Mackerel, Atlantic Mackerel

I suppose that everyone is familiar with the appearance of this handsome fish, with its brilliant greeny-blue back marked with dark curving lines, its metallic sides and its white belly. The French name maquereau also means pimp, no doubt in allusion to the brilliance of the colours. Lemery, however, observes that ‘some pretend’ that the name was given to it ‘because as soon as the Spring comes, he follows the young Shad, that are commonly call’d Virgins, and brings them to their Males, and so they make a Bawd of this Fish.’ This would be a highly satisfactory, because so precise, explanation, but it does not seem to be true, at least not of modern mackerel.