116 



CATCHING MACKEREL. 



nature which obliges them and many others to visit the 

 shallower water of the shores at a particular season, ap- 

 pears to be one of those wise and bountiful provisions of 

 the Creator, by which not only is the species perpetuated 

 with the greatest certainty, but a large portion of the 

 parent animals are thus brought within the reach of man ; 

 who, but for the action of this law, would be deprived of 

 many of those species most valuable to him as food. 

 For the mackerel dispersed over the immense expanse 

 of ocean, no effective fishery could be carried on ; but, 

 approaching the shore as they do from all directions, 

 and roving along the coast collected in immense shoals, 

 millions are caught, v/uich yet form but a very small 

 portion compared with the myriads that escape." 



MACKEREL-FISHING. 



Mackerel are caught with the line and with the seine- 

 net, that is, much in the same way as the pilchard. In 

 fishing with the linej almost any kind of hook may be 

 used. The great point is to carry the fish to market in 

 the freshest possible condition, as it speedily deteriorates 



