only, namely, a faint continuous blue light on the belly. Mechanical
only, namely, a faint continuous blue light on the belly. Mechanical stimulation, however, caused a wave of luminescence to spread rapidly from
the point stimulated to other parts of the body bearing luminous organs,
the contour of the fish being outlined with light after a comparatively
The simple organs, which consist of gland cells only, and which are
found thickly strewn in the dermis of the back and belly, only show a
short luminescence immediately after stimulation, and the same applies
to the complex, flask-shaped organs, equipped with lens and reflector,
found near the eyes and in two rows near the ventral line of the belly.
The latter, however, remain luminescent somewhat longer, though even
then for a few seconds only. The continuous light on the belly is unaffected
by stimulation, and SKOWRON considers it probably due to the cup-shaped
organs which occur in groups of four or five on the mid-line of the belly.
As the fish becomes moribund, the continuous light is the first to
disappear. The other organs can still be made to respond to powerful
stimuli, the organs on the lower jaw and at the base of the tail retaining
this faculty longest. The organs of a dead specimen cannot be made to
luminesce, even when removed from the fish and triturated in suitable
Luminescence in fishes (apart from those whose luminescence is due
to symbiotic bacteria, and those, such as Macrurids, which have open,
slime-secreting glands) is of two types, namely, continuous, and intermittent. In Chauliodus, both types are found, the continuous light, independent of stimulation, from the cup-shaped organs on the belly, the
intermittent light from all the other luminous organs, on stimulation.
Dr. SKOWRON considers that the continuous light is not due to loss of
control, due to approaching death, but may be either a response to a
rhythmic stimulus, or a long-continued response to an earlier stimulation.
As to the means of control of luminescence, Dr. SKOWRON considers
that it is due neither to hormones (as appears to be the case in Porichthys)
nor to the varying supply of oxygen brought to the glands. He found that
section of the spine instantly and irreversibly extinguished luminescence;
and, remembering the slightness of the stimulus required, the spread of
the response from the point of stimulus to other organs all over the body,
and the short duration of response, he infers that control is due directly
to the nervous system, notwithstanding BRAUER'S failure to find many
nerves supplying these organs.
Dr. SKOWRON'S paper is interesting and important, but it leaves us
as far as ever from an understanding of the purpose of these enigmatic,
though widely-spread, and often highly complex, organs.
C. F. H.
K. STRUVE und W. KAIRIES. Die chemische Zusammensetzung einiger als
Fischnahrung wichtiger wirbelloser Bodentiere der Nordsee. Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen. N. F., Band XVII, Abt. Helgoland, Heft 2, Abh. 6. Kiel, 1930.
A logical sequel to a study of the nature of the food of fishes is an
examination of the food value of that food. In this paper, the results of
chemical analyses of the following animals, which are used as food by
fish, are given: Nucula nucleus, Venus ovata, Tellina ballica, Ophiura
albida, Echinocyamus pusillus, Orchestia Httorea, Podocerus falcatus and
Nerine fuliginosa. The material after measurement was cleaned, weighed
and dried at 105° to constant weight. Elementary analyses for C, H, and
N were made and the quantity and composition of the ash found. Fat
was determined by the Soxhlet extraction method and in certain cases
analyses were made for calcium and chitin. From the analyses the quantity
of protein, fat and carbohydrate, which are most important as food, can
be calculated. These are recorded as percentages of the fresh material so
that with either known numbers and sizes, or better, known weight, the
quantity of the different nutritive substances can be calculated.
The work is necessarily of a preliminary nature for it is most probable
that there will be important seasonal changes in the composition of the
different animals, affecting their food values. In addition, the work should
form a background to a study of the availability of the nutritive substances
for fish. So far, enough information is not available to enable us to compare
the different fish foods from the point of view of nutrition with safety,
but with an extension of the work,.this should become possible.
A. P. O.
A. WILLER. Untersuchungen iiber das Wachstum bei Fischen. II, III, IV.
Weitere Untersuchungen iiber den Einfluss ausserer Faktoren auf
das "Wachstum der Bachforellenbrut. Zeit. f. Fischerei. Bd. 26,
S. 565—606. Berlin, 1928.
The eggs of the trout are normally incubated in water rich in oxygen
and in the absence of light. The author shows that a diminution in the
pressure of oxygen equivalent to about one third of its normal value
markedly delays the rate of development and is liable to produce high
mortality. If the amount of oxygen per litre of water falls to 1.7 c.c, the
larvae die within the first month after hatching. When eggs are incubated
in an oxygen-rich water and exposed to light, the effects on development
are similar to those produced by a diminished oxygen supply, although
the effect of light is more obvious during the early stages of development
than during the later stages. The effects of diminished oxygen and of
light are additive.
It seems to us that, since growing fish do not appear to use more oxygen
per gram per hour than fish which are not growing, the effect of oxygen
lack on the growth rate must be of a secondary nature and be dependent
on a general disturbance of metabolic activity. It would be of interest to
know how far the rate of development of the eggs is dependent on the
amount of oxygen available for absorption from the environment.
A. WILLER, W. QUEDNAU und A. KELLER.
Untersuchungen iiber das
Wachstum von Fischen. V. Untersuchungen iiber den Einfluss des
Alters der Elterntiere auf das Wachstum der Bachforellenbrut. Zeit.
f. Fischerei. Bd. 38, S. 167—188. Berlin, 1930.
The absolute size of the offspring from the eggs of a female trout is
independent of the age of the male fish from which the spermatozoa are