Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 09

The Document on the Fishery Industry of the United States, in 1887, says that the very first attemptat fishing here (that there is any record) was developed in 1821 by 3 Gloucester vessels. Accordingto the same power, began in 1830, however, not fully recognized as a long-lasting industry until1835, the cod and halibut industry.

In general, the types of minn kota maxxum found right here and the months of their very bestabundance are far as on Browns Lender. The principal fishes taken are halibut, haddock, cod andcusk and hake, and a quite small amount of pollock. Except for the haddocking, the very best fishingseason is from March to October. Halibut are said to obtain been really plenty here in the pasthowever they are said to have already been comparatively uncommon in recent years, even thoughoccasional very good fares are brought from these grounds, probably more commonly in the springand early on summer plus some at other seasons. In April these are found most frequently in 80fathom depths; in May in 30 to 40 fathoms, in June the ideal halibuting is had in 25-fathom depths oreven in shoaler water. (The halibut get shown for the year selected (1927) is unusually modest, mostseveral years yielding a good amount of this species from this ground. Evidently no person in theUnited states halibut fleet visited this ground for the year.)

DuringMarch and February, and April huge schools of cod make their appearance around the bank.At this season these are found most abundantly on the "Winter months Minn Kota Maxxum Ground";a part of Georges lying eastward and southeastward of the Northern Shoal between the parallels of41? 42 and 30'? 00' north latitude and 66? 67 and 38'? 30' western side longitude. The region of thisWintertime Minn Kota Maxxum Ground is approximately 1,100 square miles. This area of the banklooks entirely presented over to the codfish, since it is too damaged, sharp, and rocky to impress thehaddock. Depths here are from 30 to 40 fathoms, deepening away from the Northern Shoal. Thisregion is essentially a spawning soil for the cod, which seem to come on the hank in the SE., as theyalmost almost always, after getting to the ground, transfer slowly on. the N. and W. as springtechniques. This is toward the shoals. But more or less minn kota maxxum are caught on differentparts of the ground at all times of year, though hardly ever are they found so plentiful as as soon asthe winter school is on the ground, as soon as the spawning season is within the schools of codbreakup. Many of the winter season school start working on the inner oceans of the gulf and othersgo over to Browns Bank, where early comers seem to happen in the first days of April, despite thefact that cod are located along the Upper Edge almost the year close to.

Nantucket Shoal--Excellent Rip. Lies 13 kilometers E. by S. ? S. from Sankaty Head Light-weight.Nantucket. It is actually 5 a long way long from N, to S. and three miles extensive. Over this area thedepths are from 9 to 18 feet, but the fishing is done mainly around the edges in 6 to 12 fathoms thelocation where the bottom is gravel and shells engrossed in sponges and kelp. In this article, as onall these shoals, the greater section of the minn kota maxxum is done by that approach known as"rip minn kota maxxum." Cod are taken chiefly by hand-lining in May. , and August.June and July

And Portland comes from Georges Financial institution, by far the biggest percentage of theswordfish capture landed in the ports ofGloucester and Boston. A considerable area of the minn kotamaxxum listed from this ground underneath the heading "Miscellaneous" is made up of this species.

A considerable section of the fish listed beneath the heading "Miscellaneous" are swordfish, whichcome upon this bank throughout their summer wanderings.

The portion of cod taken on this page by these vessels is extremely small, even smaller than thatfrom other grounds fished by the otter-trawl strategy. Pollock and hake, also, make a small item inthe fares through the neighborhood in the South Shoal. As a rule, this type of products is controlledmostly in the smooth, sandy bottom which this varieties prefers, from the average otter-trawl farehaddock makes the greater section of the catch because. The otter-trawl fishery is at its best fromearly Might throughJuly and June, along with the first halt of August. Few journeys are reportedfrom this floor at other seasons. Probably the haddock results in the shoal grounds here earlier thanwhen it moves from the same depths in The Station.

