280 COMMON MACKEREL. 



their vessels ; and, as they see it generally towards the 

 fore part of the ship, they imagine that it is employed 

 in guiding and tracing out the course ; whence it has re- 

 ceived its name. It sometimes attends the dog-fish and 

 the shark. It swims at the height of a foot and a half 

 from the snout of the latter ; imitates all its movements ; 

 and seizes with address any part of the spoil which the 

 shark allows to escape, and which is light enough to 

 buoy up to the surface of the water. When the shark 

 turns to snatch its prey, the pilot-fish starts aside ; but 

 immediately recovers its former station. In the gulf of 

 Guinea, it follows vessels for the sake of offals and other 

 filth. Though so small as not to exceed six inches, it 

 will keep pace with ships in their swiftest course. 



THE COMMON MACKEREL. 



The nose of this fish is taper and sharp-pointed ; the 

 body is slightly compressed on the sides, but towards the 

 tail grows very slender and somewhat angular. The colour 

 of the back, and the sides above the lateral line, is a fine 

 green, varied with blue, interspersed with black lines 

 pointing downwards ; and, below that line, the sides and 

 belly are silvery. In short, the mackerel is a beautiful 

 fish when alive, and all its colours are brilliant ; but no 

 sooner is it removed from its native element than its lustre 

 begins to fade. 



In the spring, its eyes are almost covered with a white 

 film, but it recovers its perfect sight about the beginning 

 of summer. 



Mackerel visit the British shores in large shoals during 

 the summer ; and, though they cannot be preserved fresh 

 in distant carriage, they furnish a rich nutriment to the 

 inhabitants of the sea-coasts, and to such as can receive 

 them by a speedy conveyance. 



In Cornwall they are pickled and salted, and thus pre- 

 served as a resource against winter. They are easily 

 caught with a bait ; for which purpose sometimes a piece 

 of writing-paper is used, and at other times a red rag. 



