110 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In April or May, the garfish leaves the deep 

 sea, and visits various portions of our coast, 

 and of that of continental Europe, for the pur- 

 pose of breeding. This fish is often called the 

 mackerel guide, from the circumstance of its 

 making its appearance a little before the shoals 

 of mackerel ; it is taken in considerable num- 

 bers, and, during its short stay, may be seen 

 abundantly in the London markets ; its flesh, 

 however, is but indifferent. 



The garfish is very active and vigorous, and 

 cuts through the water, generally near the sur- 

 face, with great rapidity. 



Occasionally an allied species, the skipper, 

 or saury pike, (Sconiberesox sauruSj) visits our 

 shores in shoals, generally making their ap- 

 pearance in June. It is common in the 

 Mediterranean, and is there a favourite prey of 

 the tunny, which scatters the shoal as it darts 

 amidst them, throwing them into consternation. 

 In order to escape their foe, they leap one over 

 the other, to a great distance out of the water, 

 the hindmost striving to get first in the race, 

 and the foremost rushing for yards together on 

 the surface of the water, which they scarcely 

 seem to touch. Often does the mariner gaze 

 on such a scene. Thousands of skippers pass 

 the vessel, with tunnies and bonitoes in full. 



