Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of MaineRich, Walter H. (Walter Herbert)
History
Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine
Rich, Walter H. (Walter Herbert)
Fisheries -- Maine, Gulf of
Gravel Bottom and Southeast Ground. These lie S. of Seal Island.
forming an extensive piece of fairly level ground extensive piece of
fairly level ground. The western that bears a little E. of S. and the
eastern part about ESE. from the island. It is about 5 or 10 miles in
diameter. While this is really but one piece of ground, the eastern part
is called the Southeast Ground and the western part, from the nature of
its bottom.
The Gravel Bottom. The eastern portion is muddy and has 40
to 60 fathoms. The western has 35 to 40 fathoms. It is a good cod
ground in winter and spring. Haddock are present from November to March,
inclusive; hake in summer. Fishing is done mainly by trawling by sloops
and vessels.
Laisdells Ground. This is a small, rocky spot outside the Brandy
Ledges. It is about 1/4 acre in extent and has a sharp rocky bottom with
20 fathoms of water over it. It is the best cod and haddock ground in
Isle au Haute Bay. This is chiefly a small boat ground and is also a
lobster ground.
Saddleback Reef. This reef lies S. from Saddle-back Ledge, 3/4 mile
distant. It is about 2/3 mile long N and S by 1/4 mile wide. Depths are
from 15 to 35 fathoms over a broken and rocky bottom. Cod are taken
here by hand line in May and June; haddock and cod by trawling in fall
and winter (November to January 1). It is a good lobster ground and
chiefly a small-boat ground.
Otter Island Reef; Snipper Shin; Western Reef. These are names applied
to different sections of an irregular, broken piece of rocky ground
about halfway between Vinalhaven and Seal Island. Otter Island Reef is
the eastern section, lying 4 miles W. by S. by 1/4 S. from the western
head of Isle au Haute. Depths here are from 10 to 25 fathoms over a
rocky bottom. The trawl, formerly not much used here, is now in general
use. This is a cod and haddock ground at seasons when these fish are in
shoal water, but it is best for cod in winter and spring and for haddock
in the fall, from November 1 to January 1.
Old Ripper. This lies S. from the Western Ground (Western Reef) and 10
miles WSW. from Criehaven or Ragged Island. Apparently this is a part of
the Western Ground. On the deep-water mud bottom between these (Ripper
and Western Reef) is good hake fishing in summer, and cusk are abundant
from May to the time when the dogfish strike the ground, usually about
July 5 to 10.
Crie Ridges. These lie 4 miles NW. from Matinicus Rock, 4 miles WSW.
from Criehaven or Ragged Island, and run SE. from Western Ground toward
Matinicus, distant 4 1/2 to 5 miles. Cod, pollock, and cusk are here in
the spring, and haddock are abundant in the fall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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