144 SCOMBERID.E. 



is employed in keeping steady the end of the net, and warp- 

 ing it, the sooner and more surely to prevent the escape of 

 the fish. When this is effected, the seine stands like a circle 

 enclosing the captives, and the men proceed to draw it toge- 

 ther at the ends and bottom ; at the same time throwing 

 pebbles at that place where the circle closes, to prevent the 

 approach of the fish to the only place where escape is possi- 

 ble. When at last the enclosure is perfect, and the net 

 raised from the ground, the fish thus brought to the surface 

 are taken on board in flaskets. Such is the mode of pro- 

 ceeding with the seine in deep water, or at a distance from 

 shore ; but in some places it is hauled on the beach in the 

 manner of a ground-net, with less trouble and expense." 



" A third mode of fishing is with the line, and is called 

 railing (trailing). The Mackerel will bite at any bait that 

 is used to take the smaller kinds of fish ; but preference is 

 given to what resembles a living and active prey, which is 

 imitated by what is termed a lask, a long slice cut from the 

 side of one of its own kind, near the tail. It is found, also, 

 that a slip of red leather, or a piece of scarlet cloth, will com- 

 monly succeed ; and a scarlet coat has therefore been called 

 a Mackerel bait for a lady. The boat is placed under sail, 

 and a smart breeze is considered favourable ; hence termed a 

 Mackerel breeze. The line is short, but is weighed clown by 

 a heavy plummet ; and in this manner, when these fish 

 abound, two men will take from five hundred to a thousand 

 in a day. It is singular that the greatest number of Mack- 

 erel are caught when the boat moves most rapidly, and that 

 even then the hook is commonly gorged. It seems that 

 the Mackerel takes its food by striking across the course 

 of what it supposes to be its flying prey. A gloomy atmo- 

 sphere materially aids this kind of fishing for Mackerel." 



Mr. Couch adds, that " French fishing-boats from the 

 eastern ports of that country proceed early in the spring as 



