CHAP, vii.] THE MACKEREL-FISHERY. 



Mayhew is 97,520,000 ! This is not in the least exaggerated. 

 I discussed these figures with a Billingsgate salesman a few 

 months ago, and he thinks them quite within the mark. 



I have already alluded to the natural history of the 

 mackerel, and shall now say a word or two about the fishery, 

 which is keenly prosecuted. The great point in mackerel- 

 fishing is to get the fish into the market in its freshest state ; 

 and to achieve this several boats will join in the fishery, and 

 one of their number will come into harbour as speedily as 

 possible with the united take. The mackerel is caught in 

 England chiefly by means of the seine-net, and much in the 

 same way as the pilchard. A great number of this fish are 

 however captured by means of well-baited lines, and in some 

 places a drift-net is used. Any kind of bait almost will do 

 for the mackerel-hooks a bit of red cloth, a slice of one of 

 its own kind, or any clear shiny substance. Mackerel are not 

 quite so plentiful as they used to be. 



As to when the Gadidse and other white fish are in their 

 proper season it is difficult to say. Their times of sickness 

 are not so marked as to prevent many of the varieties from 

 being used all the year round. Different countries must have 

 different seasons. We know, for instance, that it is proper to 

 have the close-time of one salmon river at a different date 

 from that of some other stream that may be farther south or 

 farther north ; and I may state here, that during a visit 

 which I made to the Tay in December last, beautiful clean 

 salmon were then running. There are also exceptional spawn- 

 ing seasons in the case of individual fish, so that we are quite 

 safe in affirming that the sole and turbot are in season all 

 the year round. The following tabular view of the dates when 

 our principal fishes are in season does not refer to any parti- 

 cular locality, but has been compiled to show that fish are to 

 l>e obtained nearly all the year round from some part of the 

 coast :- 



