67 



MACKAREL. 



Scomber, Scombrus, Jonston. 



Willoughby; p. 181, tab. M. 4. 

 Scomber scomber, Linn.eus. Cuvier. Bloch; pi. 54. 



Donovan; pi. 120. 

 Scomhre maquereau, Lacepede. Rtsso. 



Scomber vulgaris, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 217. 



Jenyns; Manual, p. 360. 



Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 137. 



Gunther; Cat. Br. M., vol. ii, p. 357. 



« 



4< 



The Mackarel is one ot our best-known fishes, highly- 

 valued for the table, and, in consequence, an object of 

 importance to fishermen, who employ much cost and anxious 

 labour in pursuing them throughout the coasts of the British 

 Islands, and for a considerable distance into the ocean. These 

 fish occupy a wide extent of sea; for they are known along 

 the waters of the Northern States of America, as also the 

 whole of those of Europe, the southernmost point beyond 

 which they have not been met with being the Canary Islands; 

 although even a wider range than this has been assigned to 

 them by observers who had not learnt to distinguish between 

 our Common Mackarel and a kindred species. But wherever 

 found they shew themselves an ever-wandering race, which, in 

 addition to a habit of periodical movement, are led by other 

 impulses to be continually shifting their ground, and thus 

 render the pursuit after them one of the most uncertain that 

 can be imagined. Some indeed are to be found on the coasts 

 of Britain in every month of the year, and at irregular 

 intervals they have thus occasionally become abundant; but in 

 winter these are for the most part scattered individuals that 

 differ in many respects from the schools which are sought for 

 by fishermen in the early months of the year. It is in 

 January or early in February that what are called the right 



