FISH AND FISHERIES. 63 
The genus Scomber is represented in Australia by two species, Scomber austral- 
asicus, Cuv. and Val., and Scomber antarcticus, Castelnau. The last-named is the 
one best known in these seas as the ‘‘ mackerel.” Like all, or almost all of the 
‘*Scombrina,” it is a gregarious and exceedingly predaceous fish, rejoicing in the 
open sea and generally near the surface, and apparently constantly in pursuit of 
shoals of other fishes. The instinct which in all fishes seems to compel them to 
mass together and approach the shore at the season of spawning is not wanting in 
the mackerel, and it is probable that the occasional visits of more than usually 
large shoals of these fishes is due to this annual movement; at the same time their 
frequent appearance in this harbour at unanticipated times may be owing to the 
appearance of shoals of other fish which they may have followed up. Be that as 
it may, it is certain that about midsummer, annually, shoals of enormous magni- 
tude pass near the coast, going apparently in a northerly direction, that the sea 
has, sometimes for miles, the appearance of being almost a solid mass of them, and 
that they also have their enemies, and are followed and devoured by shoals of 
larger fish of their own family if not species, as well as by hosts of other predaceous 
fishes, birds, and mammals. The mackerel, which appear so frequently in Port 
Jackson, and afford such excellent holiday fishing to the citizens of Sydney, are 
generally very young, and it is said to be rare indeed to get an adult or full-roed 
specimen. It is a very good fish when eaten fresh, but like all the scombroid. 
fishes it dies immediately after leaving the water, and decomposes very rapidly; 
and when eaten in that state it has been known to produce symptoms of fish- 
poisoning ; a most unjustifiable prejudice has been excited against the fish in 
consequence. —R.R.C. 
The remarks of Mr. Hill on this family are so interesting and impor- 
tant that they will bear quoting at length :—“ These are the well-known 
fishes (mackerel) of the Colony, of which everybody knows, and every 
fisherman has enjoyed the sport catching them, either late or early, in 
deep water or on the surface, biting freely, or very carefully and slow. 
Sometimes large, at others only half-grown, their name is legion ; and 
they visit this harbour three or four times a year, and remain longer or 
shorter as temptation offers in the shape of food, for they are very 
voracious, and live chiefly on young prawns or shrimps, stopping a week, 
or even.a month, at each favourite bay in succession, so long as the food 
lasts. There you will see the boats congregated at dim dawn, catching 
mackerel with a hook and line. At other times these boats will remain 
the whole day, and during a cessation the owners will enjoy themselves 
as they think best. Sometimes at night, when travelling in shoals they 
will bite; and if one can manage to break the school by catching a few 
he is sure to get many. The mackerel perform important services here 
—first of importance is providing bait at which every fish will bite, and 
at this alone when others fail. Besides they are readily caught when 
about, and are fit for immediate use. They also provide abundance of 
food ; but care should be taken as to when they are caught, and under 
what influence they have been placed since they were caught. We have 
no means in this Colony of catching them with a net in deep water, there- 
fore it is not attempted, neither has this mackerel been accused of murder 
like it is alleged of a Norwegian, and is now a matter of history. 
“A Norwegian author relates the story of a sailor belonging to a ship 
lying in one of the harbours on the coast of Norway, who went into the 
water to wash himself, when he was suddenly missed by his companions. 
In the course of a few minutes he was seen on the surface with vast 
numbers of mackerel fastened on him. The crew went in a boat to his 
assistance, and though when they got him up they succeeded with some 
difficulty in removing the fishes from him, they found it was too late, 
for the poor fellow shortly afterwards expired. 
