The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-09
MAINE MAoKEREG.


Middleton was impressed by the aiDgu-
lar procession moving up the Atlantic
coast every year, and speculated about Il
from High Head.
The maekerel began their migration,
he learned, or at least the first were taken
by the feet which went south after them
in deep water, about sixty miles below the
capes of Delaware, early ih March. They
arrived on the Maine coast about the LIST
Of June, followed closely by the vessels,
which were presently strung all along
from Cape Ann to Cape Sable.
Late in September they began to work
to the southwark, not schooling on their
return, and BY the middle Of November
hardly one would be found to the north
ward Of Boston Bay. This, at least, was
the habit Of our American mackerel, which
were looked upon as distinct nation,
with no aihliation with that which comes
in over the Grand Banks, apawns on the
Magdalen Islands, and remains in Cana
dian waters all winter. They seemed TO
come up along the coast, and strike in
shore all about the same time, and the
first notice Of their arrival was often their
appearance in the weirs on the bay and
inlets.
An advance guard preceded the main
body often by week or ten days. A
mysterious live seed, Of which Middleton
could only hear that 1t was red, sxcess-
lively hot, like pepper, and aoated in the
water, was thought to be the mackerefs
principal indueement TO come into the
bays. He was passionately fond off il, and
when it was ripe he was there, though it
was most reckless dissipation, for it was
said that it was so hot that il would burn
J its way out Of a FISH In a few hours, and
3 it burned the hands Of the fishermen in
dressing such as had eaten it.
i A multitude Of smaller marino creatures
were fond Of the red seed also. The tiny
!, pilot fish, perhaps kind Of fugleman for
a the mackerel, but moro likely his prey,
like the rest, came FIRST then shoals Of
: herring, shrimp, squid and menhaden.--
The round, limpid jelly fish, called the
r sun-squall, occurring sometimes almost
h numerously enough TO stop the way Of q
= boat, sought il. Woe to them all They
,G can snatch but fnrtiye joy the fierce
a mackcrel follows them up, devouring them
u as they fly. The only visible bits Of so.
R lidity in the organism Of the limpid sun
: squall arc the few red seeds, which i
seems not even to have the pleasure Of di
gesting. The mackerel ruthlessly tear
40 him IN pieces for them, and the sea il
I'd strewn with the remains Of unhappy sun
e. squalls.
40 The procession consists Of the mackere
M, his prey and his enemies Now hero h
est is, as one might say, wild young prod
,ost gal, in his laced coat Of green aud silvei
Iiss pursuing every mad whim aud SELLS
red pleasure, and blinded by his folly to Ii
l,er yawniug pitfalls aud omens Of danger a
din about him. Or he may be looked upO
,est as Belshazzar sort Of person, drunk vii
iusoleht pride, while at the very momel
ger the Mede and the Persian are batterir
nft at the gate. Mene, meme, tekei, upharsiH
Thou art found palatable article
A many tastes, and thou shalt be weighed
,old the balance. The sinister shark is on d
host track the porpoise lounges from the .rigl
Nan dog6sh, blaefsh, black6sh, FROM the L
host the mackerel-gnll swoops down from ov,
&c nehu lne sUiemu Wnhie cruises IN
wake, ready to dive below school q
mas blow it into the air, and though prevent
RAJ by nn unfortunate arrangement Of I
ain jaws from taking in the splendid GU
sl that might be imagined, does it very lib
hsat al justice; and lastly comes the gr,
,mo. schooner Of iuexorable man, the mercha
rJs to whom all the other enemies are
,ma. nothing, and snares thee in lots Of 8
nre, barrels in day.
Ger, A quaint apparent exception, and
q only one, to the universal rule of rapi
,ts in the great procession was little BIZ
w somewhat larger than ssndpiper-t
II sea goose, 50 called 1t sits over mac
nm. erel school, and accompanies 1t in
,ptz course, whether out Of an amicable ser
dis' ment Of companionship or rival for
rrer mysterious peppery seed is not quite 4
rrer taiu,-Harpr's Magazine.