516 THE HABITS AND MIGRATIONS OF SOME OF THE 
easily seen by them and avoided; they also swim deeper 
during the day, and would thus pass under or below the 
nets. The fishermen cast their nets about dusk; soon after, 
the fish are observed in them, and often before ten o'clock in 
the evening the nets will contain thousands of mackerel. 
The fishermen may visit the same locality the following night 
and be very unsuccessful, while the reports from other boats 
will show that the greater proportion of the fish were in 
another direction, and also that they move constantly and in 
large schools. 
Mackerel, like most fishes, have their choice in respect to 
food. This consists of the young of other species and of 
Fig. 109. 
The Codfish, Morrhua Americana. 
erustacea. The “tole-bait” consists chiefly of Menhaden 
(Alausa menhaden) ground very fine, with which clams are 
sometimes mixed, as they are believed to improve its quality. 
The bait commonly used for the hook is a piece of white 
skin cut from the throat of a mackerel, but when they are 
abundant and ferocious any white material will do; some- 
times a small silver coin is used, and it is not uncommon for 
them to be taken on the bare hook. 
The Codfish (Morrhua Americana), Fig. 109, is another 
familiar marine species, but one which differs very consider- 
ably in its habits from the mackerel. It is found in our 
markets all the year, but is not taken at all times from the 
