176 



THE SEA. 



THE COD (Morr/tua vulgar is). 



numbers of fine haddocks are dried and smoked with the fumes of hard wood and sawdust. 



Hence the term, " Finnan haddies," which, when obtained, are the finest for gastronomic 



purposes, being of superior flavour. 



The mackerel (Scomber scombrus} is 

 a most valuable fish for man. The 

 tunny, bonita, and mackerel have yielded 

 immense supplies of excellent food, the 

 first-named being esteemed in parts of 



FraDCe far above an J ther fish ' Tt is 



called the salmon of Provence. They 

 attain a far larger growth than the mackerel, specimens having been found of seven, 

 eight, and even nine feet in length, and weighing up to 400 pounds. They are specially 

 abundant in the Mediterranean, where they are usually caught in nets. In Provence they 

 are driven., much as are the pilchards in Cornwall, into an enclosed space called the matlrague, 

 where at last the fish finds itself ensnared in shallow water. Then " the carnage commences. 

 The unhappy creatures," says Figuier, tf are struck with long poles, boat-hooks, and other 

 weapons. The tunny-fishing presents a very sad spectacle at this its last stage ; fine large 

 fish perish under the blows of a multitude of fishermen, who pursue their bloody task with 

 most dramatic effect. The sight of the poor creatures, some of them wounded and half dead, 

 trying in vain to struggle with their ferocious assailants, is very painful to see. The sea 

 red with blood, long preserves traces of this frightful slaughter." 



The bonita is principally a tropical fish, not unlike the mackerel, but more than double 

 its size. It is the great enemy of the flying-fish, and possesses electrical or stinging powers, 

 for any one attempting to hold the living fish is violently shaken as in palsy, and one's 

 very tongue is tied, and unable to make more than a spasmodic sputter. 



The mackerel is common to all European seas. It is the macqiiereau of 



the French, the macarello of the 

 Bg! modern Romans, the makril of the 

 Hf Swedes, the bretal of some parts of 

 Brittany, the scombro of the Venetians, 

 the lacesto of the Neapolitans, and 

 the cavallo of the Spaniards. It is 

 one of the most universally -esteemed 

 fish. 



The mackerel is very voracious, and 

 has courage enough to attack fish much 

 larger than itself. It will even attack 

 man, and is said to love him, gastro- 

 nomically speaking. A Norwegian bishop 



who lived in the sixteenth century records the case of a sailor attacked by a shoal of 

 mackerel, while he was bathing. His companions came to the rescue ; but though they 

 succeeded in driving off the fish, their assistance came too late; he died a few hours 

 afterwards. 



THE MACKEKEL (Scomber scombrus). 



