136 THE SCAD OR HORSE-MACKEREL. 



Some years since the fishermen of Guernsey discovered that 

 numbers of large-sized Mackerel might be taken by this method 

 at night, particularly during a bright moonlight. This has con- 

 sequently come to be recognised as a regular means of capture 

 in the autumn months, and I see no reason why it should not 

 be adopted elsewhere in fitting localities. The favourite haunts 

 of the large Mackerel in the locality referred to are certain 

 spots on the edge of the bank of sand and gravel near St. 

 Peter's Port, known as The Great Bank, and I cannot see why 

 the plan should not answer as well on the coasts of Great 

 Britain and Ireland in similar positions. 



The kind of ground to try is a gravelly sand-bank, a mile or 

 more detached from shore, having on it at low water from 

 three to ten fathoms, with twenty fathoms or more in the im- 

 mediate vicinity. These elevated banks are much frequented 

 by both Mackerel, Gurnards, and the choicer flat fish ; the 

 Bahama Bank, for instance, off Ramsay Bay, in the Isle of 

 Man, and many others. I feel satisfied the fishery might be 

 much developed by attention to this one mode of capture. The 

 Sand- Eels sometimes omit their visits to Guernsey in autumn 

 in sufficient abundance for seining, in which case this fishery is 

 not followed. These bank-ground- Mackerel are particularly fine. 



When Pollack-fishing with drift-lines, in July and later, 

 should the Mackerel make their appearance, cut the Sand-Eels 

 as here shown. I have tried the slice from the Mackerel's tail 

 frequently at anchor, but with little success ; the Sand-Eel is 

 superior in a tide-way to every other bait. 



THE SCAD OR HORSE-MACKEREL. 



{Scomber trachurus. ) 



This, although of the Mackerel family, is a coarse fish, and 

 consequently not held in much estimation. It is taken in- 

 differently, at anchor or under sail, when fishing for Mackerel, 

 Pollack, Pout, or Whiting. The lateral line of this fish is 

 curved and marked with a succession of pointed scales, besides 

 two spines close to the anal fin, which it is well to remember 

 whilst unhooking them. They are sometimes seen in enormous 



