1 7 2 AMERICAN FISHES. 



AVhen the Mackerel are trolled up from twelve or fifteen fathoms below 

 the surface their stomachs are often full of bait ; so it is certain that these 

 little animals swim at all depths. 



Another kind of food is red, and is hot to the hands. This is called 

 " Cayenne ;" and it spoils the fish. 



Years ago, according to Capt. Harding, Mackerel did not school as 

 they do now. 



When you see pollock jumping near the shore, it is a pretty good sign 

 that there is plenty of mackerel food. 



The presence of abundance of mackerel food is indicated by the great 

 schools of sea-birds, particularly by the flocks of phalaropes, or sea-geese, 

 as the fishermen call them, which congregate together, floating upon the 

 water, and when seen in summer give a sure sign of the presence of 

 Mackerel also. 



The various invertebrate animals preyed upon by Mackerel are known 

 to the fishermen by such names as "shrimp," "red-seed" and 

 " Cayenne." 



The winged pteropods very probably form an important part of the 

 mackerel food, as they sink and rise with changes of the temperature of 

 the zone or sheet of water in which they are feeding. 



Although little is actually known concerning the spawning habits of the 

 Mackerel compared with those of fish which, like the shad and the salmon, 

 have been artificially propagated, it is perhaps safe to say that the subject 

 is understood in a general way. The testimony of reliable observers 

 among the fishermen of our coast and the coast of the British Provinces 

 indicates that the spawning takes place in rather deep water along the 

 shore from the eastern end of Long Island to Eastport, Me., along the 

 coast of Nova Scotia, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The spawning 

 season occurs in May in Southern New England, in May and June in 

 Massachusetts Bay, and in June in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the 

 Bradley Banks and about the Magdalenes early in the month, and accord- 

 ing to Hind, on the northeast coast of Newfoundland toward the end of 

 the month. 



We are indebted to Capt. N. E. Atwood for the most complete series 

 of observations upon the spawning of the Mackerel which has ever been 

 made, and what he has seen he shall be allowed to tell in his own 

 words : 



