C/mh Mm krrcl 



.N3 



long arc culled "liicks" or "spikes," Ihosc 10 i I iiiclics 

 long, "(inkers." I he ( omnion Mjickerel ^rt)ws lapidly in 

 its first two years, rciicliinj^ 12 1^ inches al liu- iiid ol (he 

 second year ol lile. AKei (ha( ^rowdi is slow, and lish H 

 years old are less (han 17 niches lon^,. I he lood ol (his 

 species is mosdy small cius(aceans and lish, l)n( i( also 

 eats a wide varie(y ol o(her small ammals including, 

 microscopic forms. I(s slomach is oKen loinid packed wi(h 

 a small cins(acean, ('(tlatms, called '^'^\\'(\ leed" hy (he com- 

 mercial lishemian. 



luononiic /nifiortancc: I he ( onnnon Mackerel is an im 

 po/(anl commeicial species which Ihiclnales widely in 

 abundance Irom year (o year and over periods ol years. II 

 is an ac(ive lish and s(rikes readily a( a movin)i^ hail or 

 artificial lure; in periods ol ahnndance il is inlensively 

 fished lor hy anglers. 



Chnh Mackerel 

 Pn('nni(il(}/)/ioru\ (nli<is (imelin 



Color: .S(eel hhie above; sides silvery; belly silvery white. 

 Transverse ir/e^ular bands on iipjier pordon ol sides of 

 body but thinner and more biokcn (han in (he conunon 

 mackerel. Lower parts ol the sides covered wilh ha/.y, 

 irregular spots. 



DistrihiAlion: Occurs on both sides ol Ihe Atlantic Ocean 

 in temperate wale/s. In the western AtlantK: it is loiiiid 

 from Nova Scotia to New Jersey and sometimes to Vngmia. 

 Siic: Keaches a lengtfi ol 14 incfies. 



(ictwral I nfnnn(Uion: Like Ihe common mackerel, this 

 species fluctuates widely in abundance liom year to year 

 or over periods of years. When it is abundant, large schools 



