MACKAREL. 
71 
ir. their widely-extenrled excursions. In some parts of the 
^lediterranean they are described as being always small and 
<li'y; and such appears to have been the case in ancient times 
at Rome, where, in their fresh condition, they were disregarded. 
As they were sold by fishmongers wrapped up in paper which 
Was fit for no other use, a sarcasm Avas directed against 
inferior poets, that their Avorks would be applied to the use 
of Wrapping up Mackarel. Risso, on the other hand, piaises 
the Mackarel taken at Nice for its superiority of size and 
flavour; but we believe that in no district will any be found 
to excel, and few to equal those which visit the west coasts of 
the British Empire. 
The number of boats engaged in this early fishery is 
uncertain, but about two hundred have been knoAvn to assemble 
a^t Plymouth\t one time, and upwards of that number belong 
to Cornwall alone. They are manned by from five to eight 
uien in each; and the string of nets is formed of several por- 
tions that are capable of being taken asunder; and an ordinary 
boat will be supplied with fifty of these nets, of which each 
shall measure tAventy-tAvo fathoms as prepared for fishing, so 
that when shot or cast from the boat they may reach to the 
extent of a mile and three quarters. The size of the mesh is 
calculated to spread tAventy-six to a yard, and in the usual 
depth of about three fathoms there are expected to be one 
hundred and twenty meshes. They are made to SAvim by coiks 
which are set along the head-rope, the weight of the net itself 
feeing sufficient td cause them to sink to the proper depth; and 
in this condition they are cast across the expected course of 
the fish, while by a rope or hauser passing to tbe boAV ° ^ ® 
feoat, they are kept stretched out, without the risk of being o c e 
together by the influence of the wind or tide. Ihey aie t us 
shot or cast into the sea as the evening comes on, and again 
lifted in after two or three hours, and to ease the labour o 
this last fatiguing work, which is doubly difficult when^ t e 
uets are loaded with fish, a capstan is employed, each division 
of the net being separated and stowed away as it is drawn into 
the boat. Another cast of the nets is usual towar f ^ e 
morning; for it is found by experience that, for fishes in 
general, the most successful time for their entering into a net 
is about the passage from day to night, or the reverse. 
