. The animal creation: a popular introduction to zoology. Zoology. 324 SPINY-FINNED FISHES. Those which possess these last characters, and have the dorsal fin continuous, form the family of Mackerels {Scomber), including the Tunny, the Sword-fish, the Bonito, and the Common Mackerel. The Common Mackerel {Scomher scombrus) lias a blue back marked with uiidulatiug black stripes, and five false fins; it is a migratory fish, and at certain seasons abounds both on the coasts of Europe and of America. On the western coast of England mackerel are captured with nets by torchlight. The fishermen spread
. The animal creation: a popular introduction to zoology. Zoology. 324 SPINY-FINNED FISHES. Those which possess these last characters, and have the dorsal fin continuous, form the family of Mackerels {Scomber), including the Tunny, the Sword-fish, the Bonito, and the Common Mackerel. The Common Mackerel {Scomher scombrus) lias a blue back marked with uiidulatiug black stripes, and five false fins; it is a migratory fish, and at certain seasons abounds both on the coasts of Europe and of America. On the western coast of England mackerel are captured with nets by torchlight. The fishermen spread them-. FlG. 251.—THE MACKEREL. Selves over several miles, and cast their nets, which are sometimes more than a league in extent, in the direction pursued by the shoals of Mackerel. The meshes of the net are of a size to receive the head of a moderate-sized fish, but arrest it by the fins, and when it endeavours to extricate itself its gills become entangled, and it is held prisoner. The mackerel is also caught by the hook and line. It bites voraciously at anything that appears to have life — a briglit fish, a piece of glittering metal, or a bit of scarlet cloth. The line is short, but made heavy with lead, and in this manner a couple of men can catch a thousand in a day. With swelling sails the boat flies along, and a sharp wind is considered so desirable that it is called a " Mackerel ; The more rapid the speed the greater the success, for the Mackerel rushes like lightnmg after the boat, taking it for a flying prey. " There is not," writes the author of ' Wild Sports of tlie West,' " on sea or river, always excepting angling for Salmon, any sport comparable to this delightful amuse- ment, full of life and bustle, everything about it is animating and. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectzoology
