Class IV. M A C K R E L. 265 



becaufe it furnifhed the pretious Garum, a fort of 

 pickle that gave a high relifh to their fauces, and 

 was befides ufed medicinally. It was drawn from 

 different kinds of fifh, but that made from the 

 mackrel had the preference : the beft was made 

 at Carthagena^ vaft quantities of mackrel being 

 taken near an adjacent ifle, called from that cir- 

 cumstance, Scombraria * ; and the Garum, prepar- 

 ed by a certain company in that city, bore a high 

 price, and was diftinguifhed by the title of Garam 

 S odor urn .-f\ 



This fifh is eafily taken by a bait, but the bed 

 time is during a frefh gale of wind, which is thence 

 called a mackrel gale. 



In the fpring the eyes of mackrel are almoft cover- 

 ed with a white film -, during which period they are 

 half blind. This film grows in winter, and is cad 

 the beo;innino; of fummer. 



It is not often that it exceeds two pounds in Size 

 weight, yet we heard that there was one fold lad 

 fummer in London that weighed five and a quarter. 



The nofe is taper and fharp-pointed : the eyes Descrip. 

 large : the jaws of an equal length : the teeth fmall 3 

 but numerous. 



The form of this* fifh is very elegant. 



The body is a little compreiTed on the fides ? 

 towards the tail it grows very flender, and a little 

 angular. 



* Strabo Lib. III. 109. 

 f Plimi lib. XXXI. c. 8, 



The 



