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
Middle Shoal, Pollock Rip, Allens Shoal, and Deckