12 FISH : THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 



The most beautiful of our salt-water fish, 

 the mackerel, appears on our coast during 

 the month of May. Swimming near the 

 surface, it is taken with a small hook with 

 a bright piece of metal attached to make it 

 sink rapidly and at the same time to at- 

 tract the fish. Each person uses two of 

 these hooks and lines. In order to lure the 

 fish about the boat, " wash-bait" that is, 

 fish ground up fine and mixed with water 

 is thrown over, a little at a time. It is the 

 superior attraction of the metal bait which 

 captures them. When fishing from the 

 deck of a mackerel schooner, with all hands 

 engaged, the scene is exciting in the ex- 

 treme. Each man has a tub to throw his 

 catch in, and the constant flopping of the 

 fish reminds one of a drum-corps in active 

 operation. 



The smelt, although small, is a choice 

 fish, and is readily taken from June till 

 winter with hook and line and stiff rod. In 



