of longhorn sculpin throughout the sampling

period (Table 30). The highest percentage of any single prey eaten by

longhorn sculpin during a particular year and season was C. irroratus (67.3%)

during the autumn of 1976. However, C. irroratus were cOrlsumed more often

during the spring of other years (e.g-:-, 1973, 1974, and 1975) than during

autumn. Longhorn sculpin fed heavily on C. borealis (27.3%) in the autumn of

1975 and on D. leptoceras (49.1%) during the autumn of 1974. The mysid, N.

americana waS- identified as food solely in spring samples for this predatClr.

Juvenile skates, Rajidae (4.6%) and fish eggs (3.8%) were consumed by longhorn

sculpin during the spring of 1976 and 1975, respectively.
FOURSPOT FLOUNDER

Fourspot flounder ate principally crustaceans (65.1%), with decapods

(52.0%) consituting more than one-half of their diet (Table 14).

Dichelopandalus leptoceras (19.3%) contributed the largest percentage to the

diet of any species of prey eaten by fourspot flounder. Other decapods

identified as food were Crangon septemspinosa (7.6%), Cancer irroratus (6.2%),

Cancridae (5.2%), Munida sp. (4.0%), and Munida iris (2.5%). Over 1,000

mysids, Neomysis americana (7.8%) were found in the stomachs. Mollusca

(18.7%) was of secondary importance in the fourspot diet, and included mostly

Rossia sp. (4.3%) and other unidentified cephalopods (14.3%). Fish (11.7%),

most of which was unidentified (10.8%), comprised the majority of the

remaining stomach contents.

Little seasonal variation in diet was observed for fourspot flounder

(Table 31). Decapods were important prey of fourspot flounder in the spring

and autumn of the years 1973-1976. With the exception of the spring of 1975,

fish were consumed fairly consistently throughout all seasons and years. The

squid, Rossia sp. (30.2%) was an important food during the spring of 1973.

WITCH FLOU NOER

Witch flounder ate large quantities of polychaete worms (62.1%) (Table

15). Only a small number of polychaetes were identified to species; Eunice

pennata (2.3%), Onuphis eremita (1.0%), and Onu'phis oplina (0.8%) were among

those identified. However, a large number of polychaete families were

identified. Lumbrineridae (6.6%), Onuphidae (5.9%), Eunicidae (2.8%),

Goniadidae (2.5%), Sternaspidae (2.1%), Nephtyidae (2.1%), Sabellidae (1.3%),

and Ampharet i dae (1.1%), were some of the more important groups. Eteone sp.

(7.4%) was the single most important polychaete genera identified as food.

Holothuroidea (11.4%), Anthozoa (5.1%) (most identified as Metridium sp.,

3.8%), and the euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (2.7%) were also flound

in the stomachs. Approximately 625 fish eggs (0.1%) were included as part of

the stomach contents of witch flounder. Only 9% of the stomachs were emtpy.

Polychaetes made up the major portion of the diet of witch flounder

during the spring and fall of all years sampled (Table 32). Goniadid and

sabellid polychaetes appeared to be consumed more often in the autumn during

all years. ~' pennata was a major prey item during the spring of 1974 and

1975 (11.3 and 2.4%, respectively). Eteone sp. (34.1%) was especially

important as a food in the spring of 1975. During the autumn of 1974, M.

norvegica (21.7%) was important in the diet of witch flounder. HoI othuri ans

were consumed almost exclusively in the spring. The anemone, Metridium sp.

was identified as a food of witch flounder only during the spring of 1975.

AMERICAN PLAICE

American plaice were very selective in their feeding. They preyed almost

exclusively on echinoderms (85.7%), especially Echinarachnius parma (64.1%)

(Table 16). Brittle stars (Ophuroidea, 15.7%) were the second most important
prey and they were mostly Ophiura sarsi (11.7%). Pelecypoda (2.4%) such as

Cerastoderma pinnulatum (0.6%), Yoldia limatula (0.5%), Yolida thraciaeformis

(0.5%), and Chlamys islandica (0.3%), constituted most of the remaining

stomach contents. Many of the stomachs examined were empty (41.1%).

American plaice tended to consume large quantities of O. sarsi in the

autumn, while Echinoidea were dominant in their diet in the--spring (Table

33). The highest percentage of sand dollars, Echinarachnius sp. (90.0%) were

eaten by American plaice during the spring of 1975. Stomach samples taken in

the autumn of 1974 contained high percentages of the euphausiid, ~. norvegica

(26.5%). American plaice consumed notable quantities of the mollusk, C.

pinnulatum (10.3%), during the spring of 1976. --

YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER

Much of the food of yellowtail was found to be polychaete worms (43.0%)

(Table 17). Some of the many polychaetes identified were Spionphanes bombyx

(9.7%), Spionidae (3.6%), Lumbrineridae (1.6%), and Nephtyidae(1.2%). A

large number (over 12 thousand) of amphipods (13.6%) were also consumed and

they included Unciola irrorata (4.3%), Leptocheirus pinguis (2.3%) and Byblis

serrata (1.7%). Crangon septemspinosa (1.9%) and Dichelopandalus leptocerus

(0.9%) constituted the bulk of the decapod prey (3.5%). Anthozoans (2.1%)

were of limited dietary importance.

The diet of yellowtail flounder was mostly polychaete worms and amphipods

during both spring and autumn for all the years sampled. However, the

quantities of both prey groups were consistently higher during the spring than

in autumn (Table 34). The polychaete S. bombyx was consumed during both

spri ng and autumn for the years 1973-1976, but they made up the hi ghest

percentages during the spring of 1974 (13.6%) and the autumn of 1976

(16.5%). Sand and rock (49.7%) accounted for a large portion of the stomach

contents of yellowtail flcunder during the autumn of 1976. About one-third of

all stomachs examined were empty.
DISCUSSION

The food of the seventeen species of marine fish examined here revealed

that there were generally four types of predators; (1) piscivores (including

squids), (2) planktonic invertebrate feeders, (3) epifaunal crustacean

consumers, and (4) those that eat benthic infauna and non-crustacean

epifauna. The food of a particular predator is likely influenced by the

various morphological differences between fishes, environmental factors, and

prey size, distribution and behavior.

General body design and especially mouth morphology, often reflect the

feeding strategy of a species. Most piscivores are adapted for chasing,

holding, and swallowing large prey. Their body design is usually fusiform,

(suitable for pursuing fast moving fish prey) and they have a large mouth gape

along with long, sharp teeth for seizing and holding large organisms.

Predators which feed on plankton generally have a laterally compressed, deep

bodied shape. Their gibbose body allows them to drift easily in the water

column and also enables them to maneuver quickly when sucking or filtering

zooplankton from the water. The small planktonic prey of these fishes ~s then

retained in the buccal cavity by filamentous gill rakers. Benthivores have

developed many unique morphological features for specialized feeding (e.g.,

flatfishes, gadids, sparids etc.). Some benthic feeders actively swim above

the bottom when feeding, while others hide on or in the bottom to capture

prey. Large-mouthed benthic predators often feed on large organisms such as

crabs; those with smaller mouths usually feed on small crustaceans and

polychaetes. Mouth orientation is some indication as to whether a benthivore

feeds on prey swimming above the bottom or on sedentary organisms lying on or

in the bottom.

Fish vision, smell, taste, and touch are also used to varying degrees for

detecting foods. For example, eyesight is usually better developed in

predators that actively pursue their prey (e.g., large well developed eyes

such as those of silver hake). The lateral line may also enhance a fish's

ability to locate prey. Olfaction is a sense utilized by many flatfish for

finding food. Some benthivores (e.g., many gadiform fishes) have barbels and

fins which serve as chemoreceptors as well as tactile organs.

Environmental conditions such as temperature, depth, light, turbidity, and substrate influence prey availability and therefore affect feeding in

fishes. Since most of the study area is within a temperate zone, the feeding

behavior of many of the fishes is likely affected the most by seasonally

related changes (e.g., temperature, light, prey distribution). Some of the

fishes studied here undergo seasonal migrations, while others remain

relatively stationary. Keast (1979) notes that generalized feeders are more

adaptable to changing environments than specialist. Therefore, generalists

are more likely to reflect seasonal shifts in their diet (as prey availability

changes). Below we provide information concerning body morphology, predator

and prey distributions, and environmental factors as they possibly relate to

the food consumed for each particular species.
LITTLE SKATE

The body of little skate is uniquely modified for lying flat on the

bottom and to feed on the benthos. Its body has no anal fin, and enlarged

pectoral fins. The mouth is positioned ventrally and has lips with several

rows of dermal plates rather than teeth (Lagler et al., 1977). Their

relatively small mouth seems perfectly adapted for consuming small, slowmovi ng prey off the bottom.

The basic food of little skate was decapods (47.4%) and amphipods (14.~1o), while polychaete worms (10.7%) were of secondary importance (Table

1). Maurer and Bowman (1975) examined the food of 393 little skates collected

during the 1969-1972 period and identified similar food for skate. Bigelow

and Schroeder (1953) found the amphipod, Leptocheirus sp. to comprise almost

half of the stomach contents of little skate they sampled in Long Island

Sound. In fish from the Woods Hole area, they noted 29% of the skates

examined had eaten crabs and 15% fed on the bottom-dwelling shrimp, Crangon.

Our results also showed that Leptocheirus pinguis (4.3%) and Crangon

septemspinosa (9.0%) were common prey specles, although decapod crabs (32.7%)

were the predominant food. Little skate can be considered an intermediate

(between generalist and specialist) feeder because of the wide array of

benthi c organi sms it eats. Its morphology enables ti tt1e skate to feed

principally on slow moving, bottom-dwelling organisms.

Spring-autumn bottom trawl survey data compiled by Azarovitz (1982)

suggests that little skate do not undergo large scale seasonal migrations.

However, Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) report that little skate occasionally

migrate to warmer, deeper waters during the winter and spring in the Gulf of

Maine, even though it tolerates a wide temperature range. In Long Island

Sound, little skate are known to migrate to deeper, colder waters during the

summer when water temperatures are elevated. In the present study, seasonal

movements, if any, of little skate had little effect on its diet, since

simil ar prey were consumed du ri ng both spri ng and autumn (Tab 1e 18).

ATLANTIC COD

Cod feeds efficiently on a large assortment of animals found swimming

near or on the bottom. Their heavy, fusiform body and broad caudal fin allows

cod to swim rapidly forward for short distances to catch prey. Cod spend much

of their time searching along the bottom with a chin barbel which serves as a

tactile organ for locating food (Nikolsky, 1963). Its wide mouth gapes back

as far as the eye and is equipped with many small teeth (Bigelow and

Schroeder, 1953). Bigelow and Schroeder report that cod average 6 to 12

pounds but can exceed over 100 pounds in body weight. The size of this

predator is important when considering their prey because smaller cod tend to

feed mostly on small crustaceans while larger cod feed more on large

crustaceans and fi sh (Langton and Bowman, 1980).

In this study, the major prey of cod was fish (61.5%) and decapods

(17.9%) while squid (6.2%) and pelecypods (4.4%) were secondary in importance

(Table 2). The food of 1250 cod sampled during an earlier period (1969-1972)

was similar to the food reported on here (Bowman, 1975; Langton and Bowman,
1980). The wide variety of prey types eaten by cod suggest that it is a

generalized feeder and likely feeds on the most abundant organisms available.

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) report that cod generally fast during their

spring spawning period. However, for unknown reasons, the mean stomach

content weight of cod sampled for our study was higher during spring (28.7 g)

than in autumn (20.8 g). Atlantic cod are known to migrate offshore and

northward into colder waters during the warm months of autumn (Bigelow and

Schroeder, 1953; also see Azarovitz, 1982). Although cod undergo seasonal

migrations, we found the invertebrate portion of its diet to be relatively

consistent between spring and autumn (fish prey did vary somewhat by season)

(Table 19).

HADDOCK

Haddock have a small, ventral mouth with soft, muscular lips adapted for

sucking or burrowing into the substrate to feed. Its body is fusiform; the

anterior portion which is heavier, possibly helps them to remain in a

forwardly titled position when feeding (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953). The

chin barbel on haddock likely functions as a chemoreceptor and tactile organ

for locating foods within muds (Nikolsky, 1963). Haddock is more suited for

feeding on the benthos rather than for capturing large or rapidly moving prey.

Haddock is a good example of a generalized feeder. The prey list for

haddock in the present study extended over seven pages and showed that haddock

feed on a diverse assortment of benthic invertebrates (Table 3). Ophiuroids

(21.9%) were their major food, and small, benthic crustaceans (15.8%) and

polychaetes (18.1%) were secondary prey. Langton and Bowman (1980), Bowman

(1975), and Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) reported similar foods for haddock.

Haddock are highly opportunistic since they feed on almost all available

benthic prey at a given location.

Bottom trawl survey data (Azarovitz, 1982) show that most haddock are

caught on Georges Bank in the spri ng; and that 1arge numbers are obtai ned in

the Gulf of Maine during autumn. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) suggest that

haddock undergo irregular seasonal migrations from deep to shan/ow waters when

waters cool. They report that haddock prefer cold water (34-50 F) and are

generally found in bottom water 25-75 fathoms deep. Of interest is that more

haddock were apparently available when bottom trawling in autumn than in

spring since twice as many were sampled in autumn for this study. We also

found larger quantities of ophiuroids and fish consumed in autumn, while more

polychaete worms were eaten during the spring (Table 20). Bowman (1977)

analyzed the contents of 407 haddock stomachs collected during the spring and

fall of the years 1969-1972 (in his study, more stomachs were sampled during

autumn than spring also). He reported that haddock fed more intensively on

ophiuroids during the autumn than in spring in the Georges Bank, Gulf of

Maine, and Western Nova Scotian regions. The apparent seasonal shift in the

diet of haddock is likely due to its moving to areas where organisms available

as prey differ.
SILVER HAKE

Silver hake are adapted for swimming for prolonged periods and chasing

their prey. They are a streamlined, fusiform fish and strong swift swimmers,

as well as extremely voracious predators (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953). Their

large terminal mouth, equipped with two or more rows of needle-sharp recurved

canines and projecting lower jaw, is suitable for seizing large, rapidly

swimming prey out of the water column. Silver hake have typical physiological

characteristics of fish eaters as described by Nikolsky (1963) (e.g., short

gill rakers serving to protect gills, large stomach for large prey, pyloric

caecae to neutralize high acidity in stomach, and short intestine).

Appropriately, fish (80.7%) was the predominant food identified in this

study. Squid (9.2%) and shrimp (4.0%) made up the remaining bulk of their

diet (Table 4). According to Langton and Bowman (1980), fish accounted for

more than three-fourths of the diet of silver hake in the 1969-1972 period.

They suggested that shrimp were eaten mostly by smaller silver hake. Bowman

(1980) suggested that silver hake reduced feeding during their spawning period

in the late summer-autumn period and fed more intensively in the spring and

early summer. His findings were based on a subset of the present data.

Variation in the feeding intensity of silver hake according to season is

likely influenced somewhat by their northward and/or shoreward migrations

during the summer months (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953; Azarovitz, 1982).

POLLOCK

Pollock has a deep, streamlined body tapering to a pointed nose and

slender caudal peduncle. Their moderate-sized mouth has small pointed teeth

and a projecting lower jaw (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953). Pollock seem suited

for sustained swimming while searching for food and for taking moderate-sized

prey found in the water column. The long and slender gill rakers of pollock

may help retain smaller prey within the buccal cavity (Niko1sky, 1963).

Pollock do not appear to be adapted for feeding on organisms found on the

bottom.

The food of pollock was mostly organisms that are normally found swimming

off the bottom. Its diet was mainly fish (47.2%) and free-swimming shrimp

(38.8%) which agrees well with reports by Langton and Bowman (1980). We also

found squid (7.7%) was fed upon when available. Similarly, Maurer and Bowman

(1975) found pollock collected during the years from 1969 through 1972, to

have fed on fish (31.9%) and shrimp (65.5%) (the shrimp consisted mainly of

Pasiphaea sp. and Meganyctiphanes norvegica).

The distribution of pollock is similar in spring and autumn (Azarovitz,

1982). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) noted that large pollock occur in deep

offshore waters. Pollock apparently feed on the same prey types throughout

both spring and autumn (Table 22).
RED HAKE

Red hake seem to be adapted for feeding on bottom organisms. Its body is

elongated, has a large mouth, and a chin barbel. Herrick (1902) reported that

red hake kept in an aquarium fed chiefly by sense of touch using their long

pelvic fin rays. The sensitive tips of these ventral fins were dragged along

the bottom as red hake searched for food. '

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) claim that bivalve mollusks and echinoderms

are seldom found in the stomach contents of red hake and that small

crustaceans were their main food. We found red hake depending on a wide

assortment of animals for food, such as fish (34.8%), shrimp (17.6%), crabs

(9.8%), and squid (9.8%) (Table 6). Langton and Bowman (1980) also found red

hake to be a diverse feeder, but dependent principally on crustaceans and fish

for food. One prey in particular, Dichelopandalus leptocerus was identified

as a major prey of red hake by Langton and Bowman and our data confirm their

results.

Red hake apparently depend for the most part on the same prey during both

spring and fall (Bowman, 1977). The data presented here corroborate previous

findings. Bottom trawl survey data (Azarovitz, 1982) doesn't show any obvious

seasonal shifts in the distribution of red hake. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953)

also claim that red hake don't undertake long seasonal migrations with the

exception of a slight offshore movement into deeper waters with the onset of

warming water temperatures during the summer.

SPOTTED HAKE

The body design of spotted hake is similar to that of red hake and gives

an indication that they are adapted for feeding along the bottom. A

laboratory study by Barans (1969) found spotted hake depend primarily on

vision for locating prey, and in addition, use its chemoreceptive pelvic fins

to test the palatibility of food. We found spotted hake fed on a variety of

crustaceans (43.6%), squid (36.5%), and fish (15.9%) (Table 7). The diet of

spotted hake was similar to red hake with the exception that spotted hake fed

intensively on the euphausiid,Meganyctiphanes norvegica (22.9%). Hildebrand

and Schroeder (1928) found spotted hake collected in Chesapeake Bay feed

exclusively on mysids. Our data indicate that mysids were of little

importance as a food. In another study, Sikora et al. (1972) found 341

juvenile spotted hake feeding primarily on crustaceans, while fish were of

secondary importance in their diet. During the 1969-72 period, Maurer and

Bowman (1975) examined the stomach contents of 333 spotted hake and found

their prey to be principally crustaceans and fish.

Spotted hake tended to feed intensively on Dichelopandalus leptocerus

during autumn in the 1973-1976 period, and on Meganyctiphanes norvegica during

spring in the years 1975-1976. Bottom trawl survey data indicate spotted hake

migrate to deep water in spring (Azarovitz, 1982). This migration may be

responsible for, to some extent, the seasonal variation we noted in the type of prey they consume.
WHITE HAKE

Being predominantly a fish-eater (Table 8), white hake are a more

specialized feeder than red hake or spotted hake. All three hakes generally

have the same body design (generally adapted for feeding along the bottom),

however, white hake grows to larger sizes than the other two hakes. White

hake we sampled were twice the size (average length of 51 cm) of either the

red or spotted hake taken. The large size of white hake enable them to

capture and feed on larger prey such as fish. Crustaceans were secondary in

importance in their diet. Small white hake feed more intensively on crustaceans than fish. Past feeding studies on white hake, such as those by

Langton and Bowman (1980), Maurer and Bowman (1975), and Petrov (1973), also

identified fish as the principal food of this predator.

White hake apparently move into shoal waters during summer months

(Azarovitz, 1982). These movements, combined with differences in the seasonal

distribution of various prey organisms, likely affect prey availability. For

example, during the spring of 1975 and 1976, juvenile Merluccius bilinearis

were taken as food in large quantities by white hake. Durin9 spring both

species tend to be concentrated in deep slope or basin waters (Azarovtiz,

1982).

OCEAN POUT

Ocean pout have an eel-like body form with large pectoral fins and no

swim-bladder, and is typically a bottom dwelling fish. Its large gaping mouth

and thick fleshy lips are equipped with blunt conical teeth. This species is

apparently suited for crushing various organisms taken off the bottom. We

found ocean pout to be specialized feeders. Approximately two-thirds of their

diet consisted of sand dollars, Echinarchnius parma; most other prey items

were incidental. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) reported that bottom dwelling mollusks, as well as sand dollars, were major prey of ocean pout. Our results

showed that mollusks only made up 2.4% of the ocean pout's diet. Maurer and

Bowman (1975) examined the gut contents of 238 ocean pout collected from the

same study area during the 1969-72 period. They also found ocean pout to feed

heavily on sand dollars, while amphipods were of secondary importance as food.

During the autumn the number of ocean pout collected was much less than

in the spring (Table 26). Bottom trawl surveys (Azarovitz, 1982) indicate few

ocean pout are caught during the fall compared to spring. Bigelow and

Schroeder (1953) suggest that ocean pout move to rocky bottoms during the

autumn where they deposit and guard their eggs. After their eggs hatch, ocean

pout move back to smoother, sandy bottoms where their preferred food is

apparently more abundant. A possible reason for catching fewer of ocean pout

during the fall may be that the rocky areas where they are found cannot be

effectively fished. Therefore, little is known about the diet of ocean pout

during the autumn. The 67 ocean pout (total) collected during the autumn of

the years 1973-1976 had extremely small quantities of food in their

stomachs. A possible explanation may be that they fast during their spawning

period. Sand dollars were eaten for the most part only during the spring.

Theroux (personal communication, 1982)1 claims that sand dollars prefer sandy

bottoms. Since ocean pout tend to inhabit sandy bottoms during the spring,
this possibly explains why sand dollars were found in such large quantities in

the gut contents of samples obtained in spring.

SCUP

Scup occur near the bottom and feed on a variety of benthic organisms

such as small crustacans, annelid worms, mollusks, and sand dollars (Bigelow

and Schroeder, 1953). The laterally compressed, deep body of scup enables

them to drift above the bottom in search of their food. As scup swim slightly

off the bottom, they can eat organisms on or in the bottom using their small,

semi-ventral mouth.

We found scup fed on a variety of benthic organisms (Table 10).

Polychaete worms were the preferred food. Amphipods, decapod shrimp,

mollusks, and fish were also of some dietary importance. Our work

corroborates the investigation by Maurer and Bowman (1975) who found scup

collected during 1969-1972 had eaten similar food. They also identified

polychaete worms as the primary food. However, in addition they noted onefifth of the stomach contents of the scup they examined were anemones,

Ceriantharia, while we found only an insignificant amount of this prey.

Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928) examined 24 scup from Chesapeake Bay and found

their gut contents consisted of crustaceans, mollusks, worms, insect larvae,

and small fish.

Scup undertake an inshore migration during the autumn (Azarovitz, 1982;

Morse, 1978). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) claim that scup cease feeding

during spawning in summer months. In our data the mean stomach content weight

was consistently less for the spring samples, some indication that these

samples may have been influenced by the beginning of the spawning period

(Table 27). With the exception of Scalibregmidae, which Appy et al. (1980)

indicate are mostly found in deep water, scup were caught, and fed most

intensively on polychaetes, during the autumn months when the fish were

concentrated in inshore areas.

BUTTERFISH

The body of butterfish is laterally compressed,deep-bodied, and has well

developed pectoral fins; thus permitting butterfish to maintain control while

drifting in the water column and to quickly maneuver when preying on

pl ankton. Small organisms can readily be sucked into its small, semi -dorsal

mouth and retained in the buccal cavity by elongated gill rankers.

We found planktonic prey to be predominant in the stomach contents of

butterfish (Table 11). Larvaceans, salps, young squid, copepods, hyperiid

1National

Hole, MA

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole Laboratory, Woods

02543
amphipods, hydroids, and polychaetes made up most of the butterfish's diet.

Butterfish stomach contents examined by Maurer and Bowman (1975) contained

similar food, with larvaceans and salps being the principal prey, and

chaetognaths (Sagitta sp.) and ascidians as secondary food. Bigelow and

Schroeder (1953) report butterfish feed on small fish, squid, amphipods,

shrimp, and ctenophores. We found ctenophores and larval fish to be

incidental food.

Butterfish are concentrated in deeper water (and at Warmer bottom

temperatures) during the spring (Azarovitz, 1982). This species' seasonal

migration likely influences the type of food it ingests. However, we could

not discern any distinct seasonal trends in their diet based on our data

(Table 28). The food of butterfish seemed very unpredicatable. For example, butterfish fed exclusively on larvaceans in the spring of 1973, and on

hydroids and polychaetes in the autumn of 1973. In the following year, the

spring food was primarily the hyperiid, Parathemisto sp., while polychaetes

and ctenophores occurred in the fall samples. Butterfish appear to be

opportunistic feeders and take whatever prey is available.

REDFISH

The perch-like body and enlarged pectoral fins of redfish enable this

species to drift and maneuver in the water column when capturing planktonic

shrimp and larval fish with its semi-dorsal, moderate-sized mouth. Its large

eyes gi ve some i ndi cati on that redfi sh are vi sual feeders.

Redfish are very selective when feeding, as their diet is made up almost

exclusively of free-swimming shrimp (Table 12). More than half their diet

included the euphausiid, M. norvegica, while decapod shrimps (especially

Pasiphaea sp.) were secondary food. Incidental prey included larval fish,

hyperiid amphipods, copepods and mysids. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953)

documented that shrimp were the major prey of redfish, and also noted that

small fish and small mollusks were occasionally taken as food. We identified

no mollusks as food in the redfish stomachs we examined. Maurer and Bowman

(1975) examined the stomach contents of 921 redfish, and their data indicated

Meganyctiphanes(68.4%) and Pasiphaea (14.3%) were the mos.t common prey.

The diet of redfish is fairly consistent with M. norvegica being the

single most important prey throughout all seasons and years (Table 29). There

is little evidence that redfish undergo extensive seasonal migrations (Bigelow

and Schroeder, 1953 and Azarovitz, 1982) which may explain the lack of any

obvious seasonal variation in its diet.

LONGHORN SCULPIN

The dorso-ventrally flattened head and large mouth of longhorn sculpin

enable them to feed on relatively large benthic organisms. Bigelow and

Shroeder (1953) described longhorn sculpin as voracious scavengers which feed

on shrimp, crabs, amphipods, hydroids, annelid worms, mollusks, squid,

ascidians, and fish fry. The stomach contents we examined reveal that
longhorn sculpin fed mostly on various shrimps and crabs (Table 13), while

amphipods, mysids, and fish were secondary foods. With the exception of not

finding any mysids as food, Maurer and Bowman (1975) reported similar findings

for the prey taken by 908 longhorn sculpin collected during the years 1969-72.

Bottom trawl survey data indicate longhorn sculpin are generally

widespread in the sampling area throughout the year (Azarovitz, 1982).

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) report that longhorn sculpin may under90 slight

irregular offshore movements. We found the diet of longhorn sculpin to be

irregular throughout the seasons and years sampled, possibly due to shifts in

available prey. Bowman (1977) also noted that the diet of longhorn sculpin

apparently does not undergo large scale seasonal fluctuations.

FOURSPOT FLOUNDER

Fourspot flounder, as other flatfishes, have laterally compressed bodies

oriented horizontally instead of vertically. Horizontal orientation provides flatfish with a feeding advantage for preying on certain organisms.

Keenleyside (1979) described the foraging of a flounder asa stalking

strategy. The flounder visually locates its prey, moves along the bottom

using the dorsal and anal fin undulation for propulsion, and then leaps

forward to capture its prey with a vigorous downward thrust of its caudal

fin. Morris (1981) suggests that interspecific competition between flatfish

species maybe reduced because of differences in mouth morphology. The mouth

size, shape, and dentition determine the particular type of organism a

flounder may select as food. Fourspot flounder have relatively large mouths

with needle-like teeth. The mouth opens in an upward orientation. This mouth

structure suggests that fourspot flounder is well adapted for feeding on

fairly large organisms that move along slightly above or near the bottom.

We found that fourspot flounder feed on relatively large, fast-moving

prey. Crabs and shrimps were principal foods, while squid and fish were next

in dietary importance (Table 14). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) also found

fourspot flounder to feed mostly on crabs, shrimp, squid, fish, and some

polychaetes (in total, we found only five polychaete worms in the 366 stomachs

examined). Similarly, the prey composition of fourspot flounder determined

from the exami nati on of the contents of 1,096 stomachs collected du ri ng the

years 1969-1972 (Langton and Bowman, 1981) differed little from our results.

Our results (Table 31) tend to confirm the report by Bowman (1977), in

which he indicated that the diet of fourspot flounder doesn't change

substantially from one season to the next. Although fourspot tend to be more

widely distributed in autumn (especially in the shoal areas) they don't appear

to undergo large scale migrations. This possibly explains why little seasonal

variation is noted in their diet.
WITCH FLOUNDER

Witch flounder feed almost exclusively on polychaete worms (Langton and

Bowman, 1981; and see Table 15). The witch's mouth structure seems perfectly

suited for picking or sucking worms out of the bottom. Their mouth is small,

equipped with incisor-like teeth, and opens downward (Morris, 1981).

Holothurians, amphipods, anemones, and fish eggs were some of the other

organisms we identified as food of witch flounder.

There is little evidence that witch flounder undertake seasonal

migrations (Azarovitz, 1982). Witch flounder feed almost exclusively on

polychaete worms during both spring and autumn (Table 32). However, we also

noted that holothurians were a fairly important food during spring, while

90niadid and sabellid polychaetes were more commonly eaten in the autumn.

AMERICAN PLAICE

The mouth structure of American plaice is similar to that of fourspot

flounder; a large mouth with long conical teeth (Morris, 1981). However, the

mouth of American plaice is oriented dowhward while that of fourspot is

oriented upward. The mouth morphology of plaice is better adapted for

capturing large organisms on the bottom.

We found the stomach contents of plaice to contain almost exclusively the

sand dollar, Echinarachnius parma (Table 16). Ophiuroids, especially Ophiura

sarsi, were the second most important prey. Langton and Bowman (1981) and

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) also report that plaice feed chiefly on sand

dollars and brittle stars. Shrimp, euphausiids, polychaete worms, and

bivalves were some of the incidental organisms we identified as food.

American plaice generally move little throughout the year (Bigelow and

Schroeder, 1953; and Azarovitz, 1982); however, we observed a notable seasonal

shift in its diet. Ophiuroids (brittle stars) were eaten mostly during autumn

and echinoids (sand dollars) were dominant prey in spring (Table 33). If the

distribution of American plaice is fairly constant, then one possible

explanation for their dietary change is that the availability of brittle stars

or sand dollars may vary throughout the year in particular areas. Of interest

is that Bowman (1977) also found plaice to prey on almost twice as many

ophiuroids during autumn than spring in the Gulf of Maine.

YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) described the diet of yellowtail flounder as

consisting of prey such as worms, amphipods, mysids, small shrimp, and small

shellfish. Langton and Bowman (1981) analyzed the contents of 2,645

yellowtail flounder stomachs and identified polychaetes as primary prey. They

ranked amphipods secondary in importance as a food of yellowtail. They also

noted that the yellowtail flounder's diet is for the most part similar

throughout its geographic range. Our food data on yellowtail flounder gives

credence to the above mentioned reports. We found almost half of the gut
contents of yellowtail to be made up of polychaete worms; the next largest

dietary component was amphipods (Table 17). The organisms consumed by

yellowtail flounder indicate this predator is principally a benthivore. Its

mouth morphology is well suited to accommodate its benthic feeding behavior.

The mouth is rel ati velysmall and has a si ngl e row of fi ne teeth, and al so has

a pronounced downward orientation (Morris, 1981).

The spring and autumn distribution of yellowtail flounder is similar

accordi ng to bottom trawl survey i nformati on compil ed by Azarovi tz (1982).

However, Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) report that yellowtail flounder move

into deep, cool waters during summer when inshore waters rise in

temperature. If this migration does occur, it may possibly explain why larger

quantities of food (more available prey?) were found during spring (in all

years except 1976) in the stomachs of the yellowtail we examined (Table 34).

VARIATION IN FEEDING INTENSITY

The seasonal or yearly abundance of particular organisms within various

marine areas can sometimes be directly correlated with fluctuations noted in

the diet of marine fishes. For example, GrossTein et aT. (1980) reported an

increase in the abundance of American sand lance in the Northwest Atlantic

during 1976 based on bottom trawl survey information. The increase in

abundance of sand lance during 1976 was apparently reflected in the diets of

Atlantic cod and silver hake for the same year (1976; see Tables 19 and 21).

The squid, Loligo sp., is another example of a prey species which fish

intensively feed upon when it is available. Atlantic cod, pollock, silver

hake, and butterfish fe¢d intensively on Loligosp. when it was somewhat more

abundant in the Northwest Atlantic during the autumn of 1976 (Lange, 1982).

The reason Loligo made up large percentages of various predators diets in the

autumn and not in spring was likely because Loligo is more available as prey

in autumn, since they have a much wider distrlbution during that season (they

are particularly more abundant in shallow regions; Azarovitz, 1982). Yearly

fluctuations in organisms taken as prey usually can readily be associated with

increases or decreases in abundance of those same organisms when abundance

indices are available. However, for most prey species (in particular the

benthos) little documentation exists concerning yearly variation in their

abundance, and for this reason, dietary information gathered from fishes

serves as one potential i ndi cator that fl uctuat ions in thei r abu ndance or

distribution occur.

MAJOR PREY SPECIES

,ecies

The stomac~ contents of the seventeen fish~~studied provid~ a good

indication of ~t~ m~jeF prey species are utilized for food by fishes on the

continental shelf. Prey listings for the various predators studied not only

give an indication of prey diversity, but also indicate that relatively few

species make up the bulk of the combined diets (Tables 1-17). For example,

the most important mysid utilized as food was Neomysis americana, and

Meganyctiphanes norvegica was the predominant euphausiid taken as prey.

Crangon septemspinosa, Dichelopanadlus leptocerus, Axius serratus, Pandalus
borealis, and Pasiphaea multidentata were the dominant decapod shrimp

identified as food. Cancer irroratus was the predominant crab, but Cancer

borealis, Pagurus acadianus, Hyas coarctatus, and Munida iris were also

important prey. The sand dollar, Echinarachnius parma was taken as food in

large quantities by at least two species. Ophiura sarsi and Ophiopholis

aculeata were the two most common brittle stars noted as food. Amerlcan sand

lance, Atlantic mackerel, clupeid fish, and the squid, Loglio sp. were common

prey of several species. Lumbrinerid and spionid (especially Spionphanes

bombyx) polychaetes were prevalent in the diet of fishes which feed on

worms. Among amphipods, species such as Unicola irrorata, Leptocheirus

pinguis, Parathemisto sp., Byblis serratus, Monocluoides edwardsi, and Unciola

serrata were taken in large quantities as food.
LITERATURE CITED

Appy, T.D., L.E. Linkletter, and M.J. Dadswell. 1980. A guide to the marine

flora and fauna of the Bay of Fundy: Annelida: Polychaeta. Fish. Mar.

Servo Tech. Rep. No. 920, 124 p.

Azarovitz, T. 1982. Personal communication - draft report. National Marine

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MaSs. 02543. (617) 548-5123.

Barans, C.A. 1969. Distribution, growth, and behaviour of the spotted hake in

the Chesapeake Bight. M.A. Thesis, College of William and Mary,

Williamsburg, VA.

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. U.S.

Fish. Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53, 577p.

Bowman, R.E. 1975. Food habits of Atlantic cod, haddock, and silver hake in

the Northwest Atlantic, 1969-1972. U.S. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Northeast

Fisheries Center, Woods Hole Lab. Ref. Doc. No. 75-01, 53 p.

Bowman, R.E. 1977. Seasonal food habits of demersal fish in the Northwest

Atlantic - 1972. U.S. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Northeast Fisheries Center,

Woods Hole Lab. Ref. Doc. 77-01, 31, p.

Bowman, R.E. 1980. Food of silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis). U.S. Nat.

Mar. Fish. Serv., Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole Lab. Ref. Doc.

80-31, 46 p.

Grosslein, M.D., R.W. Langton, and M.P. Sissenwine. 1980. Recent fluctuations

in pelagic fish stocks of the northwest Atlantic, Georges Bank region, in

relation to species interactions. Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. Int. Explor.

Mer. 177: 374-404.

Herrick, C.J. 1902. The organ and sense of taste in fishes, Bull. U.S. Fish.

Commision 22: 239-272.

Hildebrand, S.F. and W.C. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Bull.

(U.S.) Bur. Fish. 43(1), 388 p.

Keast, A. 1979. Patterns of predation in generalist feeders.

prey systems in fisheries management. Sport Fish. Inst.,

D.C., 13 p.

In Predator-

"Wilshi ngton,

Kennleyside, M.H.A. 1979. Zoophysiology. Volumer 11. Diversity and

adaptations in fish behaviour. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, N.Y.,

208 p.

Lagler, K.F., J.E. Bardach, R.R. Miller, and D.R. May Passino. 1977.

Ichthyology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., N.Y., 506 p.

Lange, A.M.T. 1982. Status of the squid (Loligo pealei and Illex

illecebrosus) populations off the northeastern USA. U.S. Nat. Mar. Fish.

Sery., Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole Lab. Ref. Doc. 82-27, 20 p.
Langton, R.W. and R.E. Bowman. 1981. Food of eight northwest Atlantic

pleuronectiform fishes. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Techn. Rep., NMFS SSRF749, 16 p.

Langton, R.W. and R.E.

gadiform fishes.

23 p.

Bowman. 1980. Food of fifteen northwest Atlantic

U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA, Tech. Rept., NMFS SSRF-740,

Maurer, R.O. and R.E. Bowman. 1975. Food habits of marine fishes of the

northwest Atlantic - data report.· U.S. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Northeast

Fisheries Center, Woods Hole Lab. Ref. Doc. No. 75-3, 90 p.

Morris, T.L. 1981. Mouth structure relative to food habits for seven

northwest Atlantic pleuronectiform fish species. ICES C.M. 1981/G:67, 10

p.

Morse, W.W. 1978. Biological and fisheries data on scup, Stenotomus chrysops

(Linnaeus). U.S. Dept. Commer., Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Sandy Hook Lab.,

N.J., Tech. Ser. Rep. No. 12, 41 p.

Nikolsky, G.V. 1963. The ecology of fishes. Academic Press, Inc., N.Y.

352 p.

Petrov, V.N. 1973. Maturity, feeding, length and age composition of white

hake, UrOphycis tenuis (Mitch.) in ICNAF Subarea 3, 1969-72. Int. Comm.

Northwest Atl. Fish. Redb. 1973 (III): 101-104.

Sikora, W.B., R.W. Heard, and M.D. Dahlberg. 1972, The occurrence and food

habits of two species of hake, Urophycis regius and U. floridanus in

Georgia estuaries. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 101: 513-52'5.
Table 1 Listing f all stomach content categories identified for little skate (Raja erinacea)

sarnpled n the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as

a percen age of the total stomach contents weight. total weight in grams. and number

of organ sms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organ; sms Wei ght (g) Percentage weight

FORAMINIFERIDA 3 0.000 0.00

COELENTERATA 4 7.029 0.59

Ceriantharia 3 6.966 0.58

Anthozoa 1 0.063 0.01

NEMERTEA 11 9.788 0.82

PRIAPULlDA 1 0.003 0.00

NEMATODA 967 1. 745 0.15

POLYCHAETA 362 127.631 10.67

Spionidae 2 0.006 0.00

Pherusa arenosa 1 0.660 0.06

Fl abe 11 i geri dae 47 5.463 0.46

Maldanidae 25 3.610 0.30

.Ammotrypane sp. 12 0.161 0.01

Opheliidae 16 1.072 0.09

Sternaspidae 1 0.026 0.00

Amphareti dae 3 0.047 0.00

Sabe11 ; dae 2 0.825 0.07

Aphrodita hastata 1 3.055 0.25

Ap hraditi dae 41 17.217 1.44

Arabella iricolor 7 1.038 0.09

Glyceridae 13 11. 703 0.98

Goniadidae 1 0.071 0.01

Lumbrineridae 14 4.322 0.36

Nephtys sp. 3 1.391 0.12

Nephtyidae 47 10 .156 0.85

Nerei 5 succi nea 1 0.016 0.00

Nereis sp. 9 2.901 0.24

Nerei dae 19 10.291 0.86

Onuph; dae 1 0.104 0.01

Po lynoidae 1 0.333 0.03

Sigalionidae 7 0.440 0.04

Palychaeta tubes 4 0.998 0.08

Unidentified Polychaeta 84 51.725 4.32

SIPUNCULlDA 3 27.51 0.23

Golfingia appendiculata 1 0.393 0.03

Unidentified Sipunculida 2 2.358 0.20

CRUSTACEA 25758 807.846 67.42

Amphi poda 19678 167.161 13.99

Oediceros sp, 15 0.123 0.01 ~mpelisca macrocephala 53 0.477 0.04

Ampeliscaeschrichti 8 0.209 0.02

Ampelisca vadorurn 43 0.246 0.02

Ampelisca sp. 4 0.048 0.00

Byblis serrata 1520 5.861 0.49

8ybJis sp. 11 0.063 0.01

Ampeliscidae 423 2.608 0.22

Amphilochoides odontonyx 1 0.015 0.00

Ampi thoe sp. 34 0.543 0.05

Microdeutopus gryllotalpa 1 0.003 0.00

Aoridae 298 2.461 0.21
Table 1. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms We

i

9

ht (9) Percentage weight

Arnphipoda (can't)

Cal1iopius laeviusculus 56 0.564 0.05

Aeg;nina longicornis 28 0.112 0.01

Capre 11

i dae 170 1.177 0.10

Ericthonius braziliens;s

7 0.010 0.00

Ericthonius rubricornis 897 0.926 0.08

Ericthonius sp. 57 0.061 0.01

Unclola irrorata 2329 14.427 1.20

Unciola serrata

9 0.194 0.02

Unciola sp. 1162 11. 221 0.94

Corophiidae 20 0.011 0.00

Casco bigelow;

8 0.195 0.02

Gammarus annul atus 979 16.259 1.36

Me1i ta dentata1 0.003 0.00

Gammaridae 866 19.504 1.63

Haustoriidae

5 0.009 0.00

Amphiporeia gigantea 63 0.710 0.06

Bath*poreia guoddyensis

4 0.035 0.00

Para austorius attenuatus

1 0.019 0.00

Protohaustorius deichmanni

1 0.005 0.00

Haustoriidae 131 1.126 0.09

Hyper;idae 14 0.021 0.00

Anonyx sars;

3 0.097 0.01

Anonyx sp.

1 0.042 0.00

Hippomedon serratus 16 0.196 0.02

Orchomenel1aminuta

3 0.062 0.01

Lysianassidae-------- 108 1.354 0.11

Monoculodes edwards; 3713 21. 035 1. 76

Monoculodes intermedius 327 4.755 0.40

Monoculodes sp. 97 1.047 0.09

Oedicerotidae 798 5.806 0.48

Pardalisca cuspidata 30 0.197 0.02

Leptocheirus pinguis 4945 51.606 4.31

Leptocheirus sp.

1 0.158 0.01

Trichophoxus epistomus

5 0.014 0.00

Phoxocephalidae 18 0.073 0.01

Stenopleustes sp. 21 0.406 0.03

Podoceridae 290 0.289 0.02

Pontogeneia inermis 78 0.324 0.03

Arnphi poda tubes

0 0.141 0.01

. Unidenti fi ed Arnphi poda

5 0.313 0.03

Decapoda 4725 567.933 47.38

Axi us serratus 29 22.252 1.86

Cancer borealis 82 22.816 1.90

Cancer irroratus 331 63.050 5.26

Cancer sp.

6 0.200 0.02

Cancridae 563 47.324 3.95

Crangon septemspinosa 2758 107.363 8.96

Sclerocrangon boreas

1 0.119 0.01

Grangonidae 129 1.494 0.12

Munida iris

2 0.488 0.04
Tabl

e l. (continued)

Number. of

Stomach contents organisms Wei ght (g) Percentage weight

Oecapoda (can't)

Munida sp.1 0.226 0.02

Homaridae0 0.025 0.00

Eualus pus;olus 24 0.251 0.02

Lebbeus oolaris

1 0.134 0.01

Hippolytidae5 0.149 0.01

Hyas coarctatus 13 3.807 0.32

Hyas sp. 10 1.823 0.15

Pagurus acadianus 93 120.116 10.03

Pa9urus annulipes

4 0.876 0.07

Pa9urus sp. 97 66.390 5.54

Paguri dae 77 12.755 1.06

Dichelopandalus leotocerus 199 48.547 4.05

Pandalus sp.

1 0.264 0.02

Pandalidae 15 1.631 0.14

Ovalipes ocel1atus5 1.606 0.13

Portunus sp.4 0.583 0.05

Decapod crab 141 27.903 2.33

Decapod shrimp 125 3.647 0.30

Unidentified Decapoda

9 12.094 1.01

Isopoda 500 15.763 1.31

Aegidae

1 0.023 0.00

Cirolana polita 171 7.335 0.61

Cirolana sp. 234 8.020 0.67

Chiridotea almyra

I 0.003 0.00

Ch1ridot&a tufts;5 0.018 0.00

Ch1ndotea sp~ 60 0.230 0.02

Edotea sp.I 0.000 0.00

Synidotea sp.

4 0.005 0.00

Un; dentifi ed Isopoda 23 0.129 0.01

Cumacea 392 0.804 0.07

Leptocuma minor 43 0.088 0.01

DiastYlis sculpta 54 0.095 0.01

Diastylis sp.4 0.015 0.00

Lamprops guadriplicata

9 0.056 0.00

Lamprops sp. 14 0.007 0.00

Petalosarsia declivis

1 0.000 0.00

Un,dentified Cumacea 267 0.543 0.05

Euphaus;acea

8 0.097 0.00

Meganyctiphanesnorvegica2 0.040 0.00

Unidentified- Euphausiacea

6 0.057 0.00

Mysidacea 395 4.828 0.40

Erythrops erythrophthalma 51 0.042 0.00

Neomysis americana 288 4.638 0.39

Unidentified Mysidacea 56 0.148 0.01

.Copepoda 54 0.024 0.00

Calanoid copepod 43 0.017 0.00

Unidentified Copepoda Il 0.007 0.00

Stomatapada4 0.157 0.01

Crustacea eggs0 0.279 0.02

Unidentified Crustacea

2 50.800 4.24
Tab1 e l. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

MOLLUSCA 28 44.880 3.74

Pelecypoda 13 35. 902 3.00

Gastropoda 1 0.033 0.00

Cephalapoda 12 2.310 0.19

Rossia tenera 1 0.312 0.03

Octopod-a-- 1 0.268 0.02

Unidentified Cephalapoda 10 1. 730 0.14

Unidentified Mollusca 2 6.635 0.55

ECHINODERMATA 2 0.449 0.03

Echinoidea 1 0.291 0.02

Echi narachni us parma 1 0.291 0.02

Ophi uroidea 1 0.158 0.01

CHORDATA 2 0.002 0.00

Larvacea 2 0.002 0.00

0; kopleura sp. 2 0.002 0.00

CEPHALOCHOROATA 0 0.008 0.00

PISCES 77 67.103 5.59

Anguilla rostrata 1 0.170 0.01

Merluccius bilinearis 1 0.702 0.06

Gadidae 1 0.151 0.01

Ammodytes americanus 2 1.271 0.11

Myoxocephalus sp. 3 2.604 0.22

Tautogolabrus adspersus 1 0.405 0.03

Pholis gunnellus 3 1.848 0.15

Sebastes marinus 1 0.247 0.02

Ulvaria subbifurcata 1 22.766 1. 90

Paralichthys dentatus 1 2.756 0.23

Pleuronectiformes 22 3.379 0.28

Fi sh eggs 16 0.121 0.01

Fish larvae 3 0.177 0.01

Unidentified Pisces 21 30.506 2.55

UNIDENTIFIED EGGS 0 0.265 0.02

ANIMAL REMAINS 13 125.703 10.51

PLANT REMAINS 1 0.018 0.00

ROCK 8 0.271 0.02

SAND 0 2.570 0.21

TOTAL 27240 1198.062 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 1065

Number of empty stomachs 97

Mean stomach content weight (g) 1.041

Mean number of organisms per stomach 25.58

Mean fish TL (em) 38
Table 2 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as

a percentage af the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organ; sms for each stomach content ca tego ry .

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei 9ht (9) Percentage weight

PROTOZOA 27 0.000 0.00

Forami ni feri da 27 0.000 0.00

COELENTERATA 99 262.913 0.62

Hydrozoa 0 5.874 0.01

Anthozoa 98 254.050 0.60

Metridium sp. 3 28.778 0.07

Actiniaria 3 5.325 0.01

Cer; anthari a 41 39.109 0.09

Unidentified Anthozoa 51 180.838 0.43

Unidentified Coelenterata 1 2.989 0.01

CTENOPHORA 0 18.389 0.04

CESTODA 24 0.004 0.00

TREMATODA 3601 0.464 0.00

NEMERTEA 10 5.232 0.01

NEMATODA 742 2.451 0.01

POLYCHAETA 249 465.054 1.09

Polvdora ciliata 1 0.004 0.00

Spionphanes bombyx 0 0.979 0.00

Spionidae 0 2.902 0.01

Pherusa sp. 2 0.356 0.00

Fl abe11 i geri dae 11 3.828 0.01

Maldanidae 2 0.078 0.00

Ophelia sp. 2 7.704 0.02

Terebellidae 4 0.820 0.00

Sabe11 idae 1 0.266 0.00

Alciopidae 1 0.492 0.00

Aphrodita hastata 3 20.040 0.05

Aphroditidae 45 321. 987 0.76

Arabella iricolor 1 0.332 0.00

Arabe11 i dae 0 0.179 0.00

Euni cepennata 9 3.743 0.01

Euni Ce sp. 1 0.295 0.00

Eunicidae 5 1. 979 0.00

Goni ada sp. 3 6.650 0.02

Ophioglycera gigantea 3 0.167 0.00

Lumbri ner;ssp. 4 4.555 0.01

Lumbri ner; dae 11 4.381 0.01

Nephtyidae 6 3.349 0.01

Nereidae 15 2.335 0.01

Onuphi s .eremi ta 2 1.115 0.00

Onuphis sp. 9 0.300 0.00

Onuphidae 3 0.701 0.00

Eteone sp. 5 0.013 0.00

Phyllodoce sp, 11 0.373 0.00

Phyllodocidae 7 1.152 0.00

Ephesiel1a rninuta 1 0.233 0.00

Polychaeta tubes 10 5. 992 0.01

Unidentified Polychaeta 71 67.754 0.16
Tab1e 2. (conti nued)

Stomach contents

OLlGOCHAETA

SlPUNCULlDA

Golfingia sp.

Phascolion strombi

Unidentified Sipunculida

CRUSTACEA

!>mphi poda

Ampelisca sp.

Haploops setosa

Ampelisicidae

Aoridae

Calliopius laeviusculus

Calliopiidae

Aeginella spinosa

Aeginina longicornis

Capre11 i dae

Ericthonius rubricornis

Eri ethan; us sp.

Unciola irrorata

Unciola serrata

Unciola sp.

Corophiidae

Eusirus cuspidatus

Rachotropis aculeata

Eusiridae

Gammarus annulatus

Garnmarus sp.

Gamrnaridae

Melita dentata ~emisto sp.

Hyper;idae

Anonyx 1i1 jeborqi

Anonyx sars;

Hippomedon serratus

Orchomenella minuta

Ocrhomenel1a pinguis

fmetonyx nobilis

Psarnmonyx nobilis

Lysianassidae

Monoculodes edwardsi

Monoculodes sp.

Oedicerotidae

Leptocheirus pinQuis

Padoceropsissp.

Harpinia propingua

Pontogeneiainermis

Pontogeneia sp.