The Sankaty Head ground is about 20 miles very long by about 8 miles wide, stretches from 55 milesSE. from Highland Light to 78 a long way SE. by S ? S. from the identical point (the base of theChannel), and is bounded on every side by items of bottom a lot less favorable on the operation ofthe otter trawl because of the appearance ofsponges and rocks, or any other obstacles, whichinterfere with the free passageway of the web over the base but offer less difficulty to the range-trawl fishermen. An excellent spring haddock ground is situated ESE. 65 miles in the Highlands in70 fathoms. best in March and April. Since the cold weather improvements the sea food relocateaway in great part from these grounds, going into the deeper normal water, the attracts of thetumble and winter weeks being taken mainly In depths of from 60 to 100 fathoms. At this season andalso in these depths the area of a corner of the Station, Clarks Part. and the region N and W of theCultivator usually have a very good winter university of haddock. This has been particularly sizeableduring the past about three year. (1923 to 1925). Thus, it might be seen that the Channel is really aground in the course of most of the year.

Close off Island Terrain. This is called also on the maps in its northwest part, the German Bankinginstitution and is situated off the american part of Nova Scotia. Hardly any charts show it, since it issomewhat hard to define its exact restrictions. It is a direct continuation of your shore soundings,which slope gradually in the land towards the S. and W. and continue in the northerly coursebeyond what might be considered the range of the grounds. To the S. it runs nearly to BrownsLender, from which it can be separated from a narrow gully 70 to 80 fathoms deep. For the N. itreaches 38 miles past Seal Tropical island and to the NW. about 35 mls from the same island. Thesouthern restriction of the ground is in 43? and the northern 43? 45' north latitude, while theamerican boundary could be placed at 66? 40' west longitude. The entire terrain outside the 3 milelimit covers an area of 1,250 mls.

The swordfish arrive on Georges on the South west Part and so on the The southern area of Edgeabout June 5, and the touring schools successfully pass over the bank, northward sure, up to August10. In reality, all through the season when they are found in northern oceans, even as much asNovember, they might be found on Georges. Probably the best area of the bank for this types isabout the parallel of 41? N., where the shoal rises steeply out of "blue drinking water."

Depths range from 2 to 50 fathoms. About the western component, between the parallels of 41? 41and 10'? 53' to the north latitude and also the meridians of 87? 68 and 20'? 37' west longitude are anumber of shoals, known as the East Shoal, North Shoal, South west Shoal. Cultivator, etc. TheSouthwest Shoal is the largest, being 15 miles very long SSW and NNE., having an averagethickness of 2? miles. The positioning of the center on this shoal is 41? 39' north latitude and 67? 48'western side longitude. You will find from 2 to 15 fathoms of water on the shoals and between themare depths of from 12 to 30 fathoms. The tide sweeps over these with great force, causing powerfulrips, and during rough climate the sea smashes heavily about them, rendering procedure for theirvicinity extremely dangerous.

Rose and Crown Shoal. This is a modest piece of terrain 7 a long way ESE. from Sankaty Brain. The

fishing region lies between your Round Shoal and Crown and Rose buoys, making a stretch outperhaps 6 miles lengthy by 1? miles vast. Sometimes excellent minn kota maxxum may beexperienced from 6 to 12 mile, from Great Spherical Shoal buoy. As someplace else on andapproximately these shoals, the cod is the main species caught, pollock getting next in importance,and some haddock.

The early minn kota maxxum for your swordfish typically takes place in this vicinity, as well as innormal months mackerel are found here in plethora from May 15 to August, and, as is the customusing this uncertain seafood, it may appear here again in the late tumble.

Tides listed below are quite as solid as on the eastern aspect of Georges Bank, the ebb having anaverage power of 1 1/3 a long way an hour as well as the flood is somewhat stronger. The beststrength in the flood tide sets W. the ebb in virtually an reverse direction.

The principal halibut grounds on Georges to the spring and summer months (April to July) liebetween your Cultivator Shoal and the North Shoal in depths from 10 to 18 fathoms, and E., S., andSW. from the North Shoal in the very same soundings. This area is sometimes named Little Georges.There are also a variety of mussel reasons on the south west part of Georges, having depthsaveraging 20 fathoms, which all furnish excellent feeding reasons and a considerable catch ofhalibut in the seasons when these sea food are in the shoal water.

