126 



SCOMBERID.E. 



brought on shore ten thousand eight hundred Mackerel ; 

 and the next day, two boats brought seven thousand fish. 

 Early in the month of February 1834, one boat's crew from 

 Hastings cleared 100/. by the fish caught in one night ; 

 and a large quantity of very fine Mackerel appeared in the 

 London market in the second week of the same month. 

 They were cried through the streets of London three for a 

 shilling on the 14th and 22nd of March 1834, and had 

 then been plentiful for a month. The boats engaged in 

 fishing are usually attended by other fast-sailing vessels, 

 which are sent away with the fish taken. From some situa- 

 tions, these vessels sail away direct for the London market ; 

 at others, they make for the nearest point from which they 

 can obtain land-carriage for their fish. From Hastings 

 and other fishing-towns on the Sussex coast the fish are 

 brought to London by vans, which travel up during the 

 night. 



The most common mode of fishing for Mackerel, and the 

 way in which the greatest numbers are taken, is by drift- 

 nets. The drift-net is twenty feet deep, by one hundred 

 and tAventy feet long ; well corked at the top, but without 

 lead at the bottom. They are made of small fine twine, 

 which is tanned of a reddish brown colour, to preserve it 

 from the action of the sea-Avater ; and it is thereby rendered 

 much more durable. The size of the mesh about two 

 and a half inches, or rather larger. Twelve, fifteen, and 

 sometimes eighteen of these nets are attached lengthways, 

 by tying along a thick rope, called the drift-rope, and at 

 the ends of each net, to each other. When arranged for 

 depositing in the sea, a large buoy attached to the end of 

 the drift rope is thrown overboard, the vessel is put before 

 the wind, and, as she sails along, the rope with the nets 

 thus attached is passed over the stern into tlic water till 



