1865.] JONES — NOVA-SCOTIAN FISHES. 131 



Scomber scomber Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, ed. 2, i, p. 137. 



" Owen, Osleol. Cat., i, p. 61. 



" " Gunth., Cat. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 357. 



As with the common herring of this coast, I have every reason 

 to believe that this fish is identical with the European species, and 

 must adhere to such opinion until satisfactory evidence is shown 

 to prove the contrary. Gunther in his catalogue even includes 

 JS. grex under the same head ; but as I have not had an opportunity 

 of examining one of this latter species, I am unable to speak as to 

 the similarity which exists between them. The shores, harbors, 

 and inlets of this province, particularly on the eastern and north- 

 ern coasts, are annually visited by vast multitudes of the common 

 mackarel, some of which are smaller and others larger than the 

 medium-sized individuals. They are classed by merchants and 

 fishermen as of three kinds: — No. 1, the largest and fattest; No. 2, 

 the medium sized ; and No. 3, the smallest. The habits of the 

 mackarel are very capricious : some seasons it visits us in such 

 vast abundance that the waters literally swarm with them ; while 

 in others, loud complaints are heard of their scarcity. Many are 

 the reasons given to account for this singular habit; but no satis- 

 factory conclusion can be reached until accurate observers on differ- 

 ent parts of the coast take cognizance of the abundance or scarcity 

 of their usual food during the time of their visit, and also of the 

 temperature of the water, whether influenced by the warm current 

 of the Gulf stream, or the colder waters of the Arctic current. 

 Much remains for the investigation of the naturalist ere a true 

 solution can be given to the mystery which hangs around the peri- 

 odical appearance of marine fishes on our shores ; and it must ever 

 be a source of regret that some of our better-educated fishermen 

 do not put their knowledge of the habits of fish to advantage by 

 communicating any facts which would tend to throw light upon so 

 interesting a subject. 



From the middle of September to the end of October, appears to 

 be the season of the best mackarel-fishing on our eastern coast, the 

 larger kind being generally more abundant towards the close of 

 the latter month. About the middle of June the spawn is generally 

 ripe for depositing. Along the coast it is said that mackarel prove 

 poisonous to pigs, but I have no facts to verify such an assertion. 

 This fish is also supposed to be free from disease of any kind. 

 Some years ago a fisherman at Prospect near Halifax was spearing 

 for eels in mid-winter through the ice near shore, in the sandy mud ? 



