Class IV. M A C K R E L. 265 



becaufe it furnifhed the pretious Garum, a fort of 

 pickle that gave a high relifli to their fauces, and 

 was befides ufed medicinally. It was drawn from 

 different kinds of fifh, but that made from the 

 ^ackrel had the preference : the bed was made 

 at Carthagena^ vaft quantities of mackrel being 

 taken near an adjacent ifle, called from that cir- 

 c.umftance, Scomhraria^ -^ and the Garum, prepar- 

 ed by a certain company in that city, bore a high 

 price, and was diftinguifhed by the title of Garum 

 Sociorum -f. 



This fifh is eafily taken by a bait, but the belt 

 time is during a frefh gale of wind, which is thence 

 called a mackrel gale. 



In the fpring the eyes of mackrel are almoft cover* 

 j^d with a white film % during which period they are 

 half blind. This film grows in winter, and is caft 

 the beginning of fummer. 



It is not often that it exceeds two pounds in Size. 

 weight, yet we heard that there was one fold lafl 

 fummer in London that weighed five and a quarter. 



The nofe is taper and fharp-pointed : the eyes Descslip. 

 large : the jaws of an equal length : the teeth fmall, 

 but numerous. 



The form of this fifh is very elegant. • 



The body is a little comprelTed on the fides : 

 towards the tail it grows very fienderc, and a iittk 

 angular. 



* Straho Lib. III. 109. 

 t Plinii Lib, XXXI. r. 8. 



The 



