Visresten in mariene sedimenten

In many marine sediments fish remains are scarce. Only under special conditions, when predators and scavengers are absent, fish remains may abound. Accumulation of the most durable fish remains (otoliths, teeth) may also occur on resting places of predators. A bottom sample relatively rich in such fish remains, described by Gaemers (1977) from the northern North Sea is here tentatively interpreted as such a resting place accumulation, This may explain the absence of otoliths of some pelagic species: they were not eaten by the predator, The absence of otoliths of juvenile bottom fishes, mostly gadoids, is explained here by the distribution pattern shown by many gadoids and other bottom fishes: juveniles live first pelagicly, later in shallower water than the adults. Gaemers’ sample was a deep water sample.