FOOD-HABITS OF THE SANDBAR SHARK CARCHARHINUS-PLUMBEUS OFF THE UNITED-STATES NORTHEAST COAST, WITH ESTIMATES OF DAILY RATION

Food habits data from 415 sandbar sharks collected in the area between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank (Great South Channel) were examined. M ean fork length (FL) and body weight (BW) were 55.0 cm and 1.72 kg for pups, 123.0 cm and 23.0 kg for juveniles, and 166.0 cm and 52.3 kg fo r adults. Of all juvenile and adult stomachs, 49% contained prey, prim arily fish (teleosts and skates). Of stomachs from pups, 80% held food remains consisting almost exclusively of soft blue crabs. The mean pe rcentage of stomach content volume to BW is 1.16 for pups, and 0.42 fo r juveniles and adults. Daily ration estimates as percentage of mean B W are 1.43 for pups, and 0.86 for juveniles and adults. Annual food co nsumption is estimated to be 5.1 times the mean BW for pups, and 3.1 t imes for juveniles and adults.