m NOT AT A GIFT 173 



fish in their mouths. Others worried the bait 

 like a pack of dogs, snapping at it, shaking it, 

 and being hustled out of the way by their fellows. 

 It was easy that evening to verify what we had 

 long suspected — namely, that mackerel take brit 

 or bait not by the tail but by the head. Swiftest 

 of fish, they swim up to and even past their prey, 

 turn partly round, seize it from the side, and 

 swallow it head-first. For that re^ison the tackle- 

 makers' artificial baits with hooks behind them 

 are less successful than our strips of mackerel 

 skin, which have the hooks in front; and that is 

 why a score of fish can be caught on the same 

 bait without its being much damaged. Eight out 

 of ten could be seen to attack the bait that way. 



But there was small sport in catching fish that 

 would not keep off the hook; no satisfaction in 

 killing what would not sell. At sundown the 

 sailing hookers rowed ashore — for the sea was a 

 white calm — with several dozens each. Hardly 

 anybody was willing to buy fine mackerel at eight- 

 pence the dozen, or at sixpence, or even at four- 

 pence. We asked people to take them away. 

 'Hae 'em at a gift,' we said, 



'No fear!' they replied. 'Enough's as good 

 as a feast.' 