Nantucket Shoals Minn Kota Maxxum Rip is an elongate bank lying 29 a long way SE. from SankatyGo Light. It is actually 10 a long way long in a NE and SW Southeast and route Rip (NantucketShoals) lies SE. from Sankaty Mind 35 miles. It has depths from 8 to 10 fathoms above an area about10 a long way long by 2 mls wide, with from 22 to 30 fathoms across the sandy underside around it.

Nantucket Shoals, Madisons Location. SSE. 13 miles front side Round Shoal buoy, has 9 fathomsover a clean hard base of sand. It is about 3 a long way long, from SE. to NW. by 1? a long way wide.This can be a flounder floor for the increased part of the year and a good cod floor in November andOctober. Tides are heavy over this ground, as they are the rule elsewhere in this neighborhood.

More aged reports say (1880-81): "Halibut had been formerly discovered here in large quantity, butat the moment the fishery is limited to an occasional trip off the the southern area of and europeanedge." It will likely be noted that a fair amount of halibut was taken on this page during 1923, whenthis financial institution ranked third in amount of halibut undertaken, which seems a gooddemonstrating when the comparatively small measurements of the ground is regarded as. Fairlyexcellent catches are already made SW from the North west Peak of Browns, about 66? 50' westlongitude and 42? 40' north latitude, along the 100-fathom curve and following eastward to thesouthward of La Have and over and above, perhaps to 63? west longitude. The Southeast Optimumis perhaps one of the most productive of your halibut grounds here, "setting" off from the shoalerparts into the filter deep-water channel between this and Georges perhaps 20 miles remote.

Nantucket Shoals (Southern Shoal). This name is applied to the angling floor about NantucketLightship, which marks the Old South Shoal and the New South Shoal, the two making a continuousreef of unusual form some 10 to 12 miles in length and from 1 to 3 miles vast. The upper end of thelies about 12 mls S. by E. from Sankaty Head (the Old Southern Shoal), along with the southernextremity of the New South Shoal reaches to about 20 a long way S. ? E. from the identical point.The fishing ground is placed mostly for the S. of the shoals contributing to the lightship, where ottertrawling is carried on in most directions from the ship apart from from N. to NE., where lay thevessels sunk with the German submarine in the past due war. This fishery is likewise carried onWNW. from the deliver for a distance of 40 miles, even into 7 fathom depths near Muskeget Inlet.

Cod are present here the year around, perhaps the finest minn kota maxxum taking place in Mayand June, when the minn kota maxxum are found in about 40 fathoms They get into deeper water,about 60 fathoms, in August and into 100 fathoms as being the cold weather advancements. ThisClose off Island terrain may be considered essentially like a feeding ground for the cod, whichmanage to appear in this article after the spawning season is over, to fatten upon the crabs andmollusks dwelling on the bottom and on the herring and other small fish that swim forth and againIn the tide rips.

In the course of July and August the halibut are found across the Northern Side, over a extend offloor about 65 miles long in 60 to 100 fathoms; and from this time until the challenging weather ofthe winter will begin the minn kota maxxum continues on about the Northeast Peak (about 42? 00'N. and 66? 00' W.) on the narrow region on the side of the all of a sudden deepening water,beginning in from 60 to 70 fathoms, then in the market to 200 and even 300 fathoms. The wintersport fishing on Georges is very difficult and somewhat unsafe, so that the halibut fishery in thesewaters is rarely maintained or, at best, by very few vessels after Nov or prior to March.

The Southwest Portion. (120 kilometers SSE. from Highland Lighting, Cape Cod, with 45 to 80fathom depths) is a good terrain for haddock from the beginning of your fall as much as aboutChristmas, after which the very best winter sportfishing for this species is found on the SoutheastPart (achieved by steaming 145 a long way ESE. from Boston Lightship in order to remove theshoals, then SSE. 40 to 50 a long way, depending upon what part of the ground it is ideal to seafood). January is perhaps the most effective fishing month after this percentage of Georges.

