MACKEREL. 
115 
Length of the body expressed in millimetres 
Least depth of the tail, in % of the length of the lower jaw Aver. 
Length of the ventral fins, ,, „ „ „ „ „ „ body. „ 
Distance between the first dorsal fin and the tip of the snont, in^of the length of the body „ 
11 11 
second 
„ „ „ beginnings of the two dorsal fins „ „ „ „ ,, „ „ „ „ 
Length of the lower jaw in % of the length of the body „ 
Breadth ,, „ interorbital space ,, „ „ ,, ,, „ „ lower jaw... „ 
Length „ „ head „ „ „ „ „ „ „ body - „ 
„ „ „ pectoral fins „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ 
Distance between the ventral and anal fins in % of the length of the body „ 
Distance between the anal fin and the tip of the snout „ „ „ 
11 11 11 
137—140 201 
18.3 ( < 19.1 ) 
10.5 
35.0 ( > 33.3) 
(31.7 (<63.o) 
26.7 ( <27.2) 
14.8 (>14.5) 
42.2 (<42.g) 
26.9 (>26.5) 
11.4 
31.7 
(25.3) 
( 12 . 6 ) 
.62.6 (< 63.4) 
226 
I 
_. 9.8 . 
.... 32.o (<33.31 . 
.... 64.5 (>63.6) _ 
••»*■« {IM 
mTsJ 
(24.3) 
( 10 . 6 ?) 
(34.9) 
340—389 390—410 
23.5 
411—422 
25.2 ( >24.9) 
9.i 
32.3 (<33.3) 
65.4 (>63.6) 
33.i ( >32.8) 
12.6 (< 13.3) 
56.8 ( > 51.9 
..23,8 
11.4 
37.5 ( 35.4) 
65.8 (>64.5) 
We thus see that the changes due to age are most 
marked between the first autumn and the following 
spring, and between the latter and the period immedi- 
ately following. Some further changes appear most 
distinctly, when the length is about 390 mm., and others 
when it is about 410 mm., but it is an open question 
how far these latter changes belong to particular years. 
We have already explained the signification of the ten- 
dency of the changes indicated by the table. The 
Mackerel becomes capable of propagating its species 
when about 300 mm. in length. 
The Mackerel is prepared for use in many different 
Avays: it is eaten fresh or boiled in sea-water, salted 
or preserved in oil, smoked or dried. In whatever 
way prepared, it is always delicious, so long as it is 
not stale; and in flavour it is not much unlike the 
Salmon. Those taken in spring, are always lean; but 
the longer it has been in the island-belt, the fatter it 
grows, and it is fattest in October. 
The Mackerel-fishery, which forms an important 
part of the fisheries in the western island-belt of Sweden, 
gives occupation to a great part of the population, and 
the profits are often by no means inconsiderable. First 
in spring, at the end of May, and then in autumn, 
during August, September, and October, the Mackerel 
is taken in seines along the coast, within the island- 
belt. During June and July, twenty years ago, in the 
open sea, it was caught mostly by whiffing or railing, 
a method not much employed notv, except as sport, 
and replaced chiefly by drift-nets. The season for 
whiffing Avas always eagerly aAvaited in the island-belt. 
It began about a fortnight before midsummer and ended 
about St. Lawrence’s Day (the 10th of August). Shortly 
before this period, the same activity and excitement 
might ahvays be observed among the fishermen as at 
the approach of a general holiday. All the boats which 
were intended for the fishing, Avere now repaired, and 
each one strove to have the finest sails and the fastest 
boat. When the time came, they sailed out with set 
sails and before a fresh breeze. The line, Avhich Avas 
furnished Avith a heavy plummet (1 or 2 lbs. in weight) 
and tAvo hooks baited with some bright object, if pos- 
sible a piece of the shining skin from the side of a 
Mackerel, Avas trailed after the boat at as rapid a speed 
as could be obtained. One boat Avith from 5 to 8 men 
and boys, each Avith tAvo lines, sometimes took from 
one to three thousand Mackerel in a day; but the catch 
was generally much less, and it has been much better 
since the sixties, Avhen the drift-net came into more 
general use. The drift-net is shot in the evening and 
dragged after the boat all night. The sails are taken 
in and the boat drifts Avith Avind and current. The 
drift-net is most useful on dark nights, and it is said 
that the largest catches are made at nightfall and just 
before dawn. In 1878, according to the report of 
Mr. v. Yhlen, Inspector of Fisheries", there Avere 373 
mackerel-boats in Bohuslan, with a total tonnage of 
3,480 tons, Avith 10,450 nets and manned by 1,456 
hands: the total catch for the year Avas 1,346,000 
Mackerel. Up to that time, however, the most sucess- 
ful year had been 1873, when 1,813,000 Mackerel Avere 
taken in this manner in Bohuslan. In August and 
September the Mackerel may also be taken with the 
sladorj , a line furnished with a lighter sinker and cast 
from a boat Avhich is at anchor; but though the depth 
chosen for this method of fishing is from 20 to 30 
fathoms, the Mackerel are to be found only in mid- 
Avater, i. e. at a depth of from 10 to 12 fathoms. The 
“ Intern. Fiseh. Ausstell. Berlin 1880, Schwed. Cat., I, 2, p. 45. In Bohuslan in 1890, according to A. H. Malm, 567 boats and 
5 seines took about 2 1 / 2 million Mackerel of a value of £26,121. 
