HABITS or FISHES ILLUSTRATED. 137 



that his propulsive power is equal in proportion to that of 

 the bluefish, and so are his teeth. The foot or hand of a man 

 would stand no chance in the jaws of this monster delicacy. 

 Talk of the bad reputation of the Silurus glanis of the Dan- 

 ube because portions of human bodies have been found in 

 their stomachs ! the horse mackerel would make nothing of 

 chopping up both man and fish. This is not a fish for the 

 troll, or the rod and reel ; for it is as strong in proportion to 

 its weight as the bluefish, and it would trouble an angler to 

 kill a thirty-pound bluefish, or even take him in by trolling. 

 But sailing for horse mackerel is rare sport ; and I would ad- 

 vise those about New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard, who 

 delight so much in sailing for and harpooning swordfish, to 

 sail down about Nantucket for horse mackerel, where they 

 are comparatively numerous. 



To conclude : Having presented the best samples of the 

 coast and estuaries for affording sport by the recreative art 

 of angling, I will postpone for the present the description of 

 those commercial fishes which belong of right to the harpoon, 

 the net, and the hand-line. 



Pale student, who consumes the night 

 With learned vigils till the light ; 

 Merchant, who toils in city street 

 Through all the summer's fervid heat ; 

 All ye tired sons of gold and gain, 

 Turn from your weary tasks of pain, 

 And haste to wood, and bay, and stream, 

 Where health, and joy, and sunshine beam. 



