THE MACKEREL OR TUNNY FAMILY 317 



peculiar in the appearance of the eyes in winter or spring. It is a 

 fact that fishing for mackerel with hook and bait is usually only 

 carried on in summer, but this is apparently sufficiently explained 

 by the fact that this kind of fishing, usually called " whiffing," 

 is practised by small long-shore boats which do not go far from 

 shore, and the mackerel only approach close to the land in 

 summer. The fish are more readily taken on hooks after the 

 end of June, because in the spawning season they take less food, 

 especially the females, which for a time cease to feed altogether. 



