204 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MACKEREL FAMILY. 



no means uncommon. A leak is sometimes sprung ; 

 but this can happen only in very weak and crazy 

 vessels. 



The capture of the fish itself, as practised from 

 time immemorial in the Mediterranean, is also an 

 exciting occupation. It is like whale-fishing in 

 miniature. A watchman, on the summit of a neigh- 

 bouring rock, gives warning by signal when he 

 observes a fish approaching ; a seaman then ascends 

 the mast-head, to guide his fellows, who now row 

 under his direction, to reach it. They are so skilful, 

 that generally from a great distance they strike their 

 victim at the first blow with the harpoon, having a 

 long cord attached. An arduous struggle now com- 

 mences, during which the boat is often pulled about 

 for many hours ere the capture is completed. 



We have already stated that there is but one 

 dorsal fin in this species, extending nearly from the 

 summit of the head to the root of the tail. This is 

 very evident in young specimens : when, however, 

 they become aged, such is the effect of the friction 

 to which they are necessarily exposed, that the fin 

 wears away in the middle, and the appearance of 

 a double dorsal is left behind. This circumstance 

 has erroneously led to the proposal of a second spe- 

 cies. The edges of the sword are cutting, and finely 

 denticulated ; the lower jaw is also pointed, extend- 

 ing to where the upper surface of the sword be- 

 comes horizontal ; there are no teeth in either 'jaw, 

 but fine teeth in the gullet like shorn velvet. The 

 colour of the upper parts of the body is a dusky 



