74 
MACKAREt. 
The persons engaged in this last-named method of taking 
Mackarel are usually a different class from those engaged with 
the sean, and it is also freciueiitly followed by gentlemen, for 
the sake of the excitement that attends it. The line is t e 
same which is used for ordinary fishing at sea, and it vanes 
in length from ten to twenty fathoms; but, as rapid motion is 
required, with the boat under sail in a sufficient breeze, it 
becomes necessary to keep it at a proper depth by means of 
a lead, of which the best form is that of a cone or sugai- 
loaf; and close above this is fastened an outrigger of umod, at 
the end of which is fastened a snoozing, which bears the hook. 
The object of this is to cause the bait to be influenced to 
an amount of action which shall resemble a hying object for 
the Mackarel will not readily attempt to seize _ that which 
seems without life, and its pursuit of prey at all times appears 
to be under the influence of sight rather than of taste or 
smell. Whatever shall display a shining action in the water 
will serve the purpose, and a slip of red leather, or portions 
of the stem of a tobacco-pipe, are employed with success. 
The more usual bait, however, is a slice cut from the side of 
the Mackarel itself, near the tail, and placed on the hook m 
such a manner as to assume the imitation of an active fish 
by an undulating motion in its progress through the water 
Fishermen observe that they are more successful if several 
lines are brought into action at the same time, by whmh 
means, if the fish are abundant, at least one or two whic 
have taken the hook shall be dragged along, and shew the 
course in which the boat is proceeding. The supposition is 
that the fish still at liberty are thus guided in the right 
direction by following their fellows, which otherwise they would 
not be found to do. Several hooks are sometimes placed in 
succession near each other, the better to arrest a passing fish, 
and with good success. . 
Wallop Brabason, Esq., in his work on the ' Fisheries of 
Ireland,” informs us that (I suppose in the north of that 
country) the season is from about the end of June to the latter 
part of September; but he makes no mention of the sean for 
catching them. With regard to the line he recommends for 
the lower part finer twine than fishermen are accustomed to 
employ; and with more than one hook,-the hindmost, even 
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