74 MACKAREL. 



The persons engaged in this last-named method of taking 

 Mackarel are usually a different class from those engaged with 

 the sean, and it is also frequently followed by gentlemen, for 

 the sake of the excitement that attends it. The line is the 

 same which is used for ordinary fishing at sea, and it varies 

 in length from ten to twenty fathoms; but, as rapid motion is 

 required, with the boat under sail in a sufficient breeze, it 

 becomes necessary to keep it at a proper depth by means of 

 a lead, of which the best form is that of a cone or sugar- 

 loaf; and close above this is fastened an outrigger of wood, at 

 the end of which is fastened a snoozing, which bears the hook. 

 The object of this is to cause the bait to be influenced to 

 an amount of action which shall resemble a living object, for 

 the Mackarel will not readily attempt to seize that which 

 seems without life, and its pursuit of prey at all times appears 

 to be under the influence of sight rather than of taste or 

 smell. Whatever shall display a shining action in the water 

 will serve the purpose, and a slip of red leather, or portions 

 of the stem of a tobacco-pipe, are employed with success. 

 The more usual bait, however, is a slice cut from the side of 

 the Mackarel itself, near the tail, and placed on the hook in 

 such a manner as to assume the imitation of an active fish 

 by an undulating motion in its progress through the water. 

 Fishermen ' observe that they are more successful if several 

 lines are brought into action at the same time, by which 

 means, if the fish are abundant, at least one or two Avhich 

 have taken the hook shall be dragged along, and shew the 

 course in which the boat is proceeding. The supposition is 

 that the fish still at liberty are thus guided in the right 

 direction by following their fellows, which otherwise they would 

 not be found to do. Several hooks are sometimes placed in 

 succession near each other, the better to arrest a passing fish, 

 and with good success. 



Wallop Brabason, Esq., in his work on the ''Fisheries of 

 Ireland," informs us that (I suppose in the north of that 

 country) the season is from about the end of June to the latter 

 part of September; but he makes no mention of the sean for 

 catching them. With regard to the line he recommends for 

 the lower part finer twine than fishermen are accustomed to 

 employ; and with more than one hook, the hindmost, even 