Stegocephalus infl atus

Tiro" spiniferum

Leucothoe spinicarpa

Aii1phipoda tubes

Unidentified Amphipoda

Number of

organisms Wei 9ht (9) Percentage weight

1 0.006 0.00

9 11.851 0.03

6 11. 713 0.03

2 0.042 0.00

1 0.096 0.00

17538 8041. 550 19.00

7363 64.709 0.13

5 0.241 0.00

5 0.233 0.00

32 0.664 0.00

13 0.108 0.00

20 0.302 0.00

36 0.910 0.00

33 0.696 0.00

42 0.208 0.00

109 0.926 0.00

132 0.110 0.00

3 0.015 0.00

1838 11.962 0.03

147 ' 1.351 0.00

18 0.188 0.00

6 0.032 0.00

2 0.228 0.00

65 0.358 0.00

1 0.094 0.00

345 3.027 0.01

7 0.070 0.00

277 7.295 0.02

22 0.317 0.00

266 1.555 0.00

852 2.864 0.01

1 0.002 0.00

250 5.424 0.01

14 0.146 0.00

5 0.002 0.00

6 0.131 0.00

1 0.037 0.00

121 2.177 0.01

91 1.233 0.00

4 0.035 0.00

1 0.014 0.00

17 0.103 0.00

283 4.240 0.01

1 0.006 0.00

1 0.00 0.00

2222 13.829 0.03

35 2.128 0.00

3 0.314 0.00

9 0.015 0.00

14 0.168 0.00

a 0.715 0.00

8 0.236 0.00
Tab]

e 2. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Decapoda 4931 7554.128 17.88

Ax; us serratus 117 557.847 1.32

Axiidae3 6.156 0.01

Calianassa atlantica2 63.825 0.15

Cancer borea1is 61 798.563 1.89

Cancer irroratus 519 2465.457 5.85

Cancridae 86 86.003 0.20

Crangon septemspinosa 585 67.501 0.16

Pontophi1us norveq; eus3 0.614 0.00

Sabinea sarsii

1 0.269 0.00

Crangonidae 36 4.028 0.01

Garyon qui nguedens 15 403.257 0.96

Caridion gordon;

9 0.670 0.00

Eualus gaimardii 57 0.105 0.00

Eualus pusiolus 392 9.709 0.02

LebbeU5 groenlandicus 47 11.180 0.03

Lebbeus pol art5 19 3.579 0.01

Lebbeus zebra1 0.411 0.00

Lebbeus sp.

5 0.186 0.00

Spirontocaris lilieborqii6 0.657 0.00

Spirontocaris spina 15 1.952 0.00

Spirontacaris sp. 43 4.271 0.01

Hippolytidae 31 4.814 0.01

Hyas araneus 24 26.494 0.06

Hyas coarctatus 374 492.690 1.17

Hyas sp. 114 88.747 0.21

Majidae

1 0.045 0.00

Pagurus acadianus 126 710.135 1.68

Pagurus annulipes1 0.520 0.00

Pagurus 10ngi carpus1 2.200 0.01

Paguruspubescens 24 76.528 0.18

Pagurus arcuatus1 0.497 0.00

Paqurus sp. 45 58.432 0.14

Paguridae 52 27.232 0.06

Dichelopandalu5 leptoceru5 1066 628.082 1.49

Pandalus borealis 36 148.178 0.35

Pandalus montagui 487 325.516 0.77

Pandalus sp.

1 2.153 0.01

Pandalidae 127 82.668 0.20

Pasiphaeamultidentata 12 12.614 0.03

Pasiphaeidae

1 1.068 0.00

Penaeidae4 0.137 0.00

Decapod crab 49 207.007 0.49

Decapod shrimp 298 89.580 0.21

Unidentified Decapoda 34 82.551 0.19

lsopoda 211 12.492 0.02

Aegidae 12 0.225 0.00

Anthuridae

3 0.042 0.00

Cirolana borealis

1 0.253 0.00
Table 2. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei ght (g) Percentage weight

Cirolana polita 77 5.106 0.01

Cirolana sp. gO 5.056 0.01

Cymothoidae 1 O. 903 0.00

Chiridotea tuftsi 3 0.051 0.00

Chiridotea sp. 2 0.007 0.00

Janira alta 1 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 21 0.849 0.00

Cumacea 62 0.103 0.00

Diastylis pol ita 3 0.006 0.00

Diastvlis rathki; 5 0.026 0.00

Oxyurostylissp. 44 0.045 0.00

Unidentified Cumacea 10 0.026 0.00

Euphausiacea 1445 141. 398 0.34

MeganyctiDhanes norvegica 1397 134.220 0.32

fhysanoessa sp. 1 0.011 0.00

Unidentified Euphausiacea 47 7.167 0.02

Mysidacea 552 8.829 0.02

Mysis mixta 6 0.133 0.00

Neomysis americana 545 8.616 0.02

Un; dent; fi ed Mysi dacea 1 0.080 0.00

Cirripedia 1 1.016 0.00

Copepoda 2959 0.976 0.00

Calanoid copepod 169 0.060 0.00

Unidentified Copopoda 2790 0.916 0.00

Stomatopoda 1 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 13 257.899 0.61

PYCNOGONIOA 2 0.199 0.00

Pycnogonum littorale 2 0.199 0.00

MOLLUSCA 331 5325.793 12.63

Pe lecypoda 80 1857.215 4.41

Arctica islandica 12 50.887 0.12

Cerastoderma pinnulatum 11 0.470 0.00

Cyrtodaria siligua 8 277.010 0.66

Anom; a siinp lex 1 0.063 0.00

Crenella sp. 1 0.049 0.00

Museul us 0; ger 1 0.490 0.00

Placopecten magellanicus 0 7.263 0.02

Pecti nidae 7 1257.277 2.98

Yoldia sp. 1 0.175 0.00

Unidentified Pelecypoda 38 263.531 0.63

Gastropoda 189 707.231 1.67

Acoela 1 0.216 0.00

Aporrhais occidentalis 1 0.075 0.00

Crepidula sp. 1 0.193 0.00

Di aphana sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Buccinum sp. 4- 50.808 0.12

Turridae 1 0.255 0.00

Unidentified Gastropoda 180 655.684 1.55

Cephalopoda 46 2628.705 6.24
Table 2. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei 9ht (9) Percentage weight

Loliao sp. 11 2208.626 5.24

Octopoda 1 17.187 0.04

Unidentified Cephalopoda 34 402.892 0.96

Unidentified Mollusca 16 132.642 0.31

CHAETOGNATHA 34 1.230 0.00

ECHINODERMATA 728 781. 379 1.84

Asteroidea 9 27.400 0.06

Asterias forbes; 1 1.151 0.00

Unidentified Asteriidae 1 0.134 0.00

Ctenod iseus cri spatus 7 26.115 0.06

Echinoidea 10 25.165 0.05

Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis 8 14.616 0.03

Echinarachnius parma 1 9.417 0.02

Unidentified Echinoidea 1 1.132 0.00

Ophi uroidea 660 438.722 1.04

Amphipholis sp. 1 0.006 0.00

Ophiopholis aculeata 517 374.266 0.89

Ophiura robusta 1 0.001 0.00

Ophiura sars; 29 22.383 0.05

Ophiura sp. 58 2.249 0.01

Unidentified Ophiuroidea 54 39.817 0.09

Crinoidea 0 2.457 0.01

Holothuroidea 48 256.482 0.61

Leptosynaptainhaerens 1 28.348 0.07

Synapta sp. 2 5.173 0.01

Unidentified Holothuroidea 45 222.961 0.53

Uni dentifi ed Echi nodermata 1 31.153 0.07

6RACHIOPOOA 1 0.069 0.00

CHORDATA 7 12.541 0.03

Larvacea 5 5.199 0.01

0; kopleura sp. 5 5.199 0.01

Ascidiacea 2 7'342 0.02

PISCES 150928 25901.140 61.45

Raja radiata 2 9.842 0.02

Rajidae 4 65.923 0.16

Batrachoididae 2 561.565 1.33

Alosa aestivalis 1 156.294 0.38

elupea harengus 17 1396.913 3.32

Clupeidae 50 4022.667 9.54

Maurolicus pennant; 1 0.956 0.00

Brosme·brosme 1 40.887 0.10

Gad.us morhua 3 530.500 1. 26

Melano9rammus aeglefinu5 1 639.676 1.52

Merluccius bilinearis 29 981. 216 2.33

Urophycis chuss 1 4.137 0.01

Urophycis sp. 1 17.215 0.04

Gadi dae 35 493.829 1.17

Gadi fonnes 2 4.608 0.01

Asoidophoroides monopterygius 2 4.037 0.01

Arnmodytes americanus 92 1162.079 2.76

Hemitripterus americanus 1 99.459 0.24
Table 2. (continued)

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus

Myoxocephalus scorpius

Cottidae

Pholis 9unnellus

Pomatomus saltatrix

Scomber scombrus

Scombridae

Sebastes marinus

Macrozoarces americanus

Paralichthys dentatus

Scophthalmus aguosus

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Limandaferru9inea

Pleuronectidae

Pleuronecti'fonnes

Fish e9gs Fish larvae

Unidentified Pisces

UNIDENTIFIED EGGS

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

MISCELLANEOUS

TOTAL

Number Of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content wei9ht (g)

Mean number of organisms per stomach

Mean fish TL (em)

15

I

7

8

I

86

1

20

2

4

1

2

1

1

13

150425

1

93

16

1

o

254

o

3

174605

1678

162

23.268

104.06

53

14.762

956.659

9.014

227.333

109.495

16.190

42163.718

176.461

6.434

411. 924

10.809

780.000

4431. 855

231.860

1982.653

4.929

29.501

2.325

755.039

2.908

1.084

1263.931

105.171

0.023

5508.228

0.42

0.02

0.98

0.03

1.85

10.51

0.55

4.70

0.01

0.07

0.01

1. 79

0.01

0.00

3.00

0.25

0.00

13.05

0.04

2.27

0.02

0.54

0.26

0.12

100.00
Table 3 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented ~percentage of the total stomach contents weight. total weight in grams. and number

of organisms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

PROTOZOA 34 0.000 0.00

Foraminiferida 34 0.000 0.00

COELENTERATA 1286 89.005 1.86

Hydrozoa 0 0.022 0.00

Anthozoa 1286 88.983 1.86

Actiniaria 0 11. 407 0.24

Ceri anthari a 1286 63.226 1.32

Unidentified Anthozoa 7 14.350 0.30

CESTODA 4 0.411 0.01

TREMATODA 114 0.002 0.00

NEMERTEA 43 16.043 0.33

Cerebratul us sp. 32 2.431 0.05

Unidenti fi ed Nemertea 11 13.612 0.28

ACANTHOCEPHALA 12 0.040 0.00

NEMATODA 599 0.817 0.02

POLYCHAETA 2503 864.298 18.06

Ci rratul idae 3 0.043 0.00

Polydora ciliata 6 0.714 0.01

Spionphanes bombyx 0 32.006 0.67

Spionidae 1 46.433 0.97

Fl abe11 i geridae 10 2.818 0.06

Clymenel'a torguata 1 5.082 0.11

Nicornache lumbricalis 908 31.894 0.67

Maldanidae 32 4.462 0.09

Ammotrypane aulogaster 52 2.183 0.05

Ophelia denticulata 1 0.248 0.01

Travisia sp. 5 0.242 0.01

Opheliidae 24 0.808 0.02

Oweniidae 4 0.271 0.01

Scalibregmidae 4 0.568 0.01

Sternaspis sp. 9 1.400 0.03

Sternaspidae 15 0.532 0.01

Scaleciformia 1 2.937 0.06

Capite11 i dae 30 1.226 0.03

Ampharetidae 103 8.431 0.18

Pectinaria gouldii 3 0.111 0.00

Pectinaria hyperborea 1 0.159 0.00

Pectinaria sp. 13 0.640 0.01

Pectinariidae 20 1.077 0.02

Terebellidae 15 1.848 0.04

Myxicola infundibulum 11 3.880 0.08

Sabe11idae 59 37.192 0.78

Serpulidae 6 1.393 0.03

Amphinomidae 1 0.005 0.00

Aphrodita hastata 2 5.938 0.12

Laetmanice filicornis 9 0.495 0.01

Aphroditidae 35 52.368 1.09

Arabella iricolor 7 4.155 0.09

Arabellidae 1 0.304 0.01

Eun; ce pennata 73 7.542 0.16
Table 3. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei ght (g) Percentage wei ght

POLYCHAETA (can't)

Eunice sp. 38 4.977 0.10

Marphysa bell i 1 0.132 0.00

Eunicidae 15 1.978 0.04

Euphrosinidae 2 0.024 0.00

Glyceridae 66 4.899 0.10

Goniadidae 29 2.694 0.06

Hesionidae 0 0.026 0.00

Lumbri neri 5 fraQilis 1 0.811 0.02

Lumbri neris sp. 3 0.762 0.02

Lumbrineridae 32 6.161 0.13

Nephtyidae 47 10.108 0.21

Nereis sp. 20 2.506 0.05

Nereidae 44 4.041 0.08

Hyalinoecia tubicola 7 0.239 0.00

Onuphis eremita 75 11. 491 0.24

Onuohis sp. 87 7.722 0.16

Onuphidae 20 1. 737 0.04

Orb; n; idae 7 0.050 0.00

Ari ci dea sp. 1 0.020 0.00

Paraonidae 5 0.001 0.00

Etecne longa 2 0.035 0.00

Phyllodoce arenae 5 0.543 0.01

Phyllodoce maculata 23 0.080 0.00

Phyllodoce mucosa 4 0.005 0.00

Phyl1odoce sp:---- 17 0.539 0.01

Phy 11 odoci dae 198 3.065 0.06

Polynoidae 15 1. 783 0.04

Sigalionidae 4 0.171 0.00

Exo90ne sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Syllidae 3 0.003 0.00

Tomopteris helgo1andica 9 0.087 0.00

Polychaeta tubes 87 403.754 8.44

Unidentified Polychaeta 170 134.449 2.81

OLIGOCHAETA 5 0.747 0.02

SIPUNCULIOA 28 1.878 0.04

Aspidasiphon sp. 1 0.026 0.00

Phaseolion stromb; 2 0.051 0.00

Unidentified Sipunculida 25 1.801 0.04

CRUSTACEA 37992 756.225 15.80

Amphi poda 32602 359.268 7.48

Ampeliscaagassizi 73 0.048 0.00

Ampelisca macrocephala 17 0.348 0.01

Ampelisca eschrichti 4 0.213 0.00

Ampelisca vadorum 220 1.291 0.03

klpelisca sp. 54 0.401 0.01

aYb1; 5 serrata 457 3.763 0.08

aploops tubicola 26 0.493 0.01

Rap loops setosa 64 0.920 0.02

Affipe 1i sciaa:e- 349 3.907 0.08

Ampithoe rubricata 1 0.055 0.00
Table 3. (conti nued)

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Wei 9ht (9) Percentage weight

Amphipoda (con't) Mlcrodeutopus gryl10talpa

Aoridae. Calliopius laeviusculus

Calliopiidae

Aeginina longicornis

Capre11i dae

Corophium sp.

Ericthoniu5 braziliensis

£ricthonius rubricornis

Ericthonius sp.

Unciolairrorata

Unciola·serrata

Unciola sp.

Coraph;;dae

Eusirus cuspidatus

Rachotropis aculeata

Eusiridae

Casco bigelow;

Gammarus sp.

Garrmaridae

Melita dentata

Maera danae ~h~torius mills;

ACanthohaustorius ~us

Parahaustorius longlmerus Parahaustoriussp.

Protohaustor;us wigley;

Pseudohaustorius sp.

Haustoriidae

Euthemisto bisoinosa

Parathemisto sp.

Hyper;idae

Ischyrocerus sp.

fnonyx sars;

H"onyx sp. iEPomedon serratus ~rchemenella pinguis

Orchomenella sp.

[YSianopsis alba

Psammonyx notnlrls

Other Lys;anassidae

Monoculodes edwardsi

Monaculodes sp.

Paroediceros lynceus

Oedi cerotidae

Pardalisca sp.

leptocheirus pingu;s

Phoxocephalus holbolli

7

621

34

52

283

11719

3540

600

15445

2572

154

1701211

11

1319

822

10191

14

19

591

35

20

124

1235

26

10

101

158

139

1722

291

921

2998

14

0.139

6.148

0.249

0.035

2.406

1.040

0.109

0.008

4.992

0.930

144.175

65.314

1.193

0.494

0.034

0.164

0.019

0.005

0.221

54.024

0.700

0.041

0.023

0.007

0.256

0.014

0.029

0.058

0.502

0.013

0.366

0.096

0.073

2.343

0.015

0.370

0.211

0.180

0.045

1.143

1. 635

12.031

0.244

0.005

0.385

0.050

35.247

0.042

0.00

0.13

0.00

0.00

0.05

0.02

0.00

0.00

0.11

0.02

3.01

1.37

0.03

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

1.13

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.05

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.02

0.03

0.25

0.01

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.74

0.00
Tab]

e 3. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei9ht (9) Percentage weight

Pmphipoda (con't)

TrichoPhoxus epistomus 65 0.221 0.00

Phoxocephal; dae 51 0.148 0.00

Pleustes panoplus

6 0.031 0.00

Pleustes sp.

2 0.013 0.00

Stenopleustesgracilis 13 0.011 0.00

Stenopleustes sp.

2 0.074 0.00

Oulichia sp.7 0.048 0.00

Pontogeneia inermis 501 2.838 0.06

Proboloides sp.

1 0.000 0.00

Stenothoidae

1 0.000 0.00

Syrrhoe crenulata8 0.014 0.00

Ti ronidae 25 0.042 0.00

Atylus sp.

1 0.100 0.00

Pmphi poda tubes

0 1. 783 0.04

Unidentified Pmphipoda

7 4.683 0.10

Oecapoda 3364 299.313 6.29

Ax; us serratus 40 81.153 1. 70

Ca lacari5 temp1eman;

2 21. 352 0.45

Axi;dae 506 1.508 0.03

Callianassa atlantica

0 0.919 0.02

Cancer borealis

6 0.819 0.02

Cancer irroratus 148 8.002 0.17

Cancer sp.

1 0.128 0.00

Cancridae 236 4.548 0.10

Crangon septemspinosa 96 8.175 0.17

Sabi nea sp.

1 0.086 0.00

Crangonidae 39 2.312 0.05

Munida sp.

4 20.090 0.42

Munidopsis sp.

1 0.220 0.00

Eualus pusiolus 1419 13.219 0.28

Lebbeusgroenlandicus

1 0.632 0.01

Lebbeus sp.

1 0.247 0.01

Spirontocaris spinus8 0.737 0.02

Spirontocaris sp.4 0.340 0.01

Hippolytidae 94 2.474 0.05

Hyas. coarctatus 133 15.194 0.32

Hyas sp. 71 2.290 0.05

Pelia mutica 20 0.110 0.00

Pagurus aead; anus 11 2.833 0.06

Pagurus politU5

2 0.879 0.02

Pagurus pubescens 38 8.546 0.18

Pa9urus arcuatus

1 6.239 0.13

Pagurus sp. 47 14.158 0.30

Paguridae 62 7.364 0.15

Oichelopandalus leptocerus 79 29.651 0.62

Pandalus borealis

1 4.068 0.09

Pandalus montagui 45 16.172 0.34

Pandalidae 15 2.303 0.05

Pasiohaea multidentata

2 0.013 0.00

Pasiphaeidae

0 0.025 0.00

Penaeus setiferus

1 0.013 0.00
Table 3. (continued)

Number af

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Decapoda (cori't)

Portunidae 1 0.318 0.01

Decapod crab 26 6.108 0.13

Decapod shrimp 146 10.147 0.21

Unidentified Oecapoda 56 5. 921 0.12

Isopoda 310 6.502 0.13

Calathura sp. 4 0.053 0.00

Cyathura sp. I 0.000 0.00

Anthuridae 27 0.365 0.01

Cirolana borealis 1 0.059 0.00

Cirolana polita 32 1.367 0.03

Cirolana sp~ 46 2.563 0.05

Chiridotea tuftsi 76 0.632 0.01

Chi r; doteasp. 40 0.478 0.01

Jaera mar; oa 2 0.001 0.00

Jaera sP:---- 19 0.016 0.00

Li oj a ocean; ca 2 0.005 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 60 0.963 0.02

Cumacea 493 1. liD 0.02

Oiastylis polita 3 O.Oll 0.00

Diastylis guadrispinosa 38 0.080 0.00

Oiastylis sculpta 3 0.025 0.00

Diastylis sp. 99 0.218 0.00

LeptostYlis sp. 4 0.002 0.00

Lamprops guadriplicata 34 0.020 0.00

Petalosarsia declivis 16 0.009 0.00

Unidentified Cumacea 296 0.745 0.02

Euphausi aeea 479 40.654 0.85

Meganvctiphanes norvegica 414 37.284 0.78

Thysanoessa sp. 17 0.273 0.01

Unidentified Euphausiacea 48 3.097 0.06

Mysidacea 684 11.813 0.25

Neomysis americana 664 11. 779 0.25

Unidentified Mysidacea 20 0.034 0.00

Copepoda 29 0.013 0.00

Calanoid copepod 8 0.005 0.00

Unidentified Copepoda 21 0.008 0.00

Ostracoda 24 0.032 0.00

Tanaidacea 3 0.001 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 4 37.519 0.78

PYCNOGONIDA 12 0.505 0.01

MOLLUSCA 13207 183.744 3.80

Polyplacophora 12 1.147 0.02

Pelecypoda 903 79.164 1.64

Astarte sp. 2 0.071 0.00

Cerastoderma pinnulatum 131 11.518 0.24

Lucinidae 1 0.171 0.00

Mulinia lateralis 1 0.592 0.01

Spisula sp. 2 0.005 0.00

Tellina sp. 1 0.003 0.00

Anomiasp. 1 0.00 0.00
Table 3. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Pelecypoda (con't)

Anadara sp. 5 0.253 0.01

Bathvarca sp. 37 2.261 0.05

Limatula subauriculata 77 1.590 0.03

Crenella glandula 1 0.167 0.00

Crene 11 a sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Chlamys islandica 136 10.711 0.22

Pecten sp. 2 0.008 0.00

Placopecten magellanicus 168 29.108 0.61

Pectinidae 22 0.929 0.02

Nuculana pernula 2 0.538 0.01

Nuculanatenuisulcata 2 0.111 0.00

Yoldia limatula 1 0.414 0.01

Yoldia sapotil1a 1 0.394 0.01

Yoldia sp. 22 3.750 0.08

Nucula proxima 3 0.112 0.00

Nucula sp. 27 0.494 0.01

Cuspidari asp. 3 0.032 0.00

Unidentified·Pelecypoda 254 15.932 0.33

Scaphopoda 4 0.411 0.01

Dentalium entale 1 0.021 0.00

Unidentified Scaphopoda 3 0.390 0.01

Gastropoda 12274 31. 678 0.65

Corambidae 1 0.038 0.00

eli one 1imaci na 1 0.026 0.00

Pteropoda 11 1.137 0.02

Buccinidae 12175 22.643 0.47

Colus sp. 1 0.543 0.01

Oenopota harpular;a 1 0.084 0.00

Unidentified Gastropoda 84 7.207 0.15

Cephalopoda 4 54.683 1.14

Unidentified Mollusca 10 16.661 0.34

CHAETOGNATHA 3 0.151 0.00

ECHINODERMATA 5703 1338.341 27.97

Asteroidea 14 3.579 0.07

Aster; as sp. 2 0.097 0.00

Unidentified Asteroidea 12 3.482 0.07

Echinoidea 543 130.730 2.74

Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis 143 56.822 1.19

Echinarachnius parma 381 68.204 1. 43

Unidentified Echinoidea 19 5.704 0.12

Ophiuroidea 5083 1046.377 21.87

Amphipholis squamata 20 3.490 0.07

AXiognathus souamatus 17 2.608 0.05

Alriphi uri dae 0 18.636 0.39

Ophiopholis aculeata 893 456.406 9.54

Ophiolepis el~gans 3 0.133 0.00

Ophi ura robusta 10 0.256 0.01

Ophi ura sarsi 2615 291. 732 6.10

Ophiura sp. 1348 62.543 1.31

Unidentified Ophiuroidea 177 210.573 4.40
Tabl e 3. (continued)

Number af

Stomach contents organ; sros Weight (g) Percentage weight

ECHINODERMATA (con't)

Cri noidea 0 1. 917 0.04

Holothuroidea 48 62.134 1.29

Synapta sp. 1 6.915 0.14

Havelockia scabra 2 2.118 0.04 ~sp.--- 16 29.025 0.61

Unidentified Holothuroidea 29 24.076 0.50

Unidentified Echinodermata 15 93.604 1. 96

BRYOZOA 0 0.015 0.00

BRACHIOPODA 1 0.081 0.00

CHORDATA 3737 18.720 0.40

Larvacea 3668 11. 896 0.25

Oikooleura labradoriensis 4 0.021 0.00

0; kopleura sp. 3642 11. 260 0.24

Unidentified Larvacea 22 0.615 0.01

Ascidi acea 65 5.052 0.11

Thaliacea 4 1. 772 0.04

PISCES 62 112.117 2.34

Congridae 1 0.089 0.00

Clupeidae 1 45.329 0.95

Maurolicus pennant; 1 0.985 0.02

Melan09rammus aeQlefinus 1 38.848 0.81

Merluccius bilinearis 1 2.146 0.04

Gadidae 1 0.150 0.00

MYoxocephalus octodecemspinosus 2 0.891 0.02

MyoXacephalus scorpius 1 1.139 0.02

Cottidae 2 2.417 0.05

Pleuronectiformes 2 0.728 0.02

Fish eggs 39 0.044 0.00

Unidentified Pi sees 10 19.395 0.41

ANIMAL REMAINS 120 709.818 14.88

PLANT REMAINS 0 0.024 0.00

ROCK 421 111. 747 2.34

SAND 0 580.070 12.12

TOTAL 65886 4784.867 100.00

Number ofstcmachs examined 1476

Number of empty stomachs 89

Mean stomach content weight (g) 3.258

Mean number of organisms per stomach 44.64

I-lean fish FL (em) 38
Table 4 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for silver hake (Herluccius

bilinearis) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are

presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams,

and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei ght (g) Percentage weight

CESTODA 27 0.012 0.00

TREMATODA 294 0.004 0.00

NEMERTEA 2 O.OOg 0.00

ACANTHOCEPHALA 4 0.008 0.00

NEMATODA 72 0.063 0.00

POLYCHAETA 5 2.443 0.06

Nephtyidae 2 0.466 0.01

Unidentified Polychaeta 3 1. 977 0.05

CRUSTACEA 19561 395.930 9.36

Amphi poda 5348 15.124 0.36

Ampelisca agassizi 1185 2.124 0.05

Ampelisca spinipes 13 0.044 0.00

Ampelisca vadorum 125 0.215 0.01

Ampeliscasp. 9 0.029 0.00

Byblis serrata 160 0.871 0.02

Byblis sp. 27 0.168 0.00

Ampe 1iscidae 193 0.639 0.02

Aoridae 2 0.011 0.00

Aeginina longicornis 1 0.010 0.00

Capre11 i dae 2 0.005 0.00

Ericthonius rubricornis 7 0.008 0.00

Eri cthoni us sp. 11 0.008 0.00

Unciola irrorata 3 0.023 0.00

Corophi idae 2 0.006 0.00

Eusirus cuspidatus 1 0.006 0.00

Eus; ri dae 1 0.002 0.00

Gamrnaridae 288 2.219 0.05

Parathemisto sp. 2262 4.168 0.10

Hyperiidae 234 1.162 0.03

Hippomedon serratus 26 0.339 0.01

Lysianassidae 20 0.220 0.01

Monoculodes edwardsi 92 0.296 0.01

Monoculodes i ntermed ius 7 0.043 0.00

Monoculodes sp. 113 0.369 0.01

Oedi ceroti dae 494 1. 746 0.04

Leptocheirus pinguis 9 0.063 0.00

Leptocheirus sp. 1 0.002 0.00

Phoxocephalusholbolli 5 0.011 0.00

Phoxocepha1idae 1 0.003 0.00

Pontogeneiainermis 39 0.140 0.00

Syrrhoe crenulata 8 0.034 0.00

Tiron acanthurus 7 0.031 0.00

Unidentified Arnphipoda 0 0.109 0.00

Decapoda 1720 169.024 3.99

Cancer irroratus 1 0.031 0.00

Cancridae 4 0.116 0.00

Argis sp. 2 0.014 0.00

Crangonseptemspinosa 911 57.636 1. 36

Sclerocrangon boreas 2 0.239 0.01

Crangonidae 87 1. 774 0.04
Tabl e 4. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Oecapoda (can't)

