THE MACKEREL. 103 



A gloomy atmosphere materially aids this kind of 

 fishing for mackerel." 



This species is one of the most beautifully 

 coloured of our fishes, but is too well known to 

 need description. It is widely spread throughout 

 the seas of Europe, and occurs at different periods 

 along different portions of our British shores. On 

 the Cornish coast it sometimes appears as early as 

 the month of March, but the fishermen of Lowe- 

 stoffe and Yarmouth do not reap their chief harvest 

 till May and June; and during these months, 

 besides being abundant, they are best conditioned. 

 As an article of food they are in great request, 

 although certain constitutions find them heavy or 

 even unwholesome. We need scarcely say that 

 they must be eaten very fresh, few fishes tainting 

 sooner than mackerel. It was in consequence of 

 their being so unfit for keeping, that the practice 

 was first allowed in London, so far back as 1698, 

 of their being cried along the streets for sale 

 on Sundays, an unandrewagnew-like custom, 

 which, we are sorry to say, is still continued. 

 The success of this fishing exceeded all precedent 

 in 1821, during which season the take of sixteen 

 boats in a single day (30th June) amounted to 

 =5,252. The Messrs. Pagets have stated the 

 calculation to be, that in the season of 1823, about 

 1,420,000 mackerel were taken in the vicinity of 

 Yarmouth. So abundant were they at Dover, 

 as to be sold at the rate of threescore for a shilling. 

 The usual weight of a well-sized fish is about two 

 pounds. They are sometimes heavier, but the 