Mackerel are usually very abundant on Georges inside their season, typically being large or mediumsized minn kota maxxum. Herring are found there in good number but are somewhat distant frommarket as fresh species of fish.

The cruise fleet operates here also, but, as a rule, more of these vessels are found on the soil lyingsome 10 miles farther eastward, on the side of Georges in somewhat much deeper water (30 to 50fathoms) over a rougher and rockier underside, where there exists a greater proportion of cod in theget than around the western area.

The figures of the get from Clarks Bank have been shown as well as those of Georges Bank. inwhich, in fact, this region is a part.

Over many of the bank the bottom is sand, although areas of hard ground (gravel, pebbles, androcks) of greater or less extent are found in many localities. Its position between the Bay of Fundyand the Gulf Flow cause the tide to run swifter than on other banking institutions and to swirlaround as an alternative to passing straight back, forth and over. The writer has seen two men havedifficulty in retaining an empty dory against the current.

The larger area of the sail fleet is found fishing about the grounds of the eastern area of the Channeland of the western side of Georges Banking institution, in part to avoid the damage that the ottertrawlers cause to them in hauling away their gear. It is often impossible for such steamers toprevent some damage of this kind: particularly is this the situation in the heavy weather so prevalentessential oil Georges. In the summer months of your "mackerel years" a large get of this species isextracted from the seas of the Route.

In its production Georges Bank itself is instead evenly separated between haddock and cod, the codshowing a slightly greater proportion. The South Station, on the western edge of Georges, showspredominantly as a haddock ground, and the haddock through the Channel is recognized as a better

minn kota maxxum than that from Georges. Georges Bank itself is also a vital haddock ground in thespring and early summer time, when this kinds abounds about the Cultivator Shoal (SE. by S. 88miles from Highland Light-weight. Cape Cod) in depths from 18 to 30 fathoms; and also at the sameseason along the Upper Edge (140 to 200 miles E. by S. ? S. from Boston Lightship in about 41? to42? N. lat. and 66? to 88? W. very long.) in 45 to 80 fathoms in summer, the minn kota maxxummoving away from into the further water (90 to 100 fathoms) in the neighborhood of the Corner ofthe Channel because the winter will come on. Most are found in March, when they give back fromthe serious water, when fishing is carried on 65 miles SE. from Highland in 70 fathoms; then theyenter into the 40-fathom depths through the North Shoal westward to the Corner of The Channelalong the Northern Edge. In April the Cultivator Cove is nice ground even into 20-fathom depths.

It will be documented that the volume of otter-trawl fares from this soil is modest. It is only in recentyears that it method of sportfishing continues to be employed right here, the bottom experiencingbeen regarded as too tough for the profitable operation of gear on this type on it.

Browns Bank. This financial institution lies in a northeastern direction from Georges and isseparated from it from a gully 15 miles vast, in which the depths range from 100 to 450 fathoms. Itsarea is all about 2,275 square kilometers. The greatest span, from SE to NW, is 63 miles and also thegreatest width is 43 miles. It can be situated between 64? 52" and 68? 29" western side longitude,and 41? 50" and 43? 02" to the north latitude. There exists a small difficult shoal about the northernportion, on which, it is stated, there is not 9 to 15 fathoms. The bank slopes away from the shoal, S.and E. to depths of 55 to 75 fathoms, but at a distance of 12 or 15 miles away from, it again rises to30 to 50 fathoms. This area of shoal normal water, within the 50 fathom restrict, is 50 miles long andhas an average width of 15 kilometers. North from the shoal the water deepens all of a sudden to 80and 70 fathoms. The bottom is essentially coarse pebbles, sand and gravel and rocks and is rich inwildlife life. The area of the lender is approximately 1,370 rectangular geographical a long way.

Haddock are also present all the year, the colleges being most abundant as well as the number bestin February and January, when the minn kota maxxum are in about 50 to 60 fathoms. Apparentlythey are available into depths of from 27 to 30 fathoms in April and March for spawning.

