474 THE COMMON MACKEREL. 



specimen of this remarkable fish, which greatly resemblos 

 the Brama Rayi, was captured in the vicinity of Hanimer- 

 fest (situated not far from the North Cape), in 1832, and 

 brought down from thence by a sea captain. It is now 

 preserved in the Stockholm Museum. 



The Common Mackerel (Makrlll, Sw. ; 3Iukrel, Norw. 

 and Dan. ; Scomber Scoinbrm, Linn.) is very plentiful 

 during summer in the Bohus Skargard, as also on the 

 western coasts of both Sweden and Norway. Kroyer tells 

 us that lat. 64° mav be considered its northern limits, but 

 M. Loven seems to have met with stray specimens much 

 farther north. It is also found, tliough it would appear 

 only occasionally, in tlie Baltic, but never so high, I believe, 

 as the Gulf of Bothnia. Its usual length is from twelve to 

 fifteen inches, but it has been known to reach even two 

 feet. It is somewhat migratory in its habits. So:ne 

 surmise its proper home to be the Atlantic, and others 

 the Arctic seas, but the learned in Denmark and Sweden 

 are inclined to believe that its wanderings do not extend 

 farther than from the deeps of the North Sea, where it 

 winters, to the neighbouring coast, where it spawns. 

 Be this as it may, their first appearance in the spring 

 (usually the early part of May; is off the coast of Nor- 

 Avay, and a few days afterwards they reach the Cattegat. 

 The smaller shoals are said to be the first to enter the 

 Skargard, and the larger follow at an after-period. 

 "During these their migrations," says Ekstrom, "they 

 always swim near the surface, and in jDreference shape 

 their course where the current is strongest, and always 

 against the wind, especially if blowing hard. The ap- 

 proach of the shoal is observable from a considerable 

 distance, owing to the water being in a state of turmoil. 

 TLe fisherman furthermore say, that in the night-time, 

 especially if very dark, the bodies of these fish give forth 

 a sort of phosphorescent light, which may be seen from 



