96 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



The Myxine, a form of sea lamprey, likewise bores into its 

 flesh ; and a fish-louse, Rocinela dannoniensis, has been taken 

 off a mackerel at Mevagissey. Some hundreds were ob- 

 served on these fish, and all were found clinging near the 

 pectoral fin, except one which was imbedded near the vent. 

 When half a mackerel is used as a bait, the lice will some- 

 times in a few minutes scoop out all the fish, leaving 

 nothing but the skeleton and the skin. This year (1882) 

 these fish have been unusually infested with entozoa. 



As food. Mackerel are much esteemed, generally, but 

 not invariably, the moderately sized more than the very 

 large ones ; but they taint very rapidly, as well as lose 

 flavour when kept. Some prefer those captured during the 

 autumn and winter months, while others like such as are in 

 roe, taken in May and June, or even July. Those marked 

 with a dark interrupted line along the side are said to be of 

 inferior quality. Owing to the rapidity with which these 

 fish decompose in hot weather, and the consequent dele- 

 terious results to consumers, vendors were permitted as 

 early as 1698 to cry them through the streets of London 

 on Sundays, an enactment which does not seem to have 

 ever been repealed. The employment of steam carriers in 

 the place of sailing vessels, and which take the captures 

 from the various boats and convey them rapidly to market, 

 has proved a great gain to all parties, and a boon to the 

 general public. They are usually packed in boxes contain- 

 ing about fifty each for sending to market, ice being added. 

 In June, 1 88 1, Norway mackerel commenced appearing in 

 the markets for the season. They are rather large, and 

 continue arriving for from three to four weeks. This fish 

 was much relished by the Romans, because its internals 

 furnished the precious garum, a sort of pickle which gave 

 a high relish to their sauces, besides being medicinally 