There is a small shoal named Pollock Rip, with a depth of 7 fathoms, showing SW from Seal Tropicalisle, distant 9? miles; but otherwise the ground slopes really gradually, the depths becoming from 15to 70 fathoms. The base is mainly coarse pebbles and gravel with infrequent rocky places of betteror much less extent. The tides sweep over this ground with considerable push out from and intoward the Bay of Fundy. the flood jogging strongest.

OFFSHORE Banking companies

[Footnote 15. "The earliest document of this label (Saint Georges Shoal) how the writer has foundappears after a map discovered in the local library of Simancas, in Spain, where a graph or chartsaid to happen to be made by a surveyor sent out to Virginia by David I of England, in 1610, wasfound in 1885 or 1888, after having a long time before disappeared from England. This chart isassumed to embody, besides the job of Champlain and other tourists, the information contained inthe English maps of Bright white,Pring and Gosnold, and probably of Waymouth's IdealGeographical Map. It is thought to have been drawn by Robert Tyndall or Captain Powell." Genesisof the United States. Alexander Brown.]

Cusk are present on this page during many of the year in 80 fathoms on the difficult bottom. Pollockare number of on this ground at any time of the year. This species, along with herring and mackerel,are abundant on the "shoreline soundings" of Close Island Ground, whence, pursuing the abundant

food furnished from the smaller seafood, they range a short distance in to the Bay of Fundy.Numerous mackerel are taken in the traps within the vicinity of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, whichseems to tag the reduce of their penetration in any significant schools in the western shore of NovaScotia.

Somewhere else depths common from 13 to 18 fathoms in the inner elements of the grounds,whence they slope apart gradually through the shore soundings into 50, 80, or maybe more on theoutside edge, where the ground tumbles away speedily into the deeps. For the most part this regionhas a base of fine sand, but you will find small stretches of coarse gravel, damagedpebbles andshells, and a few muddy spots.

Phelps Bank. This lender lies 38 miles SE, ? S. from Sankaty Brain Light and agrees more or less insizing, shape and trend and character of your bottom with Fishing Rip. Depths are from 10 to 17fathoms. About the southeast fringe of this lies Rogers Sport fishing Ground, with 24 to 40 fathomsaround fine grey sand. It can be perhaps primarily a haddock ground.

What exactly is apparently a gradually deepening extension of Seal Tropical isle Ground is foundabout 65 miles SSE. from Mount Desert Rock and roll and 60 miles W. from Close Island. Thereappears to be no distinguishing reputation for this area.

Without considered a halibut ground, as compared with a number of the other overseas banks,Georges can show an extremely considerable get of this varieties. Because of its nearness to thetrading markets it is a lot more intensely fished than some other ground of equal place and by a farincreased variety of products, most of which take a better or less amount of halibut. The otter-trawlfleet, the two here as well as in The Route, takes a substantial amount of this types when its totalcapture is considered; and they fish are mainly tiny, of from 4 to 10 pounds in weight, with onlyhardly ever a larger 1. The salt fishers, also, and the rest of the market fleet combine to make animposing total of the poundage of halibut from Georges and its particular vicinity. The Georgeshalibut is prestigious by the buy and sell above the halibut from other reasons. For what reason it isdifficult to say, unless since, since the journeys to this soil average much less days in size, the minnkota maxxum are received in the markets within a fresher problem than are those from a lot moredistant banking companies, though maybe its flesh may be exceptional.

Haddock, also, exist all the 12 months, the time of greatest plethora being typically January andFebruary. In March and April they are most abundant in 27 to 30 fathoms; at other months they arein 50 fathoms and much deeper, especially in winter, when usually they are available in 80 to 100fathoms. Cusk can be found in the strong water each of the year.

Nantucket Shoals; Davis Bank; Crab Bank. It is an irregular bit of bottom being untruthful in ausually ENE. and WSW direction at about 20 miles distance ESE from Sankaty Head. It can beperhaps 14 miles long by 5 miles broad at its broadest. Depths upon it are from 4 to 9 fathoms, withsoundings of 12 to 18 regarding this, over a bottom of yellow sand and damaged shells.

Within fairly recent years this ground has become much employed by the otter trawlers, what sort ofcraft has created a effective fishery in this article, which is becoming operated in steadily growingvolume and takes a capture that is predominantly of haddock.

