CHAPTER XXVII. 



HACKER EL. 



Scomber. 



This world-renowned fish, although not much sought after 

 by sportsmen, deserves a higher place in the catalogue of hooked 

 fishes, than he has usually received. He is in all respects a 

 game fish, and the only reason why he does not receive more 

 attention from anglers than others of his race is because he 

 prefers to remain outside on the coast, instead of running up 

 the bays and rivers. The fishermen who make it their business 

 to take him for a living, and the means of a living, delight to 

 tell of his activity and beauty, and he is certainly worthy of all 

 praise in these respects, but more particularly for his beauty. 

 He is undoubtedly the handsomest sea fish that swims, and is 

 worthy of the title he sometimes receives, of the Adonis of 

 the sea. 



Great preparations are made by the fishermen for the coming 

 of the mackerel, which happens about the 1st of May, when 

 those who are fond of sea fishing should leave their relations, 

 take a smack and go to the " deep deep sea" with some old 

 salt who knows the whereabouts of the fish. They are found 

 in most abundance along the coast of Massachusetts, and near 

 Sandy Hook, New York. At the former place they are 

 taken in immense quantities, salted, packed, and sent to the 

 four quarters of the globe. In the year 1837, says Dr. Storer, 

 234,039 barrels were taken, equal to $1,639,042. They vary 

 in size from fifteen to twenty inches, and are taken with a line 

 about J of an inch thick attached to a stout pole about twelve 

 feet long. 



The hook generally used is called the mackerel hook, and is 



