EXCITING SPORT. 247 



but is weighed down by a heavy plummet, and in this 

 manner, when these fish abound, two men will take 

 from five hundred to a thousand in a day. It is sin- 

 gular that the greatest number of mackerel are caught 

 when the boat moves most rapidly, and that even then 

 the hook is commonly gorged. It seems that the 

 mackerel takes its food by striking across the course 

 of what it supposes to be its flying prey. A gloomy 

 atmosphere materially aids this kind of fishing for 

 mackerel. 



This mode of fishing has been described in glowing 

 terms by the author of " Wild Sports of the West " 

 (of Ireland), thus : " It was evident that the bay was 

 full of mackerel. In every direction, and as far as the 

 eye could range, gulls and puffins were collected ; and } 

 to judge by their activity and clamour, there appeared 

 ample employment for them among the fry beneath. 

 We immediately bore away for the place where these 

 birds were numerously congregated, and the lines were 

 scarcely overboard when we found ourselves in the 

 centre of a shoal of mackerel. For two hours we 

 killed these beautiful fish, as fast as the baits could be 

 renewed and the lines hauled in ; and when we left 

 off fishing, actually wearied with sport, we found that 

 we had taken above five hundred, including a number 

 of the coarser species, called Horse Mackerel. There 

 is not on sea or river, always excepting angling for 

 salmon, any sport comparable to this delightful 

 amusement ; full of life and bustle, everything about 

 it is animated and exhilarating ; a brisk breeze, and 

 fair sky, the boat in quick and constant motion, all is 



