SCOMBER. 303 



weather approaches it sloughs off. The color 

 of the mackerel is altogether beautiful, and it may, 

 in this respect be considered the Adonis of the 

 sea. 



Commonly, in length, it is about ten, and from 

 that to fourteen inches. It has dark blue, trans- 

 verse stripes, from the dorsal fin, elegantly shaded 

 with a rich tinge of green. On the male, the 

 stripes are nearly straight, but on the female wa- 

 vering. Numerous black spots are noticed on the 

 sides, fading into a splendid golden green, that 

 cannot well be imitated by artists. 



THE MACKEREL. 



In the catalogue of edible fishes, this has main- 

 tained a high rank from remote antiquity. The 

 ancients manufactured from the mackerel a sauce, 

 in universal estimation, called garum, which was 

 little else than the pickle, in which they were pre- 

 served. The same article still holds an elevated 

 rank at the fashionable tables of Constantinople. 



Surely, the mackerel fishery of Massachusetts, 

 now exceedingly extensive, must be reckoned one 

 of the most important branches of business, giving 



