192 ACANTHOPTEllYGII. MACKEREL FAMILY. 



month. They were cried through the streets of 

 London on the 14th and 22d of ]\Iarch,; 1834, and 

 had then been plentiful for a month. 



There are three different modes of catching 

 Mackerel, — by drift-nets in deepish water, by the 

 seine-net, sometimes in deep water and sometimes 

 near the shore, and thirdly, sometimes by the hook, 

 trailing the line near the surface. This last mode 

 of fishing has been well described in the " Wild 

 Sports of the West" of Ireland. " It was evidem 

 that the Bay was full of Mackerel. In every direc- 

 tion, and as far as the eye could range, gulls and 

 puffins were collected; and to judge by their activity 

 and clamour, there appeared ample enjoyment for 

 them among the fry beneath. We immediately bore 

 away for the place where these birds were most 

 numerously congregated; and the lines w^ere scarcely 

 overboard, when w^e found ourselves in the centre of 

 a shoal of Mackerel. The hooker, however, had 

 too much way; we lowered the foresail, double- 

 reefed the mainsail, and then went steadily to work. 

 Directed by the movements of the birds, we followed 

 the Mackerel, tacking or wearing the boat occasion- 

 ally, when we found that w^e had overun the shoal. 

 For two hours we killed those beautiful fish, as fast 

 as the baits could be renewed and the lines hauled 

 in ; and when we left off fishing, actually wearied 

 with sport, we found that we had taken above 

 500 lbs. There is not on sea or river, always except- 

 ing angling for Salmon, any sport comparable to this 

 delightful amusement ; full of life and bustle, every- 



