Spurdogs in British waters have the reputation of feeding almost exclusively on herring, although there are no published data to support this. The stomach contents of 1,080 spurdogs were examined: sandeels were found to be the commonest prey species; herring were found in only 11.5% of the stomachs containing food. Comparison of the results with those obtained by other workers showed them to be similar. It is concluded that the spurdog is an indiscriminate feeder. Of the stomachs examined 69·1 % were empty; the reasons for this are discussed and it is concluded that this is a result of intermittent feeding rather than of vomiting upon capture, behavioural changes related to the fullness of the stomach, or rapid digestion. Using maintenance and conversion rates obtained by other workers the food intake of the Scottish-Norwegian stock of spurdogs is estimated at 227,000 tons a year. From observations made by other workers, firstly on the assimilation of fat and its effect on the fat depots of the fish consuming it and secondly upon the distribution of the spurdog fisheries, it is concluded that there is no evidence that herring form the main food item of spurdogs or that the migrations of the latter species are dependent upon those of the former.