HABITS OF FISHES ILLUSTRATED. 



137 



that his propulsive power is equaMn 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 ylanis 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 li*h. This is not a fis{i 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 t< > 

 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, t< > 

 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 lishes 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. 