Paguridae 1 0.025 0.00

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 434 85.521 2.02

Panda1us berea1i 5 2 0.564 0.01

Pandalidae 6 0.455 0.01

Pasiphaea multidentata 7 4.927 0.12

Decapod 1arvae 18 0.017 0.00

Decapod crab 1 0.000 0.00

Decapod shrimp 187 13.922 0.33

Unidentified Oecapoda 57 3.783 0.09

Cumacea 261 0.456 0.01

Leptocuma sp. 46 0.029 0.00

Diastylis sp. 1 0.006 0.00

Diastylidae 1 0.015 0.00

Lampropidae 3 0.013 0.00

Petalosarsiadeclivis 2 0.006 0.00

Pseudocumi dae 1 0.001 0.00

Unidentified Cumacea 207 0.386 0.01

Euphaus; acea 7245 168.259 3.98

Euphausia krohnii 3 0.017 0.00

Euphausia sp. 375 3.175 0.08

Meganyctiphanes norve9ica 6644 157.725 3.73

Unidentified Euphausiacea 223 7.342 0.17

Mysidacea 4766 29.153 0.69

Erythrops ervthrophthalma 5 0.007 0.00

Neomys;s americana 4411 28.196 0.67

Unidentified Mysidacea 350 0.950 0.02

Copepoda 199 0.045 0.00

Centropages brady; 48 0.003 0.00

Centropages·sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Calanoid copepod 129 0.024 0.00

Unidentified Copepoda 21 0.018 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 22 13.869 0.33

MOLLUSCA 23 390.431 9.23

Gastropoda 2 0.000 0.00

Cephalapoda 21 390.431 9.23

Loligo peale; 8 321. 419 7.60

Rossia sp. 1 0.784 0.02

Unidentified Cephalapoda 12 68.228 1. 61

CHAETOGNATHA 17 0.224 0.01

ECH INOOERMATA 3 3.365 0.08

Ophi uroidea 1 2.536 0.06

Unidentified Echinodermata 2 0.829 0.02

CHORDATA 1 0.024 0.00

Ascidi acea 1 0.024 0.00

PISCES 276 3410.538 80.71

Scomberesox saurus 1 62.410 1.48

clupeidae 5 113.148 2.68

Merluccius bil;near;s 54 388.658 9.20

Phyci s chester; 1 7.773 0.18

Gadidae 3 1.561 0.04
Table 4. (continued}

Stomach contents

PISCES (con't)

Ammodytes americanus

OPhidiidae

Scamber scombrus

Sebastes mar; nus Stenotomus chrysops

Peorilus triacanthus

Paralichthys dentatus

Bothidae

Pleuronectiforrnes

Unidentified Pisces

UNIDENTIFIED EGGS

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

TOTAL

Number of

organisms

a

3

a

4

20292

47

2

12

1

1

3

1

1

2

142

0.005

22.109

0.010

0.155

4225.340

Weight (g)

76.644

7.057

317.854

2.157

68.153

146.309

4.906

0.428

0.612

2212.868

Percentage weight

1.81

0.17

7.52

0.05

1. 61

3.46

0.12

0.01

0.01

52.37

0.00

0.55

0.00

0.00

100.00

Number of stomachs examined 2622

Number of empty stomachs 805

Mean stomach content weight (g) 1.477

Mean number of organisms per stomach 7.74

:'lean fi sh FL (em) 20
Table.5 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for pollock (Pol1achius virens)

sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as

a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organisms for each stomach category

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage wei9ht

SIPHONOPHORA 0 0.020 0.00

COELENTERATA 5 0.057 0.00

CESTODA 1 0.006 0.00

TREMATODA 189 0.017 0.00

NEMATODA 833 16.240 0.21

POLYCHAETA 16 5.689 0.07

Aohrodita sp. 1 0.687 0.01

Eunice pennata 2 0.475 0.01

Eunice sp. 5 1.309 0.02

Nereis succinea 1 0.358 0.00

Nereidae 5 0.322 0.00

Tomopteris sp. I 0.165 0.00

Po lychaeta tubes 0 0.217 0.00

Unidentified Polychaeta 1 2.156 0.03

CRUSTACEA 56198 3161.642 40.03

I'mphipoda 14523 36.731 0.47

Arnoelisca macrocephala 2 0.066 0.00

Arnpelisca sp. 11 0.633 0.01

Arnpeliscidae 2 0.013 0.00

Capre11 i dae 56 0.550 0.01

Erichthonius rubricornis 434 0.797 0.01

Gamrnaridae 31 2.264 0.03

Hyperia 9laba 2 0.034 0.00

Parathemisto sp. 13822 27.549 0.35

Hyperiidae 161 2.388 0.03

Lysianassidae 2 0.983 0.01

I'mphipoda tubes 0 1.454 0.02

Oecapoda 1593 1638.538 20.75

Crangon septemspinosa 15 1.320 0.02

Lebbeus polaris 2 0.367 0.00

Oichelooandalus leptocerus 231 307.855 3.90

Pandalus borealis 27 81.516 1.03

Pandalus propinguus 3 4.195 0.05

Pandalidae 8 3.378 0.04

Pasiphaea multidentata 1278 1200.948 15.21

Pasiphaeidae 0 1.278 0.02

Penaeus sp. 0 3.901 0.05

Decapod crab 2 5.248 0.07

Decapod shrimp 13 4.151 0.05

Unidentified Decapoda 14 24.381 0.31 Isopoda 12 0.366 0.00

Cirolana sp. 11 0.330 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 1 0.036 0.00

Euphausiacea 17042 1192.578 15.10

Euphausia sp. 42 5.600 0.07

Meganyctiphanes norvegica 13219 1092.740 13.84

Thysanoessainermis 3274 42.424 0.54 Thysanoessa sp. 1 0.288 0.00

Unidentified Euphausiacea 506 51.526 0.65

Mysidacea 23006 236.287 2.99

Neomvsis ameri eana 23006 236.287 2.99
Tabl e 5. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

CRUSTACEA (con't)

Copepoda 17 0.028 0.00

Crustacea larvae 0 0.003 0.00

Un; dent; fi ed Crustacea 5 57.111 0.72

MOLLUSCA 38 669.021 8.47

Pteropoda 7 0.048 0.00

Gastropoda 8 0.008 0.00

Cephalopoda 23 668.965 8.47

6o1i go sp. 3 609.406 7.72

ctopoda 1 1.639 0.02

Unidentified Cephalopoda 19 57.920 0.73

BRACHIOPODA 1 0.011 0.00

CHORDATA 1 0.013 0.00

Ascidiacea 1 0.013 0.00

PISCES 185 3731. 081 47.24

Nemichthys seQ 1opaceus 2 24.732 0.31

Clupeidae 6 192.061 2.43

Maurolicus pennant; 8 2.017 0.03

Mauro1; eus sp. 1 1.103 0.01

Enchelyopuscimbrius 3 29.99B 0.38

Me lanoqrammus aeglefinus 1 14.040 0.18

Merl uce; us bil i near; 5 1B 742.529 9.40

Pol1achius virens 8 666.121 8.44

Aethoprora ~clampa 39 83.113 1.05

Myctophidae 1 0.873 0.01

Ammodytes americanus 1 15.729 0.20

Artediellus uncinatus 1 0.510 0.01

Cotti dae 1 1.379 0.02

Scomber scombrus 1 142.335 1.80

sebastes marinus 1 39.810 0.50

Pleuronecti formes 1 0.108 0.00

Fish larvae 1 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Pisces 91 1774.623 22.47

ANIMAL REMAINS 27 297.035 3.7B

PLANT REMAINS 0 1.589 0.02

ROCK 27 13.879 O.lB

BIRO FEATHERS 3 0.02B 0.00

TOTAL 57524 7B96.32B 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 669

Number of empty stomachs 115

Mean stomach content wei9ht (g) 11.053

Mean number of organisms per stomach 85.99

Mean fish FL (em) 63
Table 6 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for red hake (Urophycis chuss)

sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as

a percen~age of the total stomach contents Weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organlsms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage Weight

COELENTERATA 1 0.202 0.03

Anthozoa 1 0.202 0.03

TREMATODA 216 0.002 0.00

NEMERTEA 127 1.430 0.18

NEMATODA 3 0.000 0.00

POLYCHAETA 50 29.332 3.67

Flabe11igeridae 15 0.957 0.12

Maldanidae 9 0.119 0.01

Sternaspidae 1 0.035 0.00

Sabe11i dae 4 0.681 0.09

Aphrodita hastata 3 10.495 1. 31

Aphroditidae 1 1.961 0.25

Lumbri ner; dae 8 1. 902 0.24

Nephtyidae 4 0.820 0.10

Nereidae 1 0.041 0.01

Phy11odoeicJae 3 0.296 0.04

Sigalionidae 1 0.019 0.00

Polyehaeta tubes 0 0.031 0.00

Unidentified Polychaeta 7 11.975 1.50

SIPUNCULlDA 1 7.078 0.89

CRUSTACEA 11969 304.285 38.10

!\nphipoda 9552 39.995 5.00

Ampelisca agassiz; 1843 2.704 0.34

Ampelisca macrocephala 1 0.021 0.00

Ampelisca abdita 4591 3.419 0.43

Ampelisca vadorum 497 1.443 0.18

!\npelisea sp. 32 0.032 0.00

8yblis serrata 50 0.248 0.03

!\npeliscidae 194 0.303 0.04

Aoridae 19 0.064 0.01

Argissa sp_ 8 0.027 0.00

Aeginel1a sp. 267 6.478 0.81

Capre11 i dae 166 0.893 0.11

Corophium sp. 4 0.003 0.00

Eri ethon; ushunteri 5 0.007 0.00

Ericthonius rubricornis 20 0.033 0.00

Ericthonius sp. 19 0.013 0.00

Unciola irrorata 851 4.408 0.55

Corophi idae 28 0.055 0.01

Casco bigelowi 8 0.326 0.04

Maera· sp. 1 0.110 0.01

Melita dentata 1 0.006 0.00

Gammar1dae 209 5.555 0.70

Haustoriidae 3 0.122 0.02

Parathemisto sp. 38 0.048 0.01

Hyperiidae 26 0.057 0.01

Anonvx sarsi 8 0.634 0.08

Lysianassidae 77 0.288 0.04

Monoculodes edwards; 44 0.150 0.02

Oedicerotidae 4 0.022 0.00

Leptocheirus pin9uis 525 6.659 0.83
Table 6. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei9ht (9) Percentage Weight

Tr;chophoxus epistomus 2 0.002 0.00

Phoxcephal idae 1 0.000 0.00

Dulichia porrecta 4 0.002 0.00

Pontogeneia inenmis 5 0.002 0.00

Aiiiphi poda tubes 1 1. 755 . 0.22

Unidentified Amphipoda 0 4.106 0.51

Decapoda 1646 231. 651 29.02

Ax; us serratus 14 5.787 0.72

Acanthocarpus alexandri 1 0.374 0.05

Cancer borealis 16 22.327 2.80

Cancer irroratus 39 9.961 1. 25

Cancridae 83 2.598 0.33

Grangon septemspinosa 833 24.441 3.06

Sclerocrangon boreas 5 0.461 0.06

Crangonidae 29 0.553 0.07

Munidasp. 18 22.895 2.87

Eualuspusiolus 2 0.091 0.01

Lebbeus sp. 3 0.129 0.02

Hi ppolytidae 1 0.043 0.01

Pagurus acadianus 1 6.555 0.82

Paqurus pol i tus 1 0.655 0.08

Pa9urus sp. 2 0.051 0.01

Paguridae 2 0.716 0.09

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 491 98.745 12.36

Pandal idae 8 1.380 0.17

Decapod crab 16 12.539 1.57

Decapod shrimp 74 8.296 1.04

Unidentified Decapoda 7 13.054 1.63

Isopoda 226 4.362 0.55

Cirolana polita 19 1.552 0.19

Cirolana sp. 85 2.217 0.28

Chiridotea sp. 19 0.059 0.01

Edotea sp. 86 0.290 0.04

Unidentified Isopoda 17 0.244 0.03

Cumacea 223 0.415 0.05

Petalosarsia sp. 26 0.060 0.01

Unidentified Cumacea 197 0.355 0.04

EuphaL.:.s i acea • 18 2.728 0.34

Meganyct;phanes norvegica 8 0.822 0.10

Unidentified Euphausiacea 10 1.906 0.24

Mysidacea 278 0.893 0.11

Neomysis americana 260 0.816 0.10

Unidentified Mysidacea 18 0.077 0.01

Copepoda 23 0.003 0.00

Calanoid copepod 1 0.003 0.00

Unidentified Copepoda 22 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 3 24.238 3.03

MOLLUSCA 27 103.170 12.90

Pelecypoda 5 1.180 0.14

Clycocardia borealis 1 0.909 0.11

Unidentified Pelecypoda 4 0.271 0.03
Table 6. (continued)

Stomach contents

Gastropoda

Cepha1apoda

Unidentified Mollusca

CHAETOGNATHA

ECHINODERMATA

Asteroidea

Holothuroidea

PISCES

Clupeidae

Gadidae

Ammodytes amer;canus

Ophidi idae

Pl euronecti formes

Unidentified Pisces

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

TOTAL

Number of

organ; sms Wei9ht (9) Percentage weight

16 23.998 3.00

6 77.881 9.75

0 0.111 0.01

230 0.582 0.07

5 21. 957 2.75

1 0.059 0.01

4 21.898 2.74

21 277.967 34.80

1 19.835 2.48

1 0.240 0.03

1 0.150 0.02

1 15.695 1. 97

7 24.464 3.06

10 217.583 27.24

0 50.309 6.32

0 0.561 0.07

13 1.068 0.13

0 0.751 0.09

12663 798.694 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 481

Number of empty stomachs 97

Mean stomach content wei9ht (9) 1.532

Mean number of organisms per stomach 26.33

r'lean fish TL (em) 27
Table 7 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for spotted hake (Urophycis regia)

sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight. total weight in grams. and number of

organisms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

0.006

173.690

172.563

1.127

TREMATODA

ACANTHOCEPHALA

NEMATODA

POLYCHAETA

Onuphis conchylega

Polychaeta tubes

Unidentified Polychaeta CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Ampelisca vadorum

Byblis serrata

Ampeliscidae

Aoridae

Capre11 i dae

Ericthonius rubricornis

Ericthonius sp.

Unciola irrorata

Corophiidae

Gammaridae

Euthemisto bispinosa

Parathemisto sp.

Hyperiidae

Hippomedon sp.

Lysianassidae

Leptocheirus pinguis Phoxocephalidae

Amphipoda tubes

Decapoda

Cancer borealis

Cancer irroratus

Cancridae

Crangon septemspinosa

Pontophilus brevirostris

Pontophi 1us sp.

Crangonidae

Munida iris

Munida sP:-

Paguridae

Oichelopandalus leptocerus

Pandalidae

Decapod. crab

Decapod shrimp Unidentified Decapoda Isopoda

Ciro]ana polita

Cirolana sp.

Unidentified Isopoda

Cumacea

Euphausi acea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

Unidentified Euphausiacea

30

o

29

12

7597

2610

1709

45

3

3220

1

1

10

167

146

90

12

1

30

7

236

5

35

246

1608

7

5

5

7

3

o

9

103

46

989

43

1

33

87

53

1

267

2

3

68

4

25

18

2

3203

17

0.000

0.014

0.004

1.724

328.524

10.190

122.716

1.344

0.080

0.000

1.644

0.891

1.322

0.164

0.040

0.182

0.046

0.005

0.480

0.011

0.469

2.801

2.993

0.575

0.051

0.031

0.086

0.007

0.036

1.467

10.716

2.858

24.229

0.609

0.097

1.510

25.098

13.448

0.018

35.567

0.097

0.652

5.545

0.805

0.523

0.738

0.083

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.23

43.59

1.35

16.28

0.18

0.00

23.05

0.01

0.00

0.22

0.12

0.18

0.02

0.01

0.02

0.01

0.00

0.06

0.00

0.05

0.37

0.40

0.08

0.01

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.19

1.42

0.38

3.22

0.08

0.01

0.20

3.33

1. 78

0.00

4.72

0.01

0.09

0.74

0.11

0.07

0.10

0.01

22.90

0.15
Tabl e 7. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

CRUSTACEA (con't)

Mysidacea 6 0.100 0.01

Neomysis americana 6 0.024 0.00

Unidentified Mysidacea a 0.086 0.01

Copepoda 1 0.009 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 3 20.469 2.72

MOLLUSCA 52 276.163 36.64

Pelecypoda 19 0.491 0.06

Pectinidae. 17 0.017 0.00

Unidentified Pelecypoda 2 0.474 0.06

Gastropoda 2 0.352 0.05

Cephalopoda 31 274.943 36.48

Unidentified Mollusca a 0.377 0.05

CHAETOGNATHA a 0.019 0.00

CHOROATA a 0.827 0.11

Larvacea a 0.827 0.11

PISCES 172 119.703 15.88

Pristidae 52 0.423 0.06

Merluccius bilinear;s 21 3.910 0.52

Myctophidae 1 0.327 0.04

MYoxocephalus octoctecemspinosus 1 0.383 0.05

Cottidae 2 0.836 0.11

Ophidiidae 4 21.431 2.84

Pleuronectiformes 20 1.313 0.17

Fish larvae 47 4.666 0.62

Unidentified Pisces 24 86.414 11.47

ANIMAL REMAINS a 26.534 3.54

ROCK 5 0.099 0.01

TOTAL 7897 753.611 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 531

Number ofew.pty stomachs 82

Mean stomach content weight (g) 1. 404

Mean number of organismsDer stomach 14.87

Mean fish TL (em) 21
Table 8 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for white hake (Urophycis

tenuis) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are

presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in

grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

9.07

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.07

TREMATODA

NEMERTEA

NEMATOOA

POLYCHAETA

Aphroditidae

Unidentified Polychaeta CRUSTACEA

Amphi poda

Ampeliscidae

Capre11 idae

Ericthonius rubricornis

Unciola irrorata

Casco bigelowi

Gammarus annulatus

Other Gammaridae

Parathemisto sp.

Hyperiidae

Anonyx sp.

Hippomedon serratus

Lysianassidae

Leptocheirus pinguis

Amphi poda tubes

Decapoda

Axius serratus

GaiO'Caris sp.

Axi idae

Cancer borealis

Cancridae

Grangon septemspinosa

Pontophilus norvegicus

Crangonidae

Lebbeus polaris

Lebbeus sp. Hippolytidae

Pagurus pUbescens

Pagurussp.

Dichelopandalus leptocerus

Pandalusborealis

Panda 1us montagui

Pandalus propinQuus

Pandalus sp.

Panda 1idae

Pasiohaea multidentata

Pasiphaea tarda

Pasiphaea sp.

Decapod crab

Decapod shrimp

Unidentified Decapoda

Isopoda

Cirolana borealis

223 0.039

I 0.046

80 1.0ao

2 7.841

2 5.704

o 2.137

3664 1030.449

1069 15.568

7 0.034

10 0.~5

51 0.035

18 0.116

I 0.044

866 13.288

42 0.913

15 0.132

4 0.020

1 0.046

2 0.036

9 0.205

43 0.496

o 0.148

465 633.183

I 1.373

I 3.347

1 0.500

9 39.575

I 0.476

95 11.325

1 0.388

5 0.371

5 1.697

5 0.067

1 0.049

1 2.604

1 0.139

125 150.170

42 203.761

5 3.428

5 9.537

1 1.522

8 14.100

59 43.851

17 19.903

5 6.425

3 20.807

64 87.797

4 9.971

65 5.645

0.100

0.13

5.57

0.05

0.05

0.02

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.12

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.03

0.00

0.35

0.00

0.10

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.02

0.00

1.33

1.80

0.03

0.08

0.01

0.12

0.39

0.18

0.06

0.18

0.78

0.09

0.00
Tab1e 8. (continued)

NlItlber of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Ci rolana po1; ta 11 0.807 0.01

Cirolana sp. 31 2.002 0.02

Unidentified Isopoda 22 2.736 0.02

Euphausiacea 1992 344.512 3.04

Meqanyctiphanes norvegica 1983 342.156 3.02

Unidentified Euphausiacea 9 2.356 0.02

Mysidacea 7I 8.100 0.07

Neomysis americana 65 8.072 0.07

Unidentified Mysidacea 6 0.028 0.00

Other Crustacea 2 23.441 0.21

MOLLUSCA 13 63.310 0.55

Pelecypoda 5 6.672 0.05

Astarte undata 4 5.091 0.04

Unidentified Pelecypoda 1 1.581 0.01

Gastropoda 0 0.021 0.00

Cephalopoda 8 56.617 0.50

Octopoda 1 6.300 0.06

Unidentified Cephalopoda 7 50.317 0.44

ECHINODERMATA 1 0.D75 0.00

Ophiuroidea 1 0.075 0.00

Ophi ura sarsi 1 0.075 0.00

CHOROATA 1 0.151 0.00

Thaliacea 1 0.151 0.00

PISCES 124 10013.340 88.51

Synaphobranchidae 1 1.480 0.01

Argentina silus I 461.590 4.08

~lupea harengus O· 168.380 l.49

1upeidae 2 288.456 2.55

Enchelyoous cimbrius 2 51.518 0.46

Merluccius bilinearis 32 966.233 8.54

UrOphycis chuss 2 119.150 l.05

Urophycis ten;us 2 2199.220 19.44

Gad; dae 2 112.175 0.99

Triglops nybelini 1 22.965 0.20

Scomberscombru5 2 69.691 0.62

Sebastes marinus 2 97.172 0.86

Lycenchelys verrilli 0 27.279 0.24

HiPPoglossoidesplatessoides 2 25.780 0.23

Pseudopleuronectesarner;canus 1 281. 500 2.49

Pleuronectiformes 1 1.050 0.01

Unidentified Pisces 71 5119.701 45.25

ANIMAL REMAINS 5 196.569 1.77

PLANT REMAINS 0 0.148 0.00

ROCK 16 2.458 0.02

TOTAL 4130 11315.506 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 470

Number of empty stomachs 149

Mean stomach content weight (g) 22.987

Mean number of organisms per stomach 8.79

Mean fish TL (em) 53
Table 9 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for ocean pout (Macrozoarces

americanus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data

are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight. total weight

in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Number. of

Stomach contents organi sms Weight (g) Percentage weight

NEMERTEA 10 0.029 0.00

ACANTHOCEPHALA 1 0.000 0.00

NEMATDDA 77 0.949 0.04

POLYCHAETA 44 27.464 1.14

Spionidae 1 0.000 0.00

Fl abe 11 i geri dae 3 0.199 D.Ol

Sternaspidae 1 0.009 O.OD

Aphrodi tidae 17 17.937 0.74

Eunice sp. 5 0.035 0.00

Nephtys. incisa 3 0.147 0.01

Nephtyidae 1 1.183 0.D5

Polychaeta tubes 3 0.301 0.01

Unidentified Polychaeta lD 7.653 0.32

CRUSTACEA 11090 157.762 6.51

Amphi pod. 10774 63.529 2.57

Ampelisca agassizi 3244 2.493 D.l0

Ampelisca vadorum 483 4.536 0.19

Byblis serrata 2820 12.086 D.50

Ampeliscidae 70 0.250 0.01

Aoridae 20 0.D38 0.00

Capre11 idae 18 0.lD7 O.OD

Ericthonius rubricornis ID59 0.653 0.03

Eri cthonius sp. 130 0.079 0.00

Unciola irrorata 1892 11. 235 0.46

Unciola serrata 12 0.095 O.OD

Unciola sp. 115 1. 475 D.06

Corop hi;dae 44 0.270 0.D1

Me 1ita dentata 8 0.039 0.00

Melita sp. 1 0.004 0.00

Gammaridae 111 7.869 0.33

Haustoriidae 2 0.005 0.00

Lysi anassi dae 6 0.028 0.00

Monoculodes sp. 2 0.073 0.00

Leptocheiruspinguis 283 2.144 0.D9

Pontogeneiainermis 453 4.576 0.19

Amphi poda tubes 0 14.469 0.60

Unidentified Amphipoda 1 0.005 0.00

Decapoda 193 89.445 3.75

Axi us serratus 2 2.132 0.09

Cancer·borealis 9 6.982 0.29

Cancer irroratus 46 22.746 0.94

Cancridae 31 7.175 0.30

Crangon septemspinosa 4 0.150 0.01

Grangoni dae 1 O.OlD 0.00

Eualus pusiolus 25 0.531 0.02

Hyas coarctatus 14 4.587 0.19

Pagurusacadianus 2 1.598 0.07

Pagurus pubescens 3 0.308 0.01

Pagurus sp. 6 6.877 0.28

Paguridae 3 I.lD9 0.05

Pandalidae 2 0.309 0.01

Parthenopidae 1 3.210 0.13
Tabl e 9. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Decapod crab 40 28.946 1. 20

Decapod shrimp 3 3.672 0.15

Unidentified Oec.pod. 1 0.185 0.01

Isopod. 13 0.071 0.00

Ci'ro 1ana sp. 3 0.018 0.00

Chiridotea coeca 4 0.018 0.00

Chiridotea tUfts; 2 0.010 0.00

Chiridotea sp. 3 0.022 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 1 0.003 0.00

