368 WHALING AND FISHING. 



the mackerel in the barrel also suffices to project 

 the hook (which has a little pewter run on ita 

 shank) back into the water, and the fisherman 

 immediately catches up his other line, going 

 through the same maneuver with it. So raven- 

 ously do the fish bite, that a barrel full is some- 

 limes caught in fifteen minutes by a single mttn. 



The bait used to entice them alongside, and keep 

 them there afterward, consists of a mixture of 

 clams and a little fish known by the euphonious 

 name of "porgies." The last are seined in great 

 quantities every summer in the mouth of the Con- 

 necticut river, and the adjacent waters, and are 

 used by farmers as manure for their land, as well 

 as by mackerel catchers as bait. This bait is 

 ground up fine in a mill provided on board for 

 the purpose, and is then thrown out on the water. 

 It sinks to the depth at which the fish lie, when 

 they, in their eagerness for it, follow it up until 

 they get alongside the vessel. Once alongside, 

 they bite indiscriminately at bait or naked hook. 



Life on board a "mackerel catcher" is very 

 monotonous. There is literally nothing to do. 

 One man who can steer can work the craft all day. 

 The sails are so arranged that in tacking they 

 work themselves. The hands do therefore what 

 they please. Some sleep, some read, some talk 

 over old times, and a few old fishermen sit upon 

 the quarter, hour after hour, spyglass in hand, 

 watching the fleet and wishing for fish. 



Some days we catch a few mackerel ; some days 



