FISH AND FISHERIES. 63 



The genus Scomber is represented in Australia by two species, Scomber ausfral- 

 askv!^, Cuv. and Val., and Scomher antarctkus, Castelnau. Tlie last-named is the 

 one best known in these seas as the "mackerel." Like all, or almost all of the 

 " Scombrina," it is a gregai^ions and exceedingly predaceous fish, rejoicing in the 

 open sea and generally near the surface, and appai'ently constantly in pursuit of 

 shoals of other fishes. The instinct wliich in all fishes seems to compel them to 

 mass together and approach the shore at the season of spawning is not M'anting in 

 the mackerel, and it is probable that the occasional visits of more than usually 

 large shoals of these fishes is due to this annual movement ; at the same time their 

 frequent appearance in this liarbour at unanticipated times may be owing to the 

 appearance of shoals of other fish which they may have followed up. Be that as 

 it may, it is certain that about midsummer, annually, shoals of enormous magni- 

 tude pass near the coast, going apparently in a northerly direction, that the sea 

 has, sometimes for miles, the appearance of being almost a solid mass of them, and 

 that they also have their enemies, and are followed and devoured by shoals of 

 larger fish of their own family if not species, as well as by hosts of other jiredaceous 

 fishes, birds, and mammals. The mackerel, which appear so frequently in Port 

 Jackson, and afford such excellent holiday fishing to the citizens of Sydney, are 

 generally very young, and it is said to Ije rai'e indeed to get an adult or full-roed 

 specimen. It is a very good fish when eaten fresh, but like all the scombroid 

 fishes it dies immediately after leaving the water, and decomposes very rapidly, 

 and when eaten in that state it has been known to produce symptoms of fish- 

 poisoning ; a most unjustifiable jjreiudice has been excited against the fish in 

 consequence. — R.R.C. 



The remarks of Mr. Hill on this family are so interesting and impor- 

 tant that they will bear quoting at length : — " These are the well-known 

 fishes (mackerel) of the Colony, of which everybody knows, and every 

 fisherman has enjoyed the sport catching them, either late or early, in 

 deep water or on the surface, biting freely, or very carefully and slow. 

 Sometimes large, at others only half-groAvn, their name is legion ; and 

 they visit this harbour three or four times a year, and remain longer or 

 shorter as temptation ofTers in the shape of food, for they are very 

 voracious, and live chiefly on young prawns or shrimps, stopping a week, 

 or even a month, at each favoui'ite bay in succession, so long as the food 

 lasts. There you will see the boats congregated at dim dawn, catching 

 mackerel with a hook and line. At other times these boats will remain 

 the whole day, and during a cessation the owners will enjoy tliemselves 

 as they think best. Sometimes at night, when travelling in shoals they 

 will bite ; and if one can manage to break the school by catching a few 

 lie is sure to get many. The mackerel perform important services here 

 — first of importance is providing bait at which every fish will bite, and 

 at this alone when othei-s fail. Besides they are readily caught when 

 about, and are fit for immediate use. They also provide abundance of 

 food ; but care should be taken as to when they are caught, and under 

 what influence they have been placed since they were caught. "We have 

 no means in this Colony of catching them with a net in deep water, there- 

 fore it is not attempted, neither has this mackerel been accused of murder 

 like it is alleged of a Norwegian, and is now a matter of history. 



" A Norwegian author relates the story of a sailor belonging to a ship 

 lying in one of the harbours on the coast of Norway, who went into the 

 water to wash himself, when he was suddenly missed by his companions. 

 In the course of a few minutes he was seen on the surface with vast 

 numbers of mackerel fastened on him. The crew went in a boat to his 

 assistance, and though when they got him iip they succeeded with some 

 difficulty in removing the fishes from him, they found it was too late, 

 for the poor fellow shortly afterwards expired. 



