fyi: Mackerel are both a food and a bait fish. 'Mackerel in the bay' signaled the start of the inshore fishing season/migratory runs.

Sons Of The Fishing Village

Mackerel in the bay, hey lads!
Mackerel in the bay!
Leave the shore to lassies when
There's mackerel In the bay!

Seth was building lobster-pots,
Ben was cutting hay
Trade and crop must suffer now,
There's mackerel in the bay!

John was keeping company,
Almost named the day.
Sue may die a spinster, now
There's mackerel In the bay!

Adam oiled his fowling-piece,
Bent on killing Jay
Who would stop for murder, now
There's mackerel in the bay!

Mackerel in the bay, hey lads!
Mackerel in the bay!
Only lassies lag ashore
With mackerel in the bay!


Anon/trad(?) Sung as a rounder or circle song in the Bahamas from before WWI.