Food of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) on an Offshore Bank Southwest of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Abstract

In 1196 adult Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) stomachs from off the British Columbia coast euphausiids occurred in 94%; Pacific sandlance (Ammodytes hexapterus) in 26%; Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasii) and eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) each 5%; and lanternfish, young rockfish, northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and pandalid shrimp each in 3% or less. Fish, particularly herring, were of greater importance in the diet of larger hake. The extent of stomach fullness and the stage of digestion of stomach contents were similar for all sizes of hake taken in daylight tows. The presence of fresh to near-fresh organisms in only 9% of the stomachs, coupled with large numbers (52%) of empty to near-empty stomachs, indicated low feeding activity during daylight hours.