234 
THE MACltREL. 
It is to be regretted, that the mackrel, though perhaps 
the mod palatable of all the gregarious fillies, is leaft ufe- 
ful, owing to its extreme tendernefs, and inaptitude for 
carriage: It is capable, indeed, of being preferved by 
pickling and falting; a method, which we are furprifed to 
find is only praftifed in Cornwall, where this food proves 
a great relieve to the poor during winter *. 
The ancient Romans were juft to the merits of this 
fifti ; for among them it was held in high efteem, efpe- 
cially on account of the garum , a celebrated pickle, that 
gave a high relilli to their fauces, befides being medici- 
nally ufefulf. According to Belon, this precious pickle 
is ftill in falhion at Conflantinople. Formerly it was pre- 
pared from different kinds of fifties; but that procured 
from the mackrel was deemed preferable : The beft was 
made at Carthagena, vafl quantities of mackrel being ta- 
ken near an adjacent ifle, called from that circumftance 
Scombraria %. 
The mackrel is eafily taken, by a variety of baits ; but 
the capture always fucceeds beft during a gentle gale of 
wind : a coloured feather, or a piece of fearlet cloth, is 
often found fufficient to allure thefc dim-fighted animals 
to deftru&ion. In fpring their eyes are covered with a 
white film, which renders them half blind, till it is caft 
fome time in the fummer. 
This fifti is probably found in all the European feas, 
being univcrfally known in that quarter of the globe. It 
feldom exceeds two pounds weight in tie common fpecies, 
and its body is of a very elegant form, and beautifully 
variegated 
* Borlafes Cornwall, p. 269. 
* Strabo, Lib. iii. p. 109. 
f Plinii, Lib. xxxi. cap 8, 