Curnacea 38 0.059 0.00

0; astylis sp. 1 0.001 0.00

Unidentified Cumacea 37 0.058 0.00

Mysidacea 72 0.559 0.02

Neomysis americana 72 0.559 0.02

Unidentified Crustacea 0 4.099 0.17

MOLLUSCA 42B 57.765 2.39

Pelecypod. 423 48.796 2.02

Astarte sp. 1 0.OB2 0.00

Cerastoderma pinnulatum 1 0.007 0.00

Clycocardia borealis 1 0.160 0.01

Spi sul asp. 1 0.012 0.00

Pecten sp. 1 0.441 0.02

Placapecten sp. 14 43.477 1.80

Yoldia iris 47 1. 387 0.06

Nucula proxima 340 1.306 0.05

Nucula sp. 2 0.062 0.00

Unidentified Pelecypod. 15 1.862 0.08

Gastropoda 5 2.988 0.12

Unidentified Mollusca 0 5.9B1 0.25

ECHINOOERMATA 486 2101. 663 86.96

Echinoidea 396 1998.714 82.71

Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis 4 4.429 0.18

Echinarachnius parma 344 1602.554 66.32

Unidentified Echinoidea 48 391. 731 16.21

Ophiuroidea 90 63.117 2.60

Euryale sp. 37 24.905 1.03

Amphioplus abditus 2 0.033 0.00

Ophiopholis aculeata 18 28.087 1.16

Ophiura sarsi 3 0.257 . 0.01

Ophiurasp. 2 0.069 0.00

Unidentified Ophiuroidea 28 9.766 0. 40

Unidentified Echinodermata 0 39.832 1.65

BRYOZOA 0 0.036 0.00

CHORDATA 3 0.026 0.00

Larvacea 2 0.006 0.00

Oikopleura sp. 2 0.006 0.00

Asci di acea 1 0.020 0.00
Table 9. (continued)

Stomach contents

PISCES

UNIDENTIFIED EGGS

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

TOTAL

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight (g)

Mean number af organisms per stomach

Mean fish TL (em)

Number of

organisms Weight (g)

0 0.014

0 2.061

0 35.403

2 0.041

31 9.380

4 23.645

12176 2416.138

423

140

5.603

28.78

50

Percentage weight

0.00

0.09

1.47

0.00

0.39

0.98

100.00
Tab] e Ie Listi ng ~f a11.5 tomach content ca tegori es i dent; fi ed for scup (Stenotomus chrysops)

sampled Tn the ;~orthwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976. Data are presented

as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and

number of organisms for each stomach content- category

Number of

Stomach contents organ; sms Wei9ht (9 ) Percentage weight

COELENTERATA 80 2.396 1. 99

Ceriantharia 0 0.655 0.54

Anthozoa 80 1.741 1.45

TREMATOOA 6 0.000 0.00

NEMERTEA 5 1.407 1.17

NEMATOOA 8 0.070 0.06

POLYCHAETA 630 47.031 39.09

Cirratulidae 3 0.344 0.29

Spionphanes bombyx 0 0.049 0.04

Spionidae 6 0.028 0.02

Fl abe11 i geri dae 25 0.512 0.43

Maldanidae 18 1.332 1.11

Ammotrypane sp. 11 0.206 0.17

Travisia sp. 1 0.111 0.09

Opheliidae 6 0.311 0.26

Oweniidae 0 0.284 0.24

Sea1i bregmidae 34 3.768 3.13

Capite11 idae 30 0.064 0.05

Pmphareti dae 265 1. 714 1.42

Sabe11 i dae 50 3.943 3.28

Amphinomidae 1 0.036 0.03

Eunice sp. 2 0.001 0.00

Glyceridae 15 5.895 4.90

GOD; adidae 2 0.020 0.02

Lumbrineris sp. 0 0.068 0.06

Lumbrineridae 50 7.047 5.86

Nephtyidae 25 4.045 3.36

Onuphidae 4 0.196 0.16

Paraonidae 4 0.006 0.00

Phy11odocidae 22 0.287 0.24

Palynoidae 1 0.181 0.15

Sigalionidae 6 2.200 1.83

Polychaeta tubes 4 0.481 0.40

Unidentified Polychaeta 45 13.902 11.55

SIPUNCULIDA 2 0.034 0.03

Golfingia appendieulata 1 0.003 0.00

Unidentified Sipuneulida 1 0.031 0.03

CRUSTACEA 3068 17.054 14.16

Ilmphi poda 2623 8.675 7.19

Ampeliseaagassizi 86 0.120 0.10

Ampe.lisea vadorum 12 0.023 0.02

Ampelisea sp. 3 0.005 0.00

Bvblis serrata 978 0.881 0.73

ftmpeliscidae 190 0.355 0.29

Aoridae 8 0.048 0.04

Capre11 idae 61 0.672 0.56

Eriethonius rubrieornis 293 0.405 0.34

Eri ethan; us sp. 49 0.034 0.03

Unciala irrarata 565 1.883 1.56

Coraphi idae 3 0.002 0.00
Tabl e 10. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Gammarus sp. 26 0.148 0.12

Garnmaridae 106 1.890 1.57

Hyperiidae 12 0.024 0.02

Lysianassidae 3 0.015 0.01

Leptocheirus pinguis 224 2.162 1. 80

Phoxocephalidae 1 0.005 0.00

Unidentified Amphipoda 3 0.003 0.00

Decapodu 65 4.270 3.56

Cancer irroratus 6 0.449 0.37

Cancridae 10 0.107 0.09

Crangon septemspinosa 6 0.140 0.12

Pagurus aCaalanus 1 0.031 0.03

Pagurus sp. 16 0.492 0.41

Paguridae 3 0.027 0.02

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 3 0.368 0.31

Decapod crab 15 0.964 0.80

Decapod shrimp 4 1.683 1.40

Unidentified Decapoda 1 0.009 0.01

Isopoda 8 0.095 0.08

Cirolana sp. 5 0.081 0.07

Chi ridotea sp. 2 0.010 0.01

Unidentified Isopoda 1 0.005 0.00

Cumacea 10 0.023 0.02

Euphaus i acea 18 0.066 0.05

MeganYctiphanes norvegica 18 0.066 0.05

Mysidacea 323 0.734 0.61

Neomysis americana 264 0.580 0.48

Unidentified Mysidacea 59 0.154 0.13

Copepoda 19 0.253 0.21

Calanoid copepod 7 0.044 0.04

Unidentified Copepoda 12 0.209 0.17

Unidentified Crustacea 2 2.938 2.44

MOLLUSCA 90 12.998 10.79

Pelecypoda 13 1.471 1.22

Pecti nidae 0 0.327 0.27

Un; dent; fi ed Pelecypoda 13 1.144 0.95

Gastropoda 54 13.41 1.11

Acoela 33 1.164 0.97

Limacina retroversa 6 0.017 0.01

Unidentified Gastropoda 15 0.160 0.13

Cephalopoda 14 8.280 6.88

Unidentified Mollusca 9 1. 906 1.58

CHAETOGNATHA a 0.022 0.02

ECHINOOERMATA 23 0.887 0.73

Asteroidea 2 0.006 0.00

Asteriidae 1 0.002 0.00

Unidentified Asteroidea 1 0.004 0.00

Echinoidea 17 0.473 0.39

Echinarachnius parma 16 0.414 0.34

Aceste sp. I 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Echinoidea a 0.059 0.05
Tabl e 10. (continued)

Stomach contents

Ophiuroidea

Unidentified Echinodermata

CHORDATA

Thaliacea

Salpa sp.

PISCES

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

TOTAL

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

4 0.009 0.01

0 0.399 0.33

7 0.325 0.27

7 0.325 0.27

7 0.325 0.27

4 3.215 2.67

0 32.563 27.07

3 0.081 0.07

4 0.107 0.09

0 2.155 1. 79

3930 120.345 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 712

Number of empty stomachs 268

Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.156

Mean number of organisms per stomach 5.52

Mean fish FL (cm) 15
Table 11 . Listing of all stomach content ca tegories identified for butterfi sh (Pepril uS

triacanthus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976.

Uata are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total

weight in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei9ht (9) Percentage weight

COELENTERATA 0 7.268 6.47

Hydrozoa 0 6.405 5.70

Unidentified Coelenterata 0 0.863 0.77

CTENOPHORA 0 2.722 2.42

TREMATOOA 123 0.138 0.12

NEMERTEA 2 0.835 0.74

NEMATOOA 6 0.003 0.00

POLYCHAETA 1431 14.344 12.78

Spionidae 1 0.000 0.00

Glyceridae 1 0.568 0.51

Goniadidae 4 3.900 3.47

Lumbri neridae 6 0.738 0.66

Nephtyidae 1 0.435 0.39

Phyllodocidae 4 0.008 0.01

Tomopteris helgo1andica 0 3.557 3.17

Tomopteridae 1414 4.667 4.15

Unidentified Polychaeta 0 0.471 0.42

CRUSTACEA 2555 8.815 7.86

Amphipoda 1984 4.001 3.57

Byblis serrata 4 0.017 0.02

Ampeliscidae 5 0.022 0.02

Gammarus annulatus 15 0.115 0.10

Gammaridae 14 0.018 0.02

Haustori idae 2 0.000 0.00

Parathemisto sp. 1715 3.670 3.27

Hyperiidae 229 0.159 0.14

Decapoda 410 1. 209 1.08

Axiidae 357 1.120 1.00

Crango" septemspinosa 1 0.015 0.01

Lucifer faxon; 1 0.001 0.00

Decapoda larvae 24 0.029 0.03

Decapod crab 22 0.026 0.02

Decapod shrimp 3 0.007 0.01

Unidentified Oecapoda 2 0.011 0.01

Euphausiacea 11 0.129 0.11

Meganyctiphanesnorvegica 5 0.104 0.09

Unidentified Euphausiacea 6 0.025 0.02

Mysidacea 39 0.112 0.10

Neomysis americana 35 0.096 0.09

Unidentified Mysidacea 4 0.016 0.01

Copepoda 108 2.653 2.36

Temora sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Pseudocalanus sp. 2 0.002 0.00

Calanoid copepod 5 1.078 0.96

Unidentified Copepoda 100 1.573 1.40

Stomatopoda 3 0.076 0.07

Unidentified Crustacea 0 0.635 0.57

MOLLUSCA 490 7.852 6.99

Gastropoda 489 0.380 0.34

Limacina retroversa 478 0.355 0.32
Tabl e 11. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

PterOpoda 11 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Gastropoda 0 0.025 0.02

Cephalopoda 1 7.472 6.65

Loligo sp. 1 7.472 6.65

CHAETOGNATHA 72 0.446 0.40

ECHINODERMATA 1 0.036 0.03

Holothuroidea 1 0.036 0.03

CHORDATA 201 22.558 20.07

Larvacea 2 9.314 8.29

Oikopleura sp. 2 0.014 0.01

Unidentified Larvacea 0 9.300 8.28

Ascidacea 1 0.000 0.00

eiona sp. 1 0.000 0.00

Thaliacea 198 13.244 11.78

Salpa sp. 16 0.225 0.20

Hemimyaria 182 9.735 8.66

Unidentified Thaliacea 0 3.284 2.92

PISCES 8 0.340 0.30

Fi sh 1arvae 4 0.047 0.04

Unidentified Pisees 4 0.293 0.26

ANIMAL REJ~AINS 0 46.976 41.79

SAND 0 0.029 0.03

TOTAL 4889 112.362 100.00

Number af stomachs examined 1072

Number of empty stomachs 311

Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.105

Mean number of organisms ·per stomach 4.56

Hean fi sh FL (em) 13
Table 12 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for redfish (Sebastes r,iarinus)

sampl ed in the Northwest Atlantic durin9 the years 1973-1976. Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight in grams, and number

of organisms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

TREMATODA

POLYCHAETA

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Parathemisto sp.

Hyperiidae

Lysianassidae

Decapoda

Crangon sePtemspinosa

Pontophilusnorvegicus

Caridion gordoni

Dichelooandalus leptocerus

Pandalus borealis

Pandalus montagui

Pandalidae

Pasiphaea multidentata

Pasiphaeidae

Decapod shrimp

Unidentified Decapoda

Euphausiacea

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

Unidentified Euphausiacea

Mysidacea

Erythrops erythrophthalma

~~Neomysis americana

Unidentified Mysidacea

Copepoda

Cal anus sp.

Calanoid copepod

Unident ified Copepoda

Unidentified Crustacea

PISCES

Mauro Iicuspennant i

Merluccius bilinearis

~yoxocephalus octodecemspinosus

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Fish larvae

Uriidentified Pisces

A.~IMAL REMAINS

2S

2

2S14

158

132

23

3

138

9

1

1

29

1

1

1

71

13

5

6

1690

1611

79

55

47

3

4

l'

470

48

14

408

3

18

1

1

1

1

10

4

o

0.000

0.000

373.910

1.336

118.281

241. 448

0.672

0.758

11. 415

37.988

5.109

1.181

0.121

0.034

0.719

0.455

0.101

18.840

4.446

0.387

7.938

57.452

16.489

5.098

6.356

227.980

13.468

0.133

0.097

0.436

0.006

0.122

0.011

0.625

0.492

8.235

4.319

0.487

0.006

24.449

0.00

0.00

89.64

0.32

0.28

0.03

0.01

28.35

0.17

0.11

0.02

4.52

1.07

0.09

1.90

13.78

3.9S

1. 22

1.S2

57.90

54.67

3.23

0.15

0.03

0.02

0.10

0.00

0.18

0.03

0.00

0.15

2.74

9.11

0.12

1. 97

1.04

0.12

0.00

5.86

1.25

TOTAL

Number of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight (g)

Mean number of organisms per stomach

Mean fish FL (em)

2559

466

232

0.875

5.49

31

417.007 100.00
Table 13 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for longhorn sculpin

(MYoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years

i373-1976. Data arepres€nted as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight,

total weight in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents Percentage weight

PROTOZOA

FOl"'ami niferi da

COELENTERATA

Hydrozoa

CESTOOA

TREMATOOA

NEMATOOA

POLYCHAETA

Fl abe11 i geridae

Sabell idae

Aphrod i tidae

Eunice pennata

Nereis succinea

Nereidae

Polynoidae

Sphaerodoruffi gracilis Polychaeta tubes

Unidentified Polychaeta CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Ampelisca sp. BYbl~S serrata

flrnpe iscidae

Aoridae

Calliopius laeviusculus

Ca 11 i opi idae

Ae9inina longicornis

Aeginina sp. Capre 11 idae

Corophium sp.

Ericthonius rubricornis

Ericthonius sp.

Unciola irrorata

Unciola serrata

Unciolasp.

Corop hi idae

Gammarellus angulosus

Gammarus annulatus

Gammarus sp.

Gammaridae

Melita dentata

Haustoriidae

Parathemisto sp.

Ischyroceridae

Anonyx 1i1 j eborqi

Hippomedon serratus

Orchomenella ffiinuta

Number of

organisms Weight (g)

5 0.002

5 0.002

0 0.000

0 0.000

2 0.007

3 0.000

28 0.013

14 5.543

2

3

1

1

1

1

1

I

1

2

6975 441.718

1703 6.946

1

98

9

16

7

5

15

1

51

11

25

12

570

2

22

21

41

48

10

158

7

1

1

6

73

2

1

0.486

0.953

1.646

0.104

0.077

0.024

0.007

0.381

0.219

1.646

0.016

0.599

0.039

0.289

0.144

0.104

0.075

0.003

0.236

0.210

0.036

0.016

5.179

0.046

0.192

0.120

0.415

0.958

0.405

2.996

0.132

0.002

0.013

0.022

2.875

0.033

0.016

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

1.03

86.59

0.00

0.00

4.87

0.09

0.18

0.31

0.02

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.07

0.04

0.31

0.00

0.11

0.01

0.05

0.03

0.02

0.01

0.00

0.04

0.04

0.01

0.00

0.97

0.01

0.02

0.02

0.08

0.18

0.08

0.56

0.02

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.54

0.01

0.00
Table 13. (con ti nued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Wei 9ht (9) Percentage weight

Orchomenel1a pin9uis5 0.071 0.01

Tmetonyx nobilis 11 0.313 0.06

Psammonyx nobills 117 1.812 0.34

Lysianassidae 13 0.258 0.05

Monoculodes edwards;

5 0.051 0.01

Monoculodes sp.5 0.064 0.01

Oedicerotidae 18 0.180 0.03

Paramphithoe hYstrix

1 0.025 0.00

Leptocheirus pinguis 276 3.706 0.70

Pontogeneia inermis 35 0.170 0.05

Ti ron5p; ni ferum

1 0.002 0.00

Unidentified Amphipoda

2 4.136 0.78

Decapoda 1479 383.749 72.12

Ax; us serratus

3 2.812 0.53

Cancer borealis 26 12.003 2.26

Cancer irroratus 348 167.036 31.38

Cancridae 101 19.578 3.68

Cranganseptemspinosa 494 32.742 6.15

Crangonidae 41 .1. 330 0.25

Eualus ousiolus 19 0.377 0.07

Hippolytidae

1 0.100 0.02

Hyas ar'aneus

3 2.585 0.49

Hyas coarctatus 29 13.071 2.46

Hyas sp.

3 0.310 0.06

Pagurus acadianus 19 13.332 2.50

Paqurus sp. 38 14.797 2.78

Paguridae 11 6.751 1.27

Oichelocandalus leptocerus 181 61.305 11.52

Pandalus borealis

2 0.040 0.01

Pandalusmontagul 14 1.386 0.26

Pandalidae

9 1.896 0.36

Pasiphaea multidentata

2 0.159 0.03

Pinnotheres sp.

1 0.570 0.11

Ovalipes ocel]atus

1 0.332 0.06

Portunidae

2 1.549 0.29

Decapod crab 29 14.254 2.68

Decapod shrimp 75 7.262 1.36

Unidentified Decapoda 27 8.172 1.54

Isopoda 110 3.010 0.58

Aegidae 41 1.174 0.22

Cirolana polita

5 0.268 0.05

Cirolana sp. 15 0.560 0.11

Chiridotea tuftsi

1 0.009 0.00

Chiridotea 36 0.361 0.07

Idotea ba1ti ca

2 0.141 0.03

[dotea sp.

4 0.407 0.08

Unidentified Isopoda

6 0.090 0.02

Cumacea 11 0.037 0.01

Mysidacea 3672 37.055 6.96

Neomysis americana 3669 37.044 6.96
Table 13. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Unidentified Mysidacea 3 0.011 0.00

Cirripedia 0 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 0 10.921 2.05

MOLLUSCA g 1.173 0.22

Pelecypoda 4 0.838 0.16

Ensis directus 1 0.782 0.15

Unidentified Pelecypoda 3 0.056 0.01

Gastropoda 5 0.153 0.03

Unidentified Mollusca 0 0.182 0.03

ECHINOOERMATA 2 2.468 0.46

Echinoidea 1 1.700 0.32

Stronoylocentrotusdrobachiensis 1 1. 700 0.32

Ophiuroidea 1 0.223 0.04

Ophiopholis aculeata 1 0.223 0.04

Unidentified Echinodermata 0 0.545 0.10

BRYZOA 1 0.258 0.05

PISCES 140 33.879 6.37

Raj idae 1 3.341 0.63

Oysomma anguil1are 1 0.334 0.06

MYoxocephalus octadecemsoinosus 2 1.432 0.27

Cottidae 2 0.621 0.12

Pholis aunnellus 1 0.456 0.09

Fish eggs 15 19.971 3.75

Unidentified Pisces 118 7.724 1.45

UNIOENTIFIED EGGS 0 0.054 0.01

ANIMAL REMAINS 1 18.139 3.41

ROCK 36 9.266 1.74

SANO 22 0.638 0.12

TOTAL 7238 532.264 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 692

Number of empty stomachs 159

Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.732

Mean number of organisms per stomach 10.46

r·lean fish TL (em) 19
able 14 Listing of all stomach content categories identified for fourspot flounder

(Paralichthys oblongus) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976.

Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight

in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Weight (9) Percentage weight

0.01

0.07

0.03

0.31

65.11

CESTODA

NEMERTEA

NEMATODA

POLYCHAETA

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Ampelisca sp:

flmpeliscidae

Aoridae

Unciola irrorata

Gammaridae

Hyperi idae

Leotocheirus pinguis

Decapoda

Cancer boreal; s

Cancer. i rroratus

Cancer sp.

Cancridae

Crangonseptemspinosa

Sclerocranoon boreas

Crangonidae

Munida iris

Munida sP:- ~opandalus leptoceras

Pandalidae

Decapod larvae

Decapod crab

Decapod shrimp

Unidentified Decapoda

Cumacea

Euphaus; acea

Mysidacea

Neomysis americana

Unidentified Mysidacea

Stomatopoda

Unidentified Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Gastropoda

Cephalopoda

Illex sp.

Rossia sp.

Unidentified Cephalopoda

Unidentified Mollusca

I

3

10

5

2203

15

102

1027

1

3

1064

1

5

1

14

o

10

5

6

44

8

4

25

5

119

1

79

489

2

50

29

33

120

9

33

15

42

1

1051

13

1

3

10

0.015

0.078

0.032

0.346

73.501

21.164

0.588

58.658

0.002

0.377

8.821

0.011

5.044

0.005

21. 097

0.062

0.008

0.003

0.028

0.290

0.023

0.001

0.235

0.424

7.014

0.019

5.848

8.526

0.093

0.717

2.829

4.528

'21. 735

1.641

0.155

0.617

4.404

0.108

8.780

0.041

0.014

4.892

16.19l

18.73

0.52

51. 96

0.00

0.33

7.82

0.01

4.47

0.00

18.68

0.05

0.01

0.00

0.02

0.26

0.02

0.00

0.21

0.38

6.21

0.02

5.18

7.55

0.08

0.63

2.51

4.01

19.25

1.45

0.14

0.55

3.90

0.10

7.78

0.04

0.01

4.33

14.34
Table 14. (continued)

Stomach contents

PISCES

Gadidae

Pleuranectiformes

Unidentified Pisces

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

11

3

o

3

Number of

organisms Wei ght (g) Percentage weight

13.226 11. 71

1 0.792 0.70

5 0.290 0.26

5 12.144 10.75

4.235 3.77

0.003 0.00

0.296 0.26

TOTAL 2254 112.918 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 366

Number of empty stomachs 138

Mean stomach content wei9ht (9) 0.301

Mean number oforgan;sms per stomach 6.16

Mean fish TL (em) 25
Table 15 . Listing af all stomach content categories identified for witch flounder (Gl~ptocephalus cynoglos5US) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 197 -19/0. Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents

weiaht, total weight in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content

catggory. .

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Wei9ht (9) Percentage weight

COELENTERATA

Anthozoa

Metridilm sp. Ceriantharia

Unidentified Anthozoa

CESTODA

TREMATODA

NEMERTEA

PRIAPULJDA

NEMATODA

POLYCHAETA

Cirratulidae

Po 1ydora sp.

Spionidae

Spioniformia

Fl abe11 i geri dae

Maldanidae

,£Irnmotrypane sp.

Opheli idae

(Meniidae

Sea 1i bregmi dae

Sternaspidae

Capite11idae

Ilmphareti dae

Pectinariidae

Terebe11idae

Sabe11idae

Alei opidae

Aphroditidae

Drilonereis sp.

Arabe11;dae

Eunice pennata

Eunice sp.

Eunicidae

Glyceridae

GO"; ada brunnea

Gon-iada maculata

Goniada sp.

Goni adidae

Hesionidae

Lumbri nerissp.

Ni nee ni gri pes

Lumbrineridae

Nephtys sp.

Nephtyi dae

Nereis sp.

Nereidae

Hyalinoecia tubicola

Onuphis eremita

65

2

65

3

4

69

6431

26.554 5.09

65 26.554 5.09

0 19.632

17 3.063

48 3.859

0.207 0.04

0.016 0.00

0.297 0.06

2.455 0.47

0.280 0.05

324.282 62.09

75 0.111

27 2.621

741 2.422

2 0.181

15 0.859

440 3.435

196 0.891

3 0.241

33 1.192

1 0.007

229 11.140

78 4.818

572 5.547

1 0.019

102 1. 714

194 6.903

5 0.112

0 0.207

4 1.266

3 1. 790

43 12.024

6 0.311

18 2.047

3 0.026

1 0.169

1 0.045

8 1.174

108 11. 648

1 0.000

46 5.833

3 0.097

272 28.364

3 0.530

58 10.271

6 0.879

2 0.224

7 0.293

37 . 5.352

3.76

0.59

0.74

0.02

0.50

0.46

0.03

0.16

0.66

0.17

0.05

0.2:3

0.00

2.13

0.92

1.06

0.00

0.33

1.32

0.02

0.04

0.24

0.34

2.30

0.06

0.39

0.00

0.03

0.01

0.22

2.23

0.00

1.12

0.02

5.43

0.10

1. 97

0.17

0.04

0.06

1.03
Tabl e 15. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

POLYCHAETA (can't)

Onuphis opalina 81 4.381 0.84

Onuohis sp. 72 6.218 1.19

Onuphidae 252 14.678 2.81

Naineris guadricuspida 1 0.332 0.06

Orbiniidae 5 0.380 0.07

Paraonidae 108 0.036 0.01

Eteone trilineata 2 0.157 0.03

Eteone sp. 2501 38.752 7.43

Phy11odoce sp. 1 0.032 0.01

Phy11 odoci dae 20 3.244 0.62

Polynoidae 14 0.512 0.10

Sy11 i dae 1 0.000 0.00

Nereidfformia 2 0.474 O.Og

Polychaeta tubes 3 35.297 6.76 .Unidenti fied Polychaeta 24 95.026 18.21

OLIGOCHAETA 1 0.049 0.01

SIPUNCULIDA 22 1. 204 0.23

Golfingia sp. 1 0.064 0.01

Unidentified Sipunculida 21 1.140 0.22

CRUSTACEA 1122 27.184 5.21

Jlrnphi poda 732 7.007 1.36

Byblis serrata 10 0.068 0.01

,lImpe1; sci dae 33 0.368 0.07

Aoridae 23 0.170 0.03

Capre 11 i dae 8 0.047 0.01

Ericthonius rubricornis 36 0.036 0.01

Ericthonius sp. 3 0.090 0.02

Unciola irrorata 300 1.644 0.32

Unciola sp. 2 0.038 0.01

Caraphi idae 2 0.042 0.01

Casco bigelow; 7 0.148 0.03

Gammaridae 216 2.601 0.50

Anonyx sp. 6 0.324 0.06

Lysianassidae 15 0.633 0.12

Leptocheirus pinguis 25 0.360 0.07

Trichopnaxu5 eptstomus 3 0.000 0.00

Phoxocepha1i dae 10 0.006 0.00

Pontogeneia inerm;s 8 0.027 0.01

Jlrnphi poda tubes 1 0.149 0.03

Unidentified Amphipoda 24 0.256 0.05

Decapoda 15 1.499 0.28

Crangon septemspinosa 3 0.257 0.05

Paourus sp. 1 0.062 0.01

Pasiphaea multidentata 1 0.093 0.02

Decapod crab 1 0.544 0.10

Decapod shrimp 9 0.371 0.07

Unidentified Decapoda 1 0.172 0.03

Isopoda 46 2.450 0.47

Anthuridae 7 0.266 0.05
Tabl e 15. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organ; sms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Isopoda (con't)

Cirol.na polita 5 0.714 0.14

Cirolana sp. 21 1.234 0.24

Chi ridotea sp. 8 0.023 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 5 0.213 0.04

Cundeea 26 0.019 0.00

Euphausi acea 271 14.259 2.73

Me9anyctiphanes norveqica 271 14.259 2.73

Mysidacea 5 0.010 0.00

Neomysis americana 4 0.008 0.00

Unidentified Mysidacea 1 0.002 0.00

Copepoda IS 0.004 0.00

Ostracoda 2 0.008 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 10 1.928 0.37

MOLLUSCA 316 6.950 1.32

Pelecypoda 299 6.471 1. 23

Soisula sp. 2 0.002 0.00

Yoldia iris 1 0.017 0.00

Voldia sP:- 54 3.600 0.69

Nucula sp. 38 0.274 0.05

Unidentified Pelecypoda 204 2.578 0.49

Scaphopoda 2 0.010 0.00

Gastropoda 15 0.358 0.07

Pol; nices sp. 1 0.189 0.04

Unident1fied Gastropoda 14 0.169 0.03

Unidentified Mollusca a 0.111 0.02

ECHINOOERMATA 539 64.540 12.36

Ophi uro;dea 60 4.505 0.86

Jlmphi pho-l i s sp. 2 0.645 0.12

Ophiura sars; 57 3.428 0.66

Unidentified Ophiuroidea 1 0.432 0.08

Holothuroidea 475 59.479 11.39

Leptosynapta sp. 8 1. 941 0.37

Stereoderma.sp. 9 1.060 0.20

Havelockia scabra 27 3.292 0.63

Dendrochi rot; da 19 3.084 0.59

Unidentified Holothuroidea 412 50.102 9.60

Unidentified Echinodermata 4 0.556 0.11

CHOROATA 101 4.884 0.94

Ascidiacea 101 4.884 0.94

PISCES 625 0.574 0.11

Fi sh eggs 625 0.433 0.08

Unidentified Pisees a 0.141 0.03

ANIMAL REMAINS 5 55.994 10.79

PLANT REMAINS a 3.220 0.62

ROCK 41 2.461 0.47

SAND a 0.728 0.14

TOTAL 9411 521.879 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 812

Number of empty stomachS 74

Mean stomach content wei9ht (9) 0.559

Mean number of organisms per stomach 11.59

Mean fish TL (em) 43
Table 16 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified far American plaice (~­

glossoides platessoides) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic durin9 the years; 1973-1976.

Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents welght. total we1ght

in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Stomach contents

Number of

organisms Wei9ht (9) Percentage weight

PORIFERA

COELENTERATA

Anthozoa

Zoantharia

Metridium sp.

Unidentified Anthozoa

TREMATODA

NEMERTEA

ACANTHOCEPHALA

PRIAPULIOA

N8~ATOOA

POLYCHAETA

Cirratulidae

Spionidae

Maldane sp.

Nicomache lumbricalis

Maldanidae

.t1mmotrypane sp.

Ophel iidae

Myriochele heer;

Owen; idae

Scalibregmidae

Sternaspidae

Ampharetidae

Terebe11 idae

Terebel1iformia

Potamil1a neglecta

Sabe1l idae

Sabelliformia

Aphroditidae

Eunice norvegica

Eunice sp.

Goniadidae

Lumbriner1s sp.

Ninoe n;gripes

Lumbri ner; dae

Nephtys ,. neisa

Nephtys sp.

Nephtyidae

Nereis vireos

Nereida-e--

OnuDh;s sp.

Onuphidae

Paraonidae

Phyllodocidae

Polynoidae

Sy11i dae

Nereidiformia

Polychaeta tubes

Unidentified Polychaeta

1 0.029

10 1.522

10

6

o

4

455 0.224

10 0.033

4 0.009

1 0.230

379 1. 876

904 38.279

o

1

8

22

9

1

1

2

33

1

3

529

3

2

55

129

o

3

5

3

3 .

1

1

2

1

6

8

1

2

!

3

1

1

16

3

1

19

24

1.522

0.977

0.356

0.189

0.039

0.000

0.202

0.567

0.606

0.024

0.029

0.000

1.179

0.003

0.056

2.091

0.516

0.023

1.289

3.285

0.035

1. 762

1.611

0.073

0.029

0.007

0.100

0.588

0.088

0.705

2.141

1.190

0.054

0.035

0.046

0.021

0.008

1.711

0.000

0.140

15.106

2.920

0.00

0.08

0.08

0.05

0.02

0.01

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.10

2.00

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.03

0.03

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.06

0.00

0.00

0.11

0.03

0.00

0.07

0.17

0.00

0.09

0.09

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.01

0.03

0.00

0.04

0.11

0.06

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.09

0.00

0.01

0.80

0.16
Taill e 16. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organ; sms We; ght (9) Percentage weight

CRUSTACEA 1424 113.384 5.99

Amphipoda 889 4.334 0.20

Ampelisea sp. 3 0.005 0.00

Ampeliseidae 23 0.053 0.00

Ampithoidae 1 0.016 0.00

Lembos sm; thi 20 0.251 0.01

Aoridae--- 27 0.099 0.01

Capre11 i dae 6 0.008 0.00

Ericthonius rubricornis 264 0.225 0.01

Ericthonius sp. 38 0.025 0.00

Unciola inermis 4 0.034 0.00

Unciola irrorata 101 0.370 0.02

Unciola serrata 142 1.027 0.05

Unciola sp. 60 0.466 0.02

Corophi idae 129 0.155 0.01

Casco bigelow; 1 0.045 0.00

Gammarus sp. 1 0.034 0.00

Gammaridae 58 0.403 0.02

Lysianassidae 1 0.013 0.00

Oedicerotidae 1 0.000 0.00

Leptocheiru5 pinguis 5 0.044 0.00

Dulichiaporrecta 1 0.000 0.00

Tiron acanthurus 1 0.003 0.00

Amphi poda tUbes 0 0.614 0.03

Unidentified Amphipoda 2 0.444 0.02

Decapoda 113 75.819 5.04

Caneri dae 5 0.055 0.00

Crangen septemsptnosa 16 0.343 0.02

Hippolytidae 1 0.526 0.03

Pagurus acadianus 18 7.281 0.39

Pagurus annulipes 3 0.612 0.03

Pagurus pubescens 4 3.376 0.18

Pagurus arcuatus 2 1.252 0.07

Pagurus sp. 7 1.476 0.08

Paguri dae 7 4.693 0.25

Oichelopandalu5 leptocerus 29 32.570 1. 73

Panda 1us borea1; 5 2 11. 605 0.62

Pandalus montagu; 3 4.050 0.22

Pandalidae 0 0.633 0.03

Decapod shrimp 16 7.217 0.38

Un; dent; fi ed Decapoda 0 0.130 0.01

Isopoda 4 0.50 0.00

Anthuridae 1 0.012 0.00

Chiridotea tufts; 1 0.018 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 2 0.020 0.00

Cumacea 11 0.039 0.00

Euphaus;acea 341 28.827 1.53

Meganyctiphanesnorveg;ca 313 28.456 1.51

Unidentified Euphausiacea 28 0.371 0.02

Mysidacea 49 0.108 0.00
Tabl e 16. (continued)

Number of

Stomach contents organ; sms Weight (g) Percentage weight

Erythrops erythrophthalma 14 0.020 0.00

Pseudommaaffine 3 0.016 0.00

Pseudamma 1 0.018 0.00

Unidentified Mysidacea 31 0.054 0.00

Cirripedia 1 0.015 0.00

Copepoda U 0.004 0.00

Tanaidacea 3 0.000 0.00

Unidentified Crustacea 2 4.188 0.22

PYCNOGONIOA 1 0.003 0.00

MOLLUSCA 379 55.052 2.91

Pelecypoda 252 44.436 2.35

Cerastoderma pinnulatum 72 10.435 0.55

Cerastodermasp. 5 0.761 0.04

Clinocardiumsp. 1 0.255 0.01

Microcardium peramabile 1 0.042 0.00

Bathyarca sp. 13 0.270 0.01

Chlamysislandica 21 5.945 0.32

Chlamys sp. 10 0.U2 0.01

Pecten pustulosus 1 0.027 0.00

Pecten sp. 2 1.538 0.08

Nuculana tenuisulcata 2 0.387 0.02

Nuculana sp. 12 2.063 0.11

Yoldia limatula 43 8.614 0.46

Yoldia sapotilla 1 0.007 0.00

Yoldiathraciaeformis 7 8.494 0.45

Yoldia sp. 21 4.303 0.23

Nucula sp. 1 0.014 0.00

Unidentified Pelecypoda 39 1.169 0.06

Scaphapoda 2 0.207 0.01

Dantaliumsp. 1 0.190 0.01

Siphonodentalium sp. 1 0.017 0.00

Gastropoda 113 7.197 0.38

Acoe 1a 67 0.324 0.02

Aparrhais occidentalis 24 3.278 0.17

Littorina obtusata 1 0.156 0.01

Nat; Cd pusill a 1 0.051 0.00

Calus sp. 1 0.582 0.03

Lora bi carinata I 0.890 0.05

Gastropoda operculum 10 1.556 0.08

Un; dent; fied Gastropoda 8 0.360 0.02

Un; dent; fi ed Mo llusca 12 3.212 0.17

ECHINOOERMATA 2751 1611.172 85.65

Asteroidea 2 3.555 0.19

Asteriidae 1 3.460 0.18

Ctenodiscus crispatus 1 0.095 0.01

Echinoidea 838 1262.451 67.12

Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis 24 13.327 0.71

Echinarachnius parma 740 1205.383 64.09

Agass;za sp. 1 3.092 0.16
Tabl e 16. (continued)

Stomach contents

Brisaster fragilis

Unidentified Echinoidea

Ophiuroidea

I'mphioplus sp.

AXiognathus sguamatus

Ophiacantha bidentata

Ophiopholis aculeata

Ophiopholis sp.

Ophiocien scutatum

OphiaJee;s elegans

Dph; ura .. robusta

Dph; ura sars;

Ophiura sp.

Ophiothrix sp.

UnidentifiedOphiuroidea

Cri noidea

Unidentified Echinodermata

BRYOZOA

CHORDATA

Asci di acea

PISCES

Merluccius bilinearis

Lycenchelys verrilli

Macrozoarces americanu5

Unidentified Pisces

UNIDENTIFIED EGGS

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

TOTAL

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

1 0.465 0.02

72 40.184 2.14

1893 294.827 1.566

5 0.192 0.01

11 4.192 0.22

13 5.109 0.27

1 0.809 0.04

11 2.400 0.13

1 0.031 0.00

1 0.036 0.00

9 6.673 0.35

1653 220.685 11. 73

101 5.045 0.27

3 0.314 0.02

84 49.341 2.62

0 0.944 0.55

18 49.395 2.63

0 0.004 0.00

10 1.532 0.08

10 1.532 0.08

12 5.733 0.30

1 0.679 0.04

1 1.025 0.05

6 0.240 0.01

4 3.789 0.20

27 0.544 0.03

13 19.106 1.15

1 2.072 0.11

113 27.305 1.45

0 2.534 0.13

6495 1880.643 100.00

Number of stomachs examined 1498

Number of empty stomachs 616

Mean stomach content weight (9) 1.012

Mean number of organisms per stomach 4.34

Mean fish TL (em) 27
Table 17 . Listing of all stomach content categories identified for yellowtail flounder

(Limanda ferruqinea) sampled in the Northwest Atlantic during the years 1973-1976.

Data are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight, total weight

in grams, and number of organisms for each stomach content category.

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

COELENTERATA 41 12.187 2.88

Hydrozoa 0 0.012 0.00

Anthozoa 41 12.175 2.88

Act iniari a 2 0.043 0.01

Ceriantharia 5 3.136 0.74

Unidentified Anthozoa 34 8.996 2.13

TREMATODA 5 0.000 0.00

NEMERTEA 18 2.162 0.51

NEMATODA 44 0.016 0.00

POLYCHAETA 7350 181.655 42.97

Tharyx sp. 0 0.731 0.17

Cirratu1idae 387 1. 714 0.41

Spionphanes bombyx 3103 40.919 9.68

Spionidae 1453 15.180 3.59

Arenico1idae 1 0.001 0.00

Flabelligera sp. 1 0.007 0.00

Pherusa arenosa 3 0.571 0.14

Pherusa sp. 5 0.213 0.05

Flabelligeridae 26 1.460 0.35

Praxillella sp. 17 0.073 0.02

Maldanidae 112 2.922 0.69

Ammotrrpane aulogaster 19 0.189 0.04

Ophelia sp. 8 0.092 0.02

Opheliidae 25 0.536 0.13

Oweniidae 2 0.246 0.06

Scalibregma inflatum 235 0.374 0.09

Scalibregmidae 91 1.453 0.34

Sternaspidae 3 0.098 0.02

Ampharetidae 281 2.657 0.63

Pectinariidae 100 3.159 0.75

Trichobranchus gracialis 2 0.008 0.00

Terebellidae 5 0.023 0.01

Sabellidae 149 5.985 1.42

Serpulidae 0 0.072 0.02

Amphinomidae 1 0.005 0.00

Arabella iricolor 3 1.730 0.41

Arabellidae 0 0.188 0.04

Dorvilleidae 204 0.536 0.13

~sp. 2 0.017 0.00

Glyc:eridae 19 0.369 0.09

Goniadella gracilis 1 0.039 0.01

Goniadidae 7 0.039 0.01

Lumbrineris brevipes 1 0.395 0.09

Lumbrineris sp. 1 0.698 0.17

Lumbrineridae 126 6.938 1.64

Nephtyidae 47 5.038 1.19

~sp. 1 0.051 0.01

Nereidae 9 1.441 0.34

Onuphis eremita 1 0.034 0.01

Onuphis sp. 3 0.100 0.02

Orbiniidae 6 0.027 0.01
Tahl e 17. (conti nued)

Stomach contents

POLYCHAETA (con't)

Paraonidae

Eteone sp.

PiiYi'IOdoce sp.

PhYllodocidae

Polynoidae

Sigalionidae

Sphaerodoridae

Syllidae

Pblychaeta tubes

Unidentified Polychaeta

ARCHIANNELIDA

OLIGOCHAETA

5IPUNCULIDA

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

.~pelisca agassizi

Ampelisca macrocephala

Ampelisca vadorum

Ampelisca sp.

Byblis serra! a

Hapleops sp.

Ampeliscidae

Aoridae

Calliopius laeViusculus

Caprellidae

Ericthonius rubricornis

Ericthonius sp.

Unciola irrorata

Unciola sp.

Pseudunciola obliguua

Corophiidae

Casco bigelowi

Gaiiliii'i'ridae

Haustoriidae

Ischyroceridae

.A..nonyx sarsi

Orchomenellapinguis

Orchomenellasp.

Psammonyx nobilis

Lysianassidae

~bnoculodes edwardsi

Monoculodes sp.

Synchelidium sp.

Oedicerotidae

Leptocheirus pinguis

Phoxocephalus holbolli

Trichophoxus epistomus

Phoxocephalidae

Pleustes panoplus

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

24 O.04i 0.01

1 0.000 0.00

22 0.077 0.02

25 0.231 0.05

6 0.214 0.05

5 0.118 0.03

1 0.000 0.00

4 0.063 0.01

6 33.582 7.94

796 50.995 12.06

17 0.022 0.01

0 0.024 0.01

1 0.004 0.00

13602 76.069 17.99

12350 57.685 13.62

1850 1.709 0.40

3 0.021 0.00

390 0.990 0.23

392 1.207 0.29

1438 7.281 1.72

28 0.079 0.02

1042 2.588 0.61

48 0.568 0.13

4 0.012 0.00

109 0.381 0.09

707 0.885 0.21

43 0.069 0.02

4451 18.284 4.32

31 0.348 0.08

67 0.025 0.01

73 0.297 0.07

1 0.016 0.00

205 8.084 1.91

31 0.696 0.16

1 0.005 0.00

15 0.147 0.03

12 0.237 0.06

19 0.759 0.18

8 0.111 0.03

18 0.219 0.05

12 0.055 0.01

5 0.055 0.01

2 0.005 0.00

13 0.037 0.01

1207 9.497 2.25

15 0.026 0.01

32 0.061 0.01

43 0.064 0.02

3 0.026 0.01
Tabl e 17. (cantinued)

Number of

Stomach contents organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

CRUSTACEA (con't)

DUlichia porrecta 28 0.014 0.00

Stegocephalusinflatus 4 0.031 0.01

Amphipoda tubes 0 2.742 0.65

Unidentified Amphipoda 0 0.054 0.01

Decapoda 400 14.877 3.51

Axius serratus 1 0.209 0.05

Cancer irroratus 15 0.069 0.02

Cancridae 34 0.313 0.07

Crangonseptemspinosa 235 7.998 1.89

Other Crangonidae 4 0.129 0.03

Pagurus sp. 36 0.133 0.03

Paguridae 9 0.090 0.02

Dichelopandalus leptocerus 26 3.965 0.94

Pasiphaeamultidentata 4 0.314 0.07

Decapod crab 14 0.135 0.03

Decapod shrimp 21 1.447 0.34

Unidentified Decapoda 1 0.075 0.02

Isopoda 87 0.891 0.21

Anthuridae 4 0.005 0.00

Cirolana polita 4 0.179 0.04

Cirolana sp. 13 0.152 0.04

Chiridotea tuftsi 8 0.147 0.03

Chiridotea sP:-- 50 0.332 0.08

Idotea sp. 2 0.003 0.00

Unidentified Isopoda 6 0.073 0.02

Cumacea 345 0.450 0.11

Euphausiacea 75 0.561 0.14

Euphausia sp. 1 0.-023 0.01

Meganyctiohanes norvegica 56 0.466 0.11

Unidentified Euphausiacea 18 0.072 0.02

Mysidacea liD 0.710 0.17

Neomysis americana 170 0.710 0.17

Copepoda 170 0.087 0.02

Unidentified Crustacea 5 0.808 0.19

MOLLUSCA 81 2.474 0.59

Pelecypoda 77 2.433 0.58

Mercenaria mercenaria 3 0.196 0.05

Pecten sp. 8 0.041 0.01

Unidentified Pelecypoda 66 2.196 0.52

Gastropoda 3 0.012 0.00

Cyclostrematidae 2 0.012 0.00

Unidentified Gastropoda 1 0.000 0.00

Unidentified MollUSca 1 0.029 0.01

ECHINODERMATA 23 0.367 0.09

Echinoidea 17 0.300 0.07

Echinarachnius parma 16 0.286 0.07

Unidentified Echinoidea 1 0.014 0.00

Ophiuroidea 5 0.022 0.01

Holothuroidea 1 0.039 0.01

Unidentified Echinodennata 0 0.006 0.00
Tab1e 17. (continued)

Stomach contents

CHORDATA

Ascidiacea

PISCES

UijIDENTIFlEO EGGS

ANIMAL REMAINS

PLANT REMAINS

ROCK

SAND

TOTAL

Nuinberof stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight (g)

Mean number of organisms per stomach

Mean fish TL (em)

Number of

organisms Weight (g) Percentage weight

71 2.446 O~S3

71 2.446 0.58

7 0.970 0.23

0 0.863 0.20

0 71. 781 16.97

0 0.326 0.06

12 0.050 0.01

0 71.508 16.91

21272 422.926 100.00

1004

332

0.417

21.19

30
Table 1,1. Percentage weight of the total stomach (:oUtciJt:5 of major stomach content categories of little skate (~.!.l, ~.!:l..!_l.!"!..~~0 s<llllflled during-the :lprirlj';

and ;lUtumn in the Nortlil~est Atlantic flil" each year from J973 through .1976.

1975 1976

Spring Autumll -fu!!:ing Autumn

2.75 0.05

2. J 9

".96 .20.59 10.92 19.80

0.27 0.44 0.35 0.81

0.28 Lfll l. 98 1.64

0.47 0.06 5.39

0.97 f).81 1.94 0.55

0.39 11.67 0.04

2.58 5.70 6.61 11 .41

71.67 64.81 54.94 62.87

7.78 28.18 21.03 5.72

0.87 l. 79 0.32 1.72

0.28 D.IL 1.73 0.53

0.06 (I.0B 6.70

18.71 0.29

I. 62 2.53 0.55 0.90

1.82 4.15 7.24 2.37

0.71 2.81 0.03

1. 5 7 0.09 0.27

0.B5 0.72 1.12 0.17

5!J.60 32.03 30.91 118.86

1.-17 0.78 ".81

0.22 1.64 0.56

5.17 8.21 0.23 13.90

5.06 ].23 1.64 2.08

5.41 3.97 12.08 9.20

(l.10 0.63 0.17 0.15

22.42 0.08. 0.96 13.36

9.46 4.7J 9.10 0.19

5.10 7.99 ". L8 2.22

~,. 19 2.79 J. 99 2.95

0.81 1.67 1. 35 1 .5,1

O.7!1 I.. (,(1 1.31 1.·18

0.1l2 tl.1l7 0.04 (l.D()

3. ,18 2.9J 1.65 6.75

0.09 3.37 15.35 2.R5

2.69 15.35 0.21

0.09 1.1 R 2. (,.-1

U.37 0.32 5.b7 4.94

5.92

3. ,15 U.82 5.67 -1.9'1

11 .72 7.1(, 13.12 9.·I!J

- ----_.-._._-------_. __.------ --

O.9fl

7.37

0.65

3.46

2.68

2.66

Il.02

4.32

5.01

4.03

0.91l

5.7,1

1.55

0.04

7.1l

1.33

2.62

40.65

0.36

6.19

1.44

5.35

17.42

0.16

1. 30

4.32

5.7,1

13.7 /

1

5.62

0.06

10.03

59.80

12.15

0.71

0.49

2.26

4.46

1.44

].01

0.05

3.07

5.19

O.(l()

L. 49

0.79

5.54

7.77

0.33

1. 22

39.83

1.8,6

2.46

3.52

3.89

13.04

0.01

1.57

1. 92

7.%

5.96

5.60

1. 80

I. 78

0.02

13.00

l. 55

~J. 19

72.42

17.79

0;36

1.77

0.01

0.11

0.48

12.29

0.82

0.19

64.63

0.75

L3.88

5.45

12.77

2.14

9.49

0.,19

15.40

5.01

0.68

0.611

0.1l<!

4.28

n.75

5.47

0.07

10.29

4.41

7.36

f1.R2

75.95

6.36

0.21

0.42

0.15

0.27

1tI.70

4.96

2.37

9.92

2.5"

3.91

0.49

40.35

5.58

1. 01

0.39

0.27

2.75

6.31

J.37

1. 36

0.01

4.03

2.S(1

2.03

0.53

1.14

5.37

1. 09

7.02

0.02

8.57

3.64

I. 14

0.40

6.63

18.51

7,0.76

25.01

0.37

5.40

0.01

COI~I.ENTERAT/\

NE~IERTEA

I'OL\,CIIIIET/\

rlabelligcridae

Aphroditidae

Glyceridae

Nephtyidae

Nereidae

Other Po lychacta

CRUSTACI:A

IImphipoda

Ampe1iscidae

lInciola irrorata

Other Corophiidae

G:unmarus anllu1atus

Othor Gammaridae

!:.£E.!:.ochei~~ pinguis

/Ilonoculod~ ed\~ardsi

Other OeJicerotidae

at her i\mphipoda

Dccapoda

Ax ius serratus

CmiCe! boreal is

Cancer irroratlls

OtllerCancriJae -

Cran~~.!.~ septemsJlinosa

Other Crangonidae

Paguru5 acarlianus

O"t'hcrli agllriJae -

Diclle ~gpalJ(la!.!.!~

Other ~~[)ccllpoua

!sopoda

Ci rolaniJilc

Ot he r Isopoda

Other Crilstacea

~101.I.lJSCA

I'clccypoda

Other Holltl~ca

('ISeES

lJlval'i,l suhhifurcat,l Oth-l~:-'Pisccs--,-_.-

~IJSCEI.I,IINEOlJS

------~----~--------.-------J97:3-~~-·---------197-4-------

~~onlach C(lut~~_~ ~'ing lIutlullll .~jng Autllll~n---

NlUIlIICI' of stomachs cx,lmincJ

Numher of cmpty stomachs

~knll stomach l"rJlltcnt wcight(gJ

~"';1I1 ICI1g1 h (,·011

13t1

12

O. BU,

37

7(,

12

I.09!

'1:\

156

I"

O.tW~

;;/,

113

S

0.692

,10

111·1 I ;~ ,I 204 15tl

'I 15 '9

2. :~.!(, 0. (,7H 0.88(1 n.925" I :;h .'\·1 ,Ill
Table 19. Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach content categories of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhuaj sampled

during the spring and autumn in the J'iorthwest Atlantic for each year from 1973 through 1976.

Stomach Contents

COELEmERATA

POLYCHAETA

Aphroditidae

Other Po1ychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Decapoda

Axius serratus

Cancer borealis

Cancer~us

Gervon quinquedens

coarctatus

Pagurus acadianus

Dichelopandaltis

leptocerus

Pandalus montagui

Other Pandalidae

Other Decapoda

Other Crustacea

1-10LLUSCA

Pe1ecypoda

Cyrtodaria sili~~

Pect.inidae

Other Pelec}~oda

Cephalopoda

LoUgo sp.

Other Cephalopoda

Other !'-lo11usca

ECHINODERMATA

Ophiuroidea

Holothuroidea

Other Echinodermata

PISCES

Batrachoididae

harengus

Other Clupeidae

Gadus mO"l."hua

Melanogrammus

aeg1efinus

I-lerluccius

bilinearis

Other Gadidae

Ammodvtes

americanus

Cottidae

Scomber scombrus

Pomat.omus

saltatrix

Sebastesmarinus

Hippoglossoides

platessoides

Other

PleuIonectiformes

Other Pisces

NISCELLANEOUS

SAND AND ROCK

Number of stomachs

examined

:-iumber of empty

stomachs

Mean stomach content

weight (g)

Mean length (em)

1973 1974 1975 1976

Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring .'\l;I."t;.1;lffin

0~14 0.10 0.12 2.29 0.05 0.78 2.03

1.95 1.55 0.75 0.18 1.41 3.07 0.38 0.33

1. 76 1.37 0.57 0.16 0.60 2.94 0.10 0.03

0.19 0.18 0.18 0.02 0.81 0.13 0;28 0.50

13.22 11.09 17.95 9.20 52.14 36.7i 19.58 7.":1

11.18 10.48 16.89 7.88 51.50 35.05 17.78 6.61

0.12 0.06 5.12 0.03 1. 46 0.79 0.03

0.13 3.49 0.50 4.15 11. 48 0.60 o. 3~

2.60 0.09 2.81 24.74 12.96 12.36 2.3~

2.22 1.86 1.12

2.10 0.26 2.21 0.38 1. 87 0.86 0.91 0.19

0.26 1.56 1.33 0.55 6.57 2.44 1. 01 0.16

4.31 0.93 0.50 0.56 3.95 2.62 0.45 0.':::-1-

2.23 0.40 0.39 1.53 1. 08 1.33

0.38 0.91 0.46 0.64 0.03 0.25 0.43 1. 00

1.65 1.54 1.44 0.86 6.53 2.3~ 1. 99 :.33

2.04 0.61 1. 06 1.32 0.64 1.72 1. 80 o. sc,

2.20 2.64 6.63 9.17 2.74 6.80 29.02 53.90

1. 62 0.03 0.50 8.S5 1.52 3.12 26.69 0.1:'

3.75 0.90

0.03 0.12 2.89 3.12 25.12 O.l..\-

1.62 0.38 2.21 0.62 1. 57 0.05

1.33 0.S2 0.25 0.62 0.25 0.3-;- 53.03

0.22 4S.33

1.33 0.52 0.03 0.62 0.25 0.37 4. -C

0.58 1.28 5.61 0.07 0.60 3.43 1. 96 0.70

2.24 1.18 2.21 0.45 2.98 4.89 1. 78 1.05

1.21 0.65 1.12 0.45 2.02 1. 93 1.1~ 0.52

0.74 0.45 0.58 0.93 2.8.1 0.54 0.29

0.29 0.08 0.51 0.03 0.14 0.12 D.:":'

76.94 80.64 70.83 78.68 32.34 44.44 42.58 30. 7 9

6.30

4.07 4.83 19.49

2.55 2.28 14.19 43.91 10.80 3.48

11.23

13.54

4.85 2.65 6.93

3.18 0.25 3.68 1. 05 l'.19

1.34 ::: -1-. 1..+

1. 66 3.42 0.06 2.21 5.34 0.0'::

24.54 19.75 13.41

9.61

8.98 2.65 18.84 '::.66

12.55 1.82

22.83 0.38 0.03 0.07 0.60 0.01 3.6:-

8.51 18.57 23.17 15.80 5.51 33.63 5.35 6.4.1

2.99 1.90 1.28 1. 74 5.00 3.71 5.09 :::.03

0.30 0.90 0.35 0.46 1.10 0.27 0.79 " ".

172 361 224 191 180 200 214 1- 2

15 57 8 15 8 15 25 " 27.471 22; 494 39.789 25.175 28.128 9. 2~2 19.513 26·Hl

49 52 62 51 55 ':'5 ,.
Table :0" Percentage \>"eight of the total stomach contents of major stomach content. categories of haddad: (~1elancgrClmmu5 aegle:finus1

sampled during the spring and autumn in the !\ol'th\\"est Atlantic for each ;tear from 1973 through 1976.

Stomach Contents

Spring Autumn

197~

Spring Autumn

1975

Spring Autumn

1976

Suring Autumn

7.22 0.03

7.20

0.02 0.03

17.44 10.$7

5.00

0.16 1.08

11.88 '22.38

34.85 4.62

COELENTERATA

Ceriantharia

Other Antho::oa

POLYCHAETA

Spionphanes bombyx

Other Spionidae

Nicomache

lumbricalis

Sabellidae

Aphroditidae

Ot.her Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Unciola irrorata

serrata Gamrnarid-ae---

Leptocheirus

pinguis

O"ther Amphipoda

Decapoda

:uius serratus

Dichelopandalus

leptocerus

Paguridae

Other Decapoda

Euphausiacea

iI'leganyctiphanes

norvegica

Other Euphausiacea

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Pelecypoda

Placopecten sp.

Other Pelecypoda

Gastropoda

Cephalopoda

Other Mollusca

ECHINODERKIl,.TA

Echinoidea

Stronglocentrotus

drobachiensis

Echinaraclmius ·parma

Other Echinoidea

Ophiuroidea

Ophiura sarsi

Ophiura sp.

Amphiuridae

OUhlOpholis aculeata

Other Ophiuroidea

Holothuroidea

Pso1us sp.

Other Ho1bthuroidea

Other" Echinodermata

PISCES

Melanogrammu5

aeg1efinus

C1upeidae

Other Pisces

MISCELLANEOUS

SA,,'IID AND ROCK

NUmber of stomachs examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weigh"t(g)

Nean length (cm)

5.15

0.18

1.50

10.61

14.16

11.45

9.52

0.10

1.57

0.26

2.L5

i.14

0.13

0.86

0.20

0.19

0.01

0.38

0.54

0.48

0.48

0.02

0.04

13.75

4.00

0.01

3.96

0.03

8.26

0.15

1.51

p.31

0.29

0.87

0.48

0.39

0.62

0.16

107

5

8.110

49

3.35

1.60

5.62

6.22

2.74

1.22

0.17

0.62

0.73

2.91

0.24

1.50

1.17

0.21

0.20

0.01

0.36

2.55

2.10

2.10

0.16

0.29

47.55

5.18

4.61

0.47

0.10

38.71

9.27

3.06

2.06

21. 00

3.32

0.45

0.21

0.24

3.21

6.08

213

16

4.252

47

2.65

0.16

2.49

24.21

6.99

0.78

3. 79

12.65

23.62

8.32

3.64

0.90

0.30

3.48

13.30

10.02

0.05

0.20

3.03

1.25

1.17

0.08

0.75

LOS

0.60

0.60

0.37

0.01

0.07

15.15

2.39

0.52

1. 83

0.04

12.43

2.29

6. i7

3.37

0.27

0.27

0.06

0.49

0.49

6.40

26.43

121

5

3.782

44

0.07

0.07

6.07

0.02

6.05

27.74

4.01

1.07

1. 46

0.66

0.82

14.23

3.79

1. 76

8.68

7.59

6.81

0.78

1. 91

1.56

0.63

0.63

0.50

0.43

49.07

2.44

1.63

0.79

0.02

45.69

2.69

6.96

20.88

15.16

0.37

0.37

0.57

2.39

2.39

9.56

3.54

260

20

1.131

30

45.47

3.71

0.45

0.69

40.62

20.45

11.35

0.31

. 7.60

0.99

0.27

2.18

6.55

0.44

0.35

5.76

0.12

0.11

0.01

2.43

0.68

0.42

0.42

0.07

0.08

0.11

7.20

0.15

0.14

0.01

3.67

0.04

0.07

0.71

1. :9

1.56

3.38

2 ••'5.2

1.06

0.01

0.01

20.99

5.20

122

7.041

42

6.70

0.02

0.33

0.98

5.37

18.59

5.37

3.47

b.59

0.23

1. 08

11.06

3.60

1. 0'7

1. 22

5.17

0.39

0.38

0.01

1. : "

11.1 :-

10.68

8.96

1. 72

0.14

0.35

40.39

3.40

2.86

0.54

34.61

30.36

0.0:

1. 98

2.25

1.38

1.34

1. 34

15.98

5.84

268

4

1. 212

30

0.01

0.01

10.37

0.57

0.01

9. 79

23.52

13.60

4.08

3.61

:.89

1. 02

-3

0.03

0.28

'::.68

0.26

0.1:

0.14

1. 93

9.08

1. 27

1. 27

0.09

19. 96

1. 99

1. 10

0.06

0.83

1:.69

0.06

11.69

0.84

5.08

3.08

0.30

0.01

0.01

163

13

1. '790

:;9

1.71

5.79

0.08

0.58

5. 13

10.10

3.66

['.60

:. I ...

O.~3

O. --

1. 09

0.90

1..37 o. -,

0.:-4

1.13

9.62

1. 26

1. 26

o..3S

6.69

1. 29

41.58

3.1':

0.65

31. ":3

11. ~'6

0.09

8.31

11. -9

0.32

0.38

0.1 :t

6.69

3.:0

4.82

0.38

1.... 35

11.45

3.614 "

"-6
Table 2l. Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach content categories of silver hake (l>lerluccius bilinearis)

sampled during the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic for each year from 1973 through 1976.

1973 1974 1975 1976

Stomach Contents Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring .j"uturnr:

POLYCHAETA 0.01 0.02 0.09 0.02 0.33 0.01

CRUSTACEA 4.19 12.09 8. 76 6.42 13.38 9.18 21.33 4.46

Amphipoda 0.02 0.58 0.18 0~53 0.32 0.67 0.58 0.70

Ampeliscidae 0.42 0.01 0.28 0.03 0.19 ['.07

Oedicerotidae 0.01 0.12 0.06 0.12 0.01 0.12

Parathernisto 'p. 0.05 0.08 0.30 0.33 0.37

Other Amphipoda 0.02 0.15 0.11 0.17 0.17 0.13 '2.26

Decapoda 3.67 9.30 0.78 3.93 3.31 4.95 5.98 2.S3

Crangon

septernsninosa 1.14 1.23 0.39 0.97 1.54 0.75 4.19 • .i.":'

Dichelonandalus

leptocerus 1.64 7.62 2.06 0.74 3.45 2.65 1. 50

Pasiphaea

mu1tidentata 0.46 0.01

Other 'Decapoda 0.43 0.45 0.38 0.90 1. 03 0.'75 0.14 0.11

Euphausiacea 0.28 1.18 6.81 1.40 9.53 1. 83 10.10 0.0:

Meganyctiphanes

norvegica 0.22 0.94 6.65 1.38 8.77 0.09 10. (IS 0.0:

Other Euphausiacea 0.06 0.24 0.16 0.02 0.76 1. 74 0.01

Mysidacea 0.07 0.36 0.95 0.36 0.14 1.25 2.82 D.D":

Neomysis americana 0.07 0.36 0.89 0.34 0.14 1.25 2.79

Other Mysidacea 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.0-1

Other Crustacea 0.15 0.67 0.04 0.20 0.08 0.48 0.85 0.8-:"

MOLLUSCA 19.00 5.49 1.29 16.62 -l.90 15. -15

Loligo 18.84 4.40 7.95 4.04 13.35

OtherCepha1opoda 0.16 1. 09 1.29 8.67 0.86 :;. 10

PISCES 76.40 82.34 89.20 93.21 68456 90.54 72.73 -:S.84

Scomberesox saurus 16.01

Clupeidae 10.04 33.02

Merluccius

bilinearis 17.35 17.47 1.03 1. 74 0.30 33.3-

Phycis chesteri 1.68

Ammodvtes

americanus 1.96 13.65

Scomber scombrus 15.82 12.06 33.25

5tenotomus

chrysops -.:. S, :-

Pepri1us

triacanthus 3.55 23.03 3.72

Other Pisces 55.50 26.02 77.14 66.13 26.21 57.02 59.10 .:" .10

mSCELLMJEOUS 0.40 0.08 0.73 0.37 1.35 0.26 0.69 1. 24

Ntunber of stomachs

examined 196 51,S 389 333 274 357 309 35:

NUlllber of empty stomachs 69 193 105 75 70 93 102 1'::1

Mean stomach content

weight (g) 5.350 0.775 2.145 1.171 1.691 0.628 1.602 1. 05~

Mean lengt:h (cm) 23 19 21 16 23 16 2",

"
Tahle Percentage I~eight of the total stomach cOlltcilts qf majol'stomach contentcatcgol'ics or po]]nck (!_'~.~.!.~~!illS virl.?_!!':~) sampled during the spring

and autLlmn in the Northwest Atlantic for each yellI' [rom 1973 through 1976.

__St oll\nc . . II Cont ell t s . -';ii!I!!iC::::::':'.:'~~~:ii!ii:::===]j>:iJ!!ii=:::':':':'=Ei~~====llii.!:I!~ ~l~!.ing 1973 AutlUlln ~ring 1974 Autumn .~r,~lIf __~~9~7~5=iili~====i~~=1~9~7~6 Autumn Spring" Autlunn"

CIHlSTACEA

lleeapoda

Uichelopandalus

.!.£.p.toccrus

f'cindaltis borealis

flasiphaeamnl t identuta

Other Decapoda

Euphausiacea

Megally-etiphancs

lIorvegica

Thysllnocssa inenois

Other Ellphall-siacea-

~lys idacea

Neomysis americana

Other Crustacea

~I(JLI,USCA

Loligo sp.

Other Cephalopoda

PISCES

Clupeidae

~lerl ucci us

--bilinearis

rollachi,us .virens

Acthoprora metopoclam~

Scomber scombrus

Sehastesniari nus

oDiCr-PlsCCSMISCELI.ANEOUS

NUllIher of stomachs examined

Ntunber of empty stomachs

~1can stomach cont-Cllt ,wight (g)

He:1ll length I nil)

64.38

14.99

0.21

0.95

12.77

1. 06

44.73

44.25

0.48

4.66

28.93

54.9,1

39.50

0.77

1. 81

36.73

O.H.!

14.59

14.57

0.02

0.R5

0.31

0.31

42.91

26.38

22.57

21.02

0.04

1.51

3.70

2.81

0.89

0.11

0.14

0.14

69.62

2.44

46.09

27.63

0.54

0.42

0.12

26.83

26.83

0.26

0.30

0.30

65.03

14.03

19.70

(,5.66

27.2 t

0.39

0.59

25.00

1. 23

20.46

17.47

0.02

2.97

17.69

17.69

0.30

0.17

0.17

30. S6

6.24

10.62

40.85

7.24

1. 21

5.64

0.39

32.38

31.55

0.83

0.29

0.29

0.94

0.11

O.lL

53.58

15.56

0.15

0.15

12.19

8.10

3.95

0.14

3.22

0.50

0.50

77.07

51.91

25.16

6.87

117

33

9.184

51

6.88

2.32

0.58

I. (,6

0.08

2.51

2.51

2.02

86.65

81. J 7

5. ·18

0.53

0.53

5.9·1

M

11.730

"

:.'
Tal>le23. l'el'l.:cnl:1gc I~cight of t:hc total stomach contents of major stomach content cntegorics of rcd hake f.!..!I5?1)hycis ChU5S) smilpled d\ll'iIlI~ the

spring and autumn ill thc No'rtll\~est Atlantic for each ycar from t9B through 1976.

1973 1974 1975 1976"-------------·

siriilg i\utlllun _~£!.!lIg Aut loon Spr.ing Autumn 5pring--------AuiUli;n-----· _.~

--------,------

3.73 1>.78 7.28 2.93 2.06 0.34 1.47 4.58

5.49 1.47

3. 73 6.78 1.79 2.93 0.59 0.34 1.47 4.58

8.27

32.60 18.65 15.84 7.1.69 66.29 11.39 24.54 35.17

1. 71 2.12 10.16 2.38 3.19 3.93 7.15 2.95

4.33

0.32 0.14 0.13 D.OS 0.43 1.32 1. 17

0.22 l. 36 0.24 0.09 LSI (1.13 1. 48 0.2!1

0.13 1.08 1. 25 0.29 0.34 1. 36 0.87

1.04 0.76 4.37 0.91 1. 31 3.03 2.99 0.62

25;62 6.38 3.74 65.87 59.63 2.36 13.61 26.04

4.24 0.37 3.23 0.82 0.85

1. 75 5.92 7.56

1. 94 2.17 1.75 1. 23

0.95 0.14 0.33 14.03 2.8!1 0.47 0.68 3.92

0.15 4.77 9.67

4.22

6.% 0.59 37.30 26.15 l.flO 0.49 14.6,1

13.47 5.65 1.14 3.45 10.75 0.89 1.02 5..40

0.56 0.67 0.03 1.02 0.1lI 0.07 I. 52

4.71 9.48 ]. 91 3.44 2.45 5.09 3.71 4.66

11.80 2.64 0.03 9.92 15. 17 D.O! 39.53

11.80 0.U5 L08 8.98

2.59 0.03 9.91 13.44 30.40

0.01 0.65 0.01 0.15

2.60 0.28 81.60 2.04

2. (,0 81.60 2.04

0.28

46. (7 (,4.35 75.53 0.24 9.18 I. 31 32.75 38.10

28.79

9.94

1.05 9.85 5.25

17.38 64.35 75.53 0.24 8.n I. 31 12.96 :;2.85

3.10 7.30 1. 32 6.95 7.30 5.35 1. 71 20.11

Stomach Contents

.-------'

I'OLYCIIAETA

~!.rodita hastat~

Other rolychaeta

S11'UNClJL IDA

CIUlS'rACl\A

Amphipoda

Acginella sr.

IJllciola irrorata

(~;'lJlunaridae

J.cptocheirus pingnis

Other AmphipoJa

Decapoda

Axius serratus

Callcer boreal is

Cancer irroratus

~l-ang()n sertemspinosa

Muilida ,sp.

ragurus acaJianus

Oiche,lopand~

lcptocerus

Othel' DccHpoda

lsopoJa

Other Crustacea

l>lOI.f,USCA

Gastropoda

Ccphalopoda

Other ~lollusca

ECIIINOIJERMATA

Ilolothuroidea

Other Echinodcnnata

"lseES

Clupeidae

Ophid UJ<lC

i'lcuronect j fonnes

Other l'isces

~IISCEI.I.ANEOlJS

Numhc,; of stomachs

('x~mincd

Number of empty

stomachs

I-h!illl stomach content

w('ight(g)

~1t':JI1 1('!lg! 11 (l'm)

'6 8' "' 47 5(,

D 17 Hi 8

1.498 0.25'1 1.82(, I .820 ,:.771

:;1 H II, :;0 ..:'11

"

0.392

2·1

1119

I .:148

:;n

II:!

"

1.242

23
I ----- ----~---------------~--

Tahll' 24. I'ercellbtge\~eight of the total stornachcontcnts of major stomach content catcgoric$ of :;pottcd hake '(l~!)'d~ regi~)

S<lmp Iell uuring the spring and autumn in the Northwest Atlantic faT cadi year fl'om 1973 through 1976.

StollHlch __________ Cont Ollts -~=====i~;;i=1~9~7~3~~~~===;~~C~'~9~7~4=~~~====:;~i~D-197S Spring Auttunn Spring Antunin ~~ ~utullln -_ Spril.!.£ 1976 Autumn

----------------

CRUSTACEA

Amphipodu

Ilccapoda

Cancer irroratu$

Crangoll septernspinosa

~hmjda ids

~Iunida sp.

l) ichclopandallis

l~cerus

Other !lccapoda

Euphausiacea

Hcganyctiphanes

norvcgica

Other Euphallsiacea

Other CrustnccH

MOl.I.USCA

Coplla lapoua

Other Mollusca

PISCES

Hcrluccius bilincarls

Ophjdi june -.----

Other Pisces

~ll SCEI.IANEOllS

NlUnbcT of stomachs

c'xamined

Number of empty

stomachs

~lean stomach content

weight (g)

f.!('ail h;ngth ((:m)

20.39

1 . 34

13.86

4.37

6.16

0.87

0.89

1.57

5.19

45.75

45.75

32.63

9.55

23.(18

1. 23

47

5

2.018

21

92.52

5.85

72.27

0.09

24.02

6.14

29.53

12.49

0.20

n.20

14.20

1.02

1.02

2.39

2.39

4.07

79

3

0.316

19

33.78

11.91

19.95

7.75

6.87

0.16

5.17

0.73

0.73

1. 19

56.35

56.35

9.73

9.73

0.14

30

10

0.533

21

53.00

3.16

46.39

0.05

2.91

2.27

37.20

3.96

3.45

5.92

5.44

0.48

39.50

28.45

11.05

1.58

7413

O.58B

20

4,1.73

6.17

0.85

0.14

4.0n

0.41

o.ot

0.76

38.48

38.48

0.08

47. gO

47.82

0.08

5.28

0.27

5.01

2.09

67

4

6.2no

27

95.92

IR.OO

56.tl2

17.71

0.83

2.96

39.95

4.57

0.48

0.48

11. 42

1. 87

1. 87

0.70

0.70

1.51

54

"

0.354

21

33.89

0.47

12.81

2.00

1.53

8.18

0.57

0.53

16.61

15.55

1. 06

4.00

7.00

6.94

0.06

46.49

46.49

12.62

96

24

1l.852

18

44.51

0.62

33.56

1.53

18.69

4.5,1

5.25

3.55

10.33

27.23

27 .23

14.74

9.97

13.52

9413

ll.618

21

---------------
Table 25. Pert.entage weight of the total :;tolll;lch contents of major stomach content. categoric:; of white lwke (!.!.!:£J!hyt~~~ ~~0~) smnpled

(luring tho spring and autumn i.n the Northwest Atlantic fOl'cach yClll' from 197.') Ull'Ollgh 1~1](,.

2n. no 8.59

2.10

4.97

54.97

0.03

0.03

0.,18

0.23

91.84

0.98

10.67

81.17

0.18

7.68

0.44

0.24

0.61

2.79

69.94

62.26

20.41

7.45

22.87

3. ,15

J 1 . 73

0.03

0.03

0.28

83. OJ

O.ll

39.71

0.78

0.45

97.32

0.07

9.36 4.37 26.45

5.27

0.69 51.B5

0.56

1. 32

2.14

1.13

0.05

82.37

92.42

26.42

53.13

6.54

3.89

2.03

o.n

0.02

0.97

0.49

89.98

4.08

0.17

21.06

67.40

1973 1974 1975 L976 .-~-_._ ..~-

Spring AutLunll ~ring Autumn S~____ Autumn Spring AutLUnn

11.27 7.50 5.44 2.23 13.26 27.09 6.95 31.47

5.32 6.34 4.26 1.3,1 1.'17 25.80 6.41 29.3'7

1. 35 1. 22 1.22 0.05 0.69 3.84 1. 86 8.81

2.70 0.08 0.37 0.70 7.110 0.,98 14.66

1. 27 5.04 2.67 o. 5~} 0.78 14.56 3.57 5.90

4.08 0.19 I, 13 0.78 11..76 0.68 0.06

I. 87

0.10

88.46

CRUSTACEA

Oceapoda

llichel02.!!ilda lus

-----rejrtoce~

Pandalus borealis

Othol' Decapoda

Ellphausiacea

Mcganyctlphancs

Ilorvegica

Ot~Euphausiacea

Other Crustacea

~IOLLllSCA

PISCES

Argentina sUus

Clu~ harenglls

Other Cltipeidae

~Ierluccius biliriearis

Urophyci~. £huss

LJrop.l1ycis tcnulS

Other Gadi~

Scomber scolilbrus

·Sellastes--marillus

rscudopIcuronect os

amcricanus

Other r i sees

~IISCEJ,LANEOllS

Stomach cOlll('nt-;'-------=::-=:===:I~~~=;:::;:::;::====:::=::=J]~==::=====

Numher of stomachs

eX'Hlli ncd

NlIDlher of' empty

stomachs

Mean sl:omach content

wei ght(g)

~IC;lJl length (em)

45 1{)3 79 87 70 56 56 59

'6 " 33 J8 12 15 " 18

• 1~.91l4 10.346 11.365 48.617 32.301 9.268 16.471 11.909

1,9 " 1,8 S! r,2 " tl/j s;

.~~~~-_._--~--- ._----_._-_._._----- ---~_._-_.
Table 26. l'ercclltage weight of the total stom,ich contents of major stomach contcnt ciltegorics of DCC;1ll pout (~lacrozoarccs ,illlerlcanus)

s;lloplcJ during the spring and ;iutumn in the Northwcst Atlantic for each year from 1!)73 through 1976-.------ -----

1973 1974 1975 1976

Stomach Contents Spdng AutlDlln Spring Autlunn . Spring_ AutlUllll Spring Autumn

I'OL.YCIIAETA 2.23 1. 16 0.03 1. 81

Aphroditidac 1. 98 LOS

OtherPolychacta 0.25 0.11 0.03 J. 81

CRUSTACEA 2.97 60.06 9.89 34.34 5.58 24.56 8.92 J5.87

Amphipoda 1.20 3.40 1.44 6.22 8.03

Aybl is serrata 0.65 1.65

Coroph i idae -- 0.04 0.20 0.22 2.62 7.07

Other Amphlpoda 1.16 3.20 0.57 1.95 0.96

Lkcapoda I. 76 6.16 34.34 3.89 24.56 2.63 7.68

Cancer irroratus 1.55 0.66 1.45 24.56 0.39

Other Cancridae 0.27 1.09 0.48 0.68 2. ·17

Other I)ecapoda 1.'19 3.52 33.68 1. 96 1.56 5.2 J

Othcr Crustacea 0.01 60.06 0.33 0.25 0.07 0.16

MOLLUSCA 0.53 1.91 5.56 0.07 33.80 10.75

I'lacopectcn 'po 33.80 10.70

Other Moll Llsca 0.53 1. 91 5.56 0.07 0.05

ECllJNOflERMATA 94.05 82.01 58.90 91.40 14.64 74.34 37.73

Echinoidea 81.53 79.98 91.35 72.93

Echinanlchinus pama 75.64 1B. 75 86.09 14.64 72.30

Other Echinoidea 5.89 61.23 5.26 0.63

Ophiuroidca 7.59 I. 92 117.84 0.fJ3 0,08 0.05

EUl'yale sp. 3.92

Ophiopho1 is aculcata 3.66 47.84 0.07

Other Ophiuroidca D.fli 0.03 0.01 0.05

Othcr .L:chinodcl1nata 4.93 0.11 11.06 0.02 1. 33 37.68

/>11 SO: Ll,ANfiOUS 0.18 36.54 0.60 2.84 25.97 I. 94 32.01

SAND ANI) ROCK 0.04 3.110 4.43 1.20 0.08 1. 03 2.24 14.39

._-------_. -_._----- _._----

Nlmlbcr of stomachs

cX:Dnined B3 " 115 7 72 102 32

Nwubcr of empty

stomachs 24 17 33 6 3 38 12

"'cmi stomach contcnt

wci ght (g) 7.660 0.("'8 4.416 t. 3h2 1].939 0.1187 3.878 1l.114

t·lpan length (Clll) 52 "]] Idl '" 61 " 511 1,0

.-,-_._-----------._._-,- .~._-~----.'--~--'-----~-------~-'---~---"---"-'
·--..--_._-..• ._------..- --_..._-_.

Trible 27. Percentage \~cight of thetotnlstol1lach contents of majol' stomachC'.ontent categories iJf scup (Sl:cnotoril1ls<:!!.!2'~~)Jl:<;) samrled

dllring the :-;prillg uTIli ,llltumn in the NOrthwest Atlalltic for each year from 1973 through tll](,. -_._-~-_..

0.16

13.54

21.81 3.05 0.2<1

4.58 22.74 13.11 0.07

l. 16 9.51

11. 47 3.69

19.17 2.44 4.42 8.10 21.0U

4.95 3.34 34.70 5.90 6.39

2.68 0.68 0.49 2.36 3.27

0.49 0.83

0.32

0.15 2.58

0.37

2.68 0.68 0.69 0.69

2.17 0.17

2.27 2.66 34.21 1.37 2.95

33.60 13.93 1. 23

0.47 0.45

0.14 0.32

0.14

13.32

33.60 0.,16

5.39

0.35

5.97 36.96 6n.88 22.21 60.42

0.10 5.20

l:OELENTERATA

r:ed allt hi dea

An thozoa

NE~'lERTEA

rOISCIL<\ETi\

M~IJnniJae

opheJiidae

Seal ibregmidae

A/llphal'ctidae

Sitbel1 idae

GJyceridac

Ll.unbrineridae

Nephty ilIac

Slgalionidae

Other Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Brbl is ~rrata

cnpre 1I1dae

Unciola i1'1'01'ata

Gamm:liTJae

i.crtocheirus plnguls

Other Amphipotla

DCCa!lOda

~lysidllcea

Other Crustacea

HOI.I.U5CA

Pclccypoda

Gastropoda

AcacIa sp.

OthcrGast ropoda

Cephalopoda

Other ~1011usca

Eel I1NO(J[HMATA

PISCES

~IISCEl.I.ANEOlJS

S,\NlI ,\NlJ IlOCK

31.73

23.75

31. 7.~

59.70

0.08

4.42

0.10

5.31

52.10

n.l0

0.94

21.37

0.06

2.08

2.08

U.21

26.91

tl.38

0.67

n.47

0.92

1.12

0.81

2.24

0.18

20.12

38.98

IS. Ifl

3.73

0.18

1.10

7.38

2.31

0.48

14.55

3.10

6.15

IlL 71

2.60

14.12

I. 99

0.10

n.85

10.35

I. HI

6.93

3.91

3.02

39.80

1.60

0.02

22.48

0.03

0.10

4.17

0.06

0.30

11.04

4.68

3.13

0.27

0.21

0.60

1. 23

U.82

1.55

6.23

5.36

0.82

0.05

1. 98

30.78

9.60

0.15

33.82

1.77

1. 15

3.77

0.64

4.63

2. ClO

2.,18

0.06

HI. 72

16.29

1 l. 20

0.01

1.3(}

3.60

1.04

4.00

1.19

1. 48

U.S3

3.08

J 0.16

2.72

2.67

n.o5

5.95

1.49

0.58

7.07

31.93

Nl~llh('r of t;tomachs

examined ·1'1- 30 2n 91 59

Numher of empty

stomachs ", 'I 7 18

r·le;lJl stomach content "

weighL(g) 0,062 O.301!; O.O:'i1 n.28'1 (I. 0:)1

»1(';111 1('11)'.111 ( <'In) 21 ,C, ,C, II, I"

...........- "

16.7 120 191

7:~ 52 73

n.ll!)9 O.I'1ll n.221

11 :'11 II,
T11blo 21L Percentage I~eight of the totHI :;tolRach cOlltents of major stomach contcnt c:ltegorics of hlltlcrfish (I'cprilus .!.!.iacalltl~)

samplcll during the spring and <Iut.umn in t.he Northwest AtL\nt.ic for cHch year fl'om1973 through 1976.

~~~~~~~====:==~~:t~[~9~7~3=3i~~===~~~==19=7=45~~~===i~~1'l75

Sttimach Contents Spring Auttulln Spring Auuunn Spring i\utLUllll

1976

3.llS

85.68

13.28 0.12

85.56

IB.76

11. 15 78.M

70.57 4.8-1 32.04

7(1.57

4.84

29~·06 66.85 40.73 19.41

61 t-!O 35 [68

25 30 19 51

lJ. 098 0. (JtI4 0.153 0.ll';l5

21 I::' 15 ,,'

CllELENTIlRATA

tlyd l'l}ZUH

Other Coclontorilla

CTENOPIIORA

NI:~IERTEA

POJ,YCIIAETA

Glyceridae

Gonhldidac

Lumhrineridac

l'omopteriJac

helgoland ica

Other1'olllopteridae

Other Polychaeta

CRUSTACEA

funphipoda

j'arathemisto sp.

Other Amphipoda

Docapoda

Axiidae

Other Dccapoda

Copepoda

Other Crustacea

~IOI.I,lJSCA

Loligo sp.

Other Mollusca

TIIALIACEA

I.a rvaCC:l

Ilomimyaria

Other Tim I i1lcca

M[SCEf,I,ANEOIJS

Numhcr of stomachs

examined

NlunlJer of empty

stomachs

~Ic~nl stomach cont cnt

wei gilt (g)

~I('all IGlIgth (em)

0.35

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.25

14.15

14.15

J1.25

9.:'1

0.33

1.61

2.91 59.27

0.22' 59.27

59.27

0.22

0.27

0.27

2.42

17.11

29.45

24.51

4.94

1. 99

0.37

0.37

0.31

0.31

0.04

1.27

0.12

0.10

0.02

3.05

51

"

0.228

I!\

0.10

3.07

0.23

0.23

18.06

I. 23

0.25

0.98

16.67

16.38

0.29

0.16

161

B7

20.24

2ll.24

1.98

28.03

2.04

11. 24

H.75

9.27

0.97

0.78

0.19

7.51

0.79

0,1l8

0.08

8.97

8.9S

0.02

31.43

201

62

f), 157

2fl

0.30

0.25

ll.OS

3.31

1.2'!

0.83

0.41

0.01

ll.OI

0.83

1. 23

25.84

25.84

0.48

7n.07

265

3]

O. L09

1·1
Table 29. Percentage weight of the total stomach contents of major stomach content i.~ategoriesof redfish (Sehastes m<lL'illllS)

:;amplod dudng thc:;pring :Jnll autumn in the Northwest Atlantic fOJ' each yeil)' frolll 1973 through 197(,.

Stomilch Coutcnts 1973 1974 1975 1976

SPl';"ing Aut®lll Spring AutlDllll Spring Aut~lInll Spring AutlUnn

CRl/STACEA 96.97 95.22 29.15 92.32 9L .55 96."18 96.02 72.43

nccapoda 15.06 25.75 22.39 60.32 1 t .60 51. 78 18.05 61.24

Dichelopandalus

leptaccras 1.38 12.58 9.56 2.92 tJ .09 61. 24

Panda Ius

borealis 4.33

OthOr I'andalidae 1.62 6.36 0.65

Pasiphaea

mul t idcntata 20.30 9.73 37.30 2.24 23.10

Other Pasiphaeidae 27.29

Other Decapoda 12.06 1.12 O.OB 13.46 O.OB 0.74 6.96

Buphausiacea 70.25 67.26 3.97 31.62 78.36 42.82 62.10 1.07

Mcganyct iphanes

norvcgica 59.04 67.26 3.97 31.62 70.07 42.82 59.92 1.07

Other Euphausiacea 11. 21 8.29 2.18

Other Crustacea 11.66 2.21 2.79 0.38 loS9 2.18 15.87 10.12

PISCES 2.90 4.66 70.70 6.46 7.52 (J.S3 2.37 7.52

Morillcdus bilinearis 31.52

f>lyoxocephalus

~.todccemspinosa 16.53

Other Pisces 2.90 4.66 22.65 6.46 7.52 0.83 2.37 7.52

jl.11SCELLANEOUS 0.13 n.12 0.15 1.22 0.93 2.39 l. 61 20.05

Nwnber of stomachs examined 55 114 53 49 55 53 58 46

Ntllnber of empty stomachs 25 58 35 22 18 19 26 39

Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.407 0.901 0.493 0.964 2.269 t. 115 0.486 0.141

Meao·le.ngtll (cm) 30 11 JJ 32 20 35 J2 28

~---~

-------------~_._. __ ._----~
'fahle :W. Percentage \~eight of the tot:11 stom:it:h COllt{llIts of major stomach content cntegories of longhorn sculpin (~!,tl?!..l?.~'p.!.!£!!l~ l2£tollcdllls.p_~~!£su~j

s,llnplcd during the spring ,lnd :mtllmll in the Northwest Atlantic for each YC:lr from 1973 through 1!)7(,.

Stomach Contents

POJ,YCIIAETA

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Unciola irrorata

Gammaridae

Anonyx 1 i I j eborgi

Other Lrsianassidae

I.eptochcirus pinguis

Other Amphipoaa

Decapoda

Axius serratus

Cancer1lOrca ITs

Cancer irroratus

oihcr-Cancridae

Crangon ~~temspinosa

!~~

lIyascoarctatus

Pugur~Ianus

Pagurus sp.

Other Paguridae

niche lopandalus

~toce-rus

Other Panda I idae

Other lJecapoda

Jsopodu

Mysitlacea

Neomysi ~icana

Othor Crustacea

PISCES

Hajidae

Pb,ces eggs

Othel' 11i.sccs

MlSCEI,I,ANEOtiS

SAN]) ANn IlOCK

1973 1974 1975 1976 --~---_._-

Spring Autumn Spring Autumn . Spring AutUllIll Spring Autumn _._---~-

---------

0.23 0.27 0.50 8.87 0.75 3.13

86.80 88.27 95.33 74.02 85.05 81.61 87.37 90.41

10.80 1.26 2.09 0.24 .1. 03 5.48 "15.94 0.40

7.04 0.50 0.04 0.32 0.36 2.30 0.19

0.29 0.04 0.60 0.95 0.60 3.29 0.07

1.44

0.17 0.13 0.22

2.98 1.01 0.27 0.11 0.41 3.52 1.13 0.07

0.49 0.04 0.59 0.09 0.69 1.00 9.22 0.07

71.87 85.67 79.80 71.87 64.31 75.68 62.77 88.08

1.35 0.01 0.13

3.88 4.55 9.82 27.28

12.91 2.30 23.96 40.63 9.22 15.47 67.30

1.81 '16.48 0.06 1.68 0.77 1. 39 0.2,1

5.47 18.84 13.60 2.55 3.15 1.46 6.89 5.26

3.34 0.26

19.03 0.12 2.29 0.,19 15.97 3.39

7.10 1.43 0.07 6.65 4.14

0.77 5.58 17.65 0.43 0.79 0.03 0.04 0.11

0.42 1. 32 5.18 0.30

11. 67 6.68 7.90 49.07 9.41 10.79 5.13

1. 21 I. 91 0.31 11.62 0.05

7.60 3.76 8.74 7.71 3.49 9.26 12.96 5.42

0.06 0.15 0.09 0.38 0.96 0.22 1.06 0.01

0.41 13.21 ] 3.85 1.49

0.41 13.2J 13.85 1.49

3.66 1. 19 0.14 1.53 J.90 0.23 6.11 I. 92

5.61 7.49 2.00 11.41 7.97 0.99 7.66 2.88

'1.64

3.81

5;61 7.49 2.00 11. ,11 4.16 0.99 3.02 2.88

6.67 4.10 2.13 7.83 3.88 7.97 2.59 3.20

0.69 0.14 0.27 6.74 Z.IlO 0.56 1.63 0.38

Nllmhcrof stomachs

examj ned

NWllber of empty

stOlllilChs

~lcall storimch contclIt

weight{g)

~Il';ln lellglh (elll)

50

0.672

26

73

23

0.421

23

104 71 142 106 106 f>1

H 31 17 411 15 14

0.597 0.569 1.405 0.135 0.680 1.305

16 12 17 Jr, 21 2'1

----.--.--.-.-'-_.._.- -----------------~--~---_.-
Tahle31. Percentage \~cight of the total:;tomnchcontents of major stom,lch content categories of f(JlJr~pot flollnder (!'..~~..r2!.!.ich~hys ~l£!!.g~l SHlllplcll

during the spdllg ;lF1d autulIlll in the Nortll\~cst Atlantic for each year from 1973 t.hrough J976.

60.27 50.25

1975

Alit-luun

39.29 47.57

1.13

0.29

30.36 0.79

0.211

1976

Spring Aut.LDQn'

5.83

3.28

J3

2.95

0.228

26

48.81

18.59

7.35

13.76

10.03

2.95

2.95

22.49

15.72

58.84

8.50

5.56

30.89

30.59

0.20

3.16

0.02

0.02

3.99

5.98

16

0.403

27

51

90.01

0.05

55.91

12.54

13.81

13.80

L 70

27

0.998

29

43.59

7

46.66

J.S3

1.65

1.44

2.68

46.66

46.66

20

37.28

0.022

27

8.93

17

2.45

20.98

37.28

37.28

1973 1974

Spring AutlDlIll Spring Autllllll

6J.99 63.98 73.91 . 63.61

0.10 2.52 2.89 0.02

57.66 53.02 27.46 61.53

JO.83 1. 35

0.62 to.51 5.95 2.81

0.87 14.20 3.79 7.72

2.68

J 1.48 0.85 1I. 29 0.51

16. J 7 1.23 0.51

20.86 6.35 33.53

I. 85 3.07 7.88

7.66 8.43 2,.13 4.54

36.51

36.51

4.23 8.44 7.05 2.06

30.40 0.03 0.97 20.64

30.40 0.03 0.06 20.64

30.19

0.21 0.03 0.06 20.64

0.91

7.61 30.51 22.54 12.98

5.48 2.58 2.77

45 87 41 58

25 37 15

" 0.360 0.166 0.167 0.255

23 22 25

"

Nlllnber of stomach:;

examined

Nlunber of empty

stomachs

Mean stoll),lch content

wei gilt. (g)

Ht'flll length (em)

Stomach Contents

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Ilecnpoda

Cancer irroratus

at Ii"e"r"Cancridae

~angon scptc1nsJlinos~

Other Crnngonld<lc

MUll ida iris

Munida

Dichelopandalus

!eJltocerus

Other Pandalidae

Other [)ccapoda

Mys idacea

~911lysis alRcricam!

Other MysiJ<lcea

Other· Cl'ustacea

~IOI.I.USCI\

Cephalopoda

Rossia sp.

other Cephalopoda

Other Mollusca

I'ISC!;S

MI SeE LLANEOllS
Tilblc 32. Percentage weight of tho totaJstorn.:lch contents of major stomach cOlltont categorics of lvitch flounder (glypt.~ccJlhaltl~ CYI!()gloS.~~I_~)

sampled during the sprilig and .JUt"ullin in the Northwcgt. Atlant ie for each yeur from 1973 through 1976.

1973 1974

Stull1achh-"C~on~t~"~"~"~''- ,.;.. ~ijglJliL~~~71i>t''illiL===:fuDJ~ Spring !\!JtUIln Smnll.~====71i>t'","L=== Autumn

1975

SIlTiniL-. Alltumn

1976

~_~ .~t1tluIH!..__-,--==

0.59

0.59

82.15

4.27

0.50 0.05

2.77 1.58

2.81 0.0'1

1. 00 0.97

0.04 10.90

O. IS 5.02

2.89 24.95

3.73 1. 83

4.7~

2.42 1.56

COI:I,[NTERATA

MetriJium sp.

CCriuntharia

Anthozoa

rOLYCllAIJTA

Spiofiidac

Ma Idal1 idae

Sternaspidae

Capitellidae

Ampharetidae

Sauel1idac

Arabell idae

~!licep'ellnata

Goniadidac

Llnllbrineris :Sp.

Other Llunbrillerjdae

Ncphtyidae

.9lluphis erell1i~

Onu.£his opalina

Onuphis sp.

Other Onuphidac

IJtOO1l0 sp.

Other Phyllodoci.dllc

Otll('l' Polychacta

CHlISTM:riA

!Ullphipoda

Gammaridae

Other Amphipmla

Ellphausiacea

~Ieganyctiphanes

norvcgica

Other Crustacea

MOLLUSCA

Yoldia sp.

Other Mollusca

I;CIIINOIJEIlt>lATA

Ophiuroidea

2p~llr.~ sarsi

OthOI' Ophiuroidea

110 I0 lImro idea

~-llavCiockia scahra

Llend roc1i"T"rot:i:da

Other liOiothul'o'idca

Other I:chinodermata

ASCIllJACI:A

/<llSCEr.I.ANEOUS

SANII ANIl ROCK

3.99

,3.99

65.85

0.02

2.37

3.64

0.47

D.20

0.3J

1. 79

4.07

1.56

3.14

0.26

0.03

47.99

5.97

0.54

0.38

0.16

4.21

4.21

1. 22

0.80

0.80

19.53

t9.53

r9~ 53

0,72

2.52

0.62

79.21

4.30

0.17

0.20

4.00

6.54

1.62

2.75

4.38

1.66

1. 61

2.32

49.66

7.99

3. 78

I. 61

2.17

2.56

2.56

t.65

1. 15

1, 15

1. 65

0.29

0.29

1.3(1

1.36

I. I 3

7.91

(1.9(,

0.02

0.02

62.03

0.41

1. 2D

2.49

1. 34

0.01

2.07

11.32

2.07

3.39

1.12

5.60

4.59

8.38

0.01

18.03

3.37

1. 99

0.85

1.14

1.38

0.15

D.15

25.07

0.40

0.40

23.99

23.99

0.(18

I.!'I

7. :')6

O.(l!J

40.28

0.23

0.20

0.37

0.97

1.53

2.06

10.75

3.31

1.12

3.64

0.06

16.04

24.77

1.21

0.23

0.98

21.67

21.67

1. 89

1.55

1.19

0.36

9.96

7.21

7.2 i

2.75

2.75

3,(,1

19.59

0.2,1

19.71

17.29

2.42

56.04

2.31

0.08

0.13

2.42

0.78

2.99

0.47

0.55

0.78

34.12

J 1.4J

1.11

0.47

0.17

0.30

0.64

0.21

0.01

0.20

8.25

0.79

0.79

7. t1(1

2.90

2.85

1. 71

14. tiC>

lJ.02

0.08

0.08

55.63

0.07

0.30

4.29

l, 28

3.74

1.26

0.15

1.85

16.65

4.69

5.53

3.47

12.35

2.80

1.73

0.54

1.19

.1.07

6.27

4.79

1,48

2.28

0.16

0.16

2. I 2

1.·15

0.67

1.011

2Y.17

2.77

68. lO

42.79

2.17

1.02

0.50

0.52

0.1(1

0.16

0.99

I. 36

0.27

l.n9

18.39

18.39

18.39

9.39

35.25

1. 75

1, 42

0.24

1. 18

0.33

0.20

0.2U

1~,. 0'7

U.83

NtulllJcr nf :;t()llIac.h~

exam i rit;d

Numhel'oF Cilipty

stomac.hs

~lcan stomilch COlltCll1

wcightrg)

H".-Ill ·ll'llgtll ("ul)

150 1..12

13 "

0.633 0.:;;22

Ic"l I, 'j

1:~.) 107

In

O.3H!)

1,1

120

13

0. I;;

!11l ·15

"

0. ~·IO O. f>5(,

1,1 I,')
Table 33. l'erLcllt,lgc ,,'eight of the totdl :itom,leh cOlltcnts of major stom,leh content ~atcgorie$ of American pluicc (!..!i£r!0gl~$_~!lt~.~

pl<1te.:~'ioides) sampled dllrJng the splillg and autumn in the Northwest AtLlntlc ror e;Jch yOUl" from 197.~ through 1976.

Stomach (-~:o:,:,t~"~,,~t~,-------':::;:::::::::==~IT=:;::= 1975

S\)ring Auttull~~~==}j~'iit=1~9=76==~,-"-",;;::::: S£rlng Autumn

0.01 10.34

1. 83 S.Og 0.36 0.09 n.55 6.78 8.74 3.50

2.30 0.79 0.02 0.34 0.28 0.78

79.87 65.64 60.J3 56.49 95.42 80. JO 68.03 64.69

63.77 1.42 44.29 8.68 91,83 3.42 23.10 30. II

I'O/'YCI~\ETA

CHIJSTACEA

Uecapoda

IHehelopanda Ius

Pandalus ~~boreal is

Otil"Crllecapoda -

(;uphallsiacca

Mcganyctiphanes

norvegica

Other Euphallsiaeea

Other Crustacea

1'IO/,LUSCA

Pelceypoda

Cerastodenna

pinnu1atwlI

Other Pelccypoda

Oth<)l" Mollusca

ECIIINOIJERMATA

Echinoidea

St rongyloc('lltrotus

- drobachien~

Echillarachnius panlla

Ikhinarachnius sp.

Othel' Echinoidea

Ophiuroidea

Ophiura sarsi

Other OphiuroiJca

Other EchillodCflllata

!'llSCEI,I.ANEOUS

SANIl ANU ROCK

Number of stomachs

examined

Number of empty

stomachs

~lciln stomach content

\~cight (g)

Npan length (em)

0.86

2.29

2.02

1.85

0.17

Il.06

0.05

0.01

0.21

0.8.'3

0.55

3,21 1.42

60.42 (l.63 8.68 64.41

2S .54

0.14 43,66 1. 88

14.13 5S,93 15 ;84 47.79 3.06

IO.S6 47.48 8. 75 47.39 0.21

3.27 8.45 7,09 0.40 2.85

1. 97 8.29 0.02 0,53

4.23 1.64 1.13 4.71 0,58

1. 85 7.59 13.39 D.Og 0.02

-------

193 246 231 218 165

56 122 121 86 " 1.197 0.512 (J ,185 0.456 (l. !J03

27

" 20 27 III

4.0<1

6.08

!j.88

5.88

0.07

0.07

0.13

6.78

6.78

3.37

D.OS

72.93

n.01

0.92

3.75

2.19

n.81

158

,17

{l.(JI8

28

2.36

2.62

1. 78

0.41

I. 37

0.26

0.26

O.SS

19.59

18,81

19.75

3.35

19.73

3.02

J 6. 71

25.20

0.48

6.92

207

102

0.487

24

0.19

10.54

6.88

6.88

3.66

3.50

3.50

1. 89

28.16

0.06

26.25

2(J. 69

5.56

8,33

16.10

4.98

1(l4

(,S

0.42·1

]5
Tahle34. I'ercentnge weight of the total stolll:lchcontcnts of maJo!" stomuch conteut categories of ycllOl~t<.iil flounder (l.imrll1da

i£l"l"uginea.J sampled during the spring allli autumn in the Northwcst At lantic I'm' each )'0:11' fl'OIll 1973 through 197Cl-.---

S·~Ill:lc-h-(-:OIltC-'->t-·s-------1297[3r::;::=====:;;:==='09~7~4~~~I~~~=========Jl}9~7~5= Spring "Autlunl1 ~ri!1g '-.- Autumn Spring AutUln!~~===:;;j>!'I~~'~9~7~6=;\;i"!~ Spring AutUlnn7.71

49.69

13.01

7.21

6.48 0.75

0.74 0.06

56.30 30.22

6.13 16.50

12.96

0.10 0.21

0.4'1 0.60

0.92 0.10

2.86 0.89

2.26 1. 03

1. 83 0.14

28.80 10.7S

16.20 9.91

13.20 8.32

3.35 3.82

0.33 0.21

6.16 2.30

L88 0.67

0.78 0.89

0.70 0.'13

2.39 1. 32

1.89 0.41

0.21 0.34

0.29 0.57

0.61 0.27

0.06 1.66

0.06 1.66

5.78

2.05

3.37

1.47

0. 14

2.34

2.22

6.80

J . 35

0.27

U.14

0.34

0.08

1.51

1. 15

0.26

0.22

CI.n

3.11

3.11

56.97

7.47

4.91

0.87

12.83

13.62

9. !)9

0.55

2.76

0.23

0.07

35.29

2.63

3.26

'1.09

9.31

3.44

l.ou

2.24

0.51

0.23

0.63

0.62

0.71

0.94

0.37

0.37

18.06

13,.03

0.'16

4.18

0.40

46.27

2().37

'1.35 ------~.~,

6.99

9.64

1. 76

0.12

0.11

0.06

5.13

0.99

10.28

0.17

3.16

0.09

3.97

1.26

4.71

J. 77

1. 52

0.56

0.24

0.24

2.68

2.88

32.66

22.07

20.43

9.59

0.05

0.05

0.04

21.63

0.88

3.74

5.90

2.03

1.97

1. 09

'1.89

0.04

l. 92

O. HI

n.1O

0.16

0.16

4.85

J 9.16

0.97

13.56

4.96

0.(,0

2.00

1.33

3.89

2.84

2.30

25.62

17.65

9.83

0.12

0.12

0.86

57.10

3.49

5.42

1. 10

0.39

2.42

0.40

O.lO

5.31

2.36

2.01

22.43

2.64

2.78

I. 89

18.83

15.43

(l.47

35.42

0.42

2.57

0.36

2.22

2.22

0.88

0.37

5.55

4.19

17.71

2.26

19.45

7.16

6.59

1. 88

2.11

0.50

1.17

36.07

4l. 36

38.11

0.77

lDi:I,ENTERATA

NE~lERTEA

rOJ,YClh\ETA

,$pionphancs

bombyx

Other Spionidae

Flabel1igeridac

~1iildilnidae

Amphareti(lae

Sabel Hdae

LUinhrineridae

Ncphtyidae

Other Polychacta

CRUSTACEA

Amphipoda

Bybl j s serrata Other ----

Ampcliscidae

lInciola irrorata

Gammarid~~

Leptocheirus

pinguis

Other Amphiroda

Decapod a

Grangon

scptclilspinosa

Oi chclopanJalus

1cptocerus

Other Ilec:lpoda 1.69 1.89

Other Crustacea 1.14 1.51

:>IOLLllSCA 1.15 0.3'1

l\ivalvia 1.15 0.3,1

lJROCltORllATA 2. 99 1 • 98

Ascidiacea 2.99 1.98

l>-llSCELLANEOUS 12.06 39.65

SA~ ANI) HOCK ~_~_~~ ~~_

Number of stomachs

cxamiilc(1

Numher of empty

stomachs

Mean stolliach content

IW i ght (g)

I·lean ll'ngth (em)

121

31

0.293

27

128

63 0. OaR

]1

137

34

0.3,11

2"

120

52

0.227

20

IS2

n.751

)2

73

39

0.135

)2

164

21

0.570

'30

126

53

0.673

"12