The Route. [14] The Channel markings the american edge of Georges Bank. The previous Eldridgegraph or chart states that for the fishermen the 30 fathom contour running southerly from RacePoint, although its limitations are somewhat indefinite. Cape Cod, boundaries its western edge. Thisground is much visited by the Boston fleet, both sail and steam, line trawlers and otter trawlers, the

fleet of Gloucester, and the otter-trawl fleet that has developed in Ny in recent years. This region isall great minn kota maxxum ground inside the proper period, but possibly the most important is thefact that part lying 25 miles E. ? S. from Sankaty Head, Nantucket. Here is a levels, sandy base,where, while in May,July and June, and August, the otter trawlers operate effectively in 18 to 30fathoms water, making a get that is comprised principally of haddock, with a considerable portion ofcod, especially in July and June, along with a fair amount also ofpollock and cusk, and hake. Smallhalibut are reasonably abundantin this article and also, these sea food getting of from 5 to R lbs,rarely larger sized. Flounders are abundant, with a good number of "lemon bottoms" and "greysoles," which are quite popular with the buy and sell.

[Footnote 14: Capt. John Smith published of this region: "In the direction of the Southwest and Southof this Cape (Cape Cod) is found a very long and risky shoal of sands and rocks. But so far while iincircled it, I found thirtie fadom water aboard the shore, along with a strong existing; which makesmee thinke you will find a Channell concerning the shoales; where is the greatest and greatest fishto be Winter, had and Summer in every that Countree. But the Savages say there is no Channell; butthat the shoales begin in the main at Pawmet, towards the Ile of Nausit; and thus extends beyondtheir information into the ocean." That this captain's good reputation for far-visioned knowledge maynot be kept too gently, let these figures communicate, taken as they are from the bureau's recordsfrom the landings at the three ports of Boston, Gloucester. and Portland for that year 1927, when thefares from his "Channell" numbered 2,036, with a poundage of 121,688,693 and a importance of$3,607,358.]

St. Georges Bank, more generally known as Georges Bank. [15] This is by far the greatest and mostimportant fishing ground close to the coast of the United States and is second to none in thetraditional western Atlantic besides the Huge Bank of Newfoundland. It lies eastward of Cape Codand Nantucket Shoals which is apparently an extension of your latter, since the water is no deeperinvolving the southern portion of the shoals and the western portion of the bank in comparison tomany places after it. Its southern reduce, as shown on the graph, is 40? The 50-fathom line extends7 miles farther south, though 40' northern latitude. The southern limit, therefore, can be consideredto be about 40? 30' and the upper as 42? 08' northern latitude. The eastern aspect is in about 66? aswell as the western in about 69? western side longitude. The highest length in the northeastern forthe southwestern extremity is about 150 miles; the very best width, N. and S., about 98 miles, in linewith the charts of the Coast Study.

cod, cusk, halibut, hake, pollock and Haddock will be the principal food fishes procured from thisbank, ranking in volume in the order called. In importance, however, halibut takes thirdly place intheir list. Fewer vessels fish here than on Georges Bank, at this season, although cod are plentifulhere in winter season. At other seasons the codfishery on Browns Banking institution comparesfavorably with that of other banking institutions in the location. Cod exist the year all around, in Maypossibly and June feeding in depths of approximately 40 fathoms, going into 80 fathoms in August,and into depths of about 100 fathoms in cold weather.

[Table 4--Fishing grounds of the Georges Area, demonstrating the principal varieties taken withthem.]

The area of the whole banking institution is approximately 8,050 sq miles, all of these, except for theshoals, can be found in summer to the taking of cod, haddock, halibut and cusk and hake, withplenty of mackereling and swordfishing, along with the taking of other varieties.

The depths allow me to share from 70 to 100 fathoms across a broken underside ofgravel and mud,and then in places fine sand. The ground falls off rapidly on all sides except toward Seal off Island as

well as the Nova Scotia coast, leaving an area at its conclusion of fairly indeterminate duration,perhaps 18 or 20, miles, and achieving a distance across of approximately 8 mls at its widest portion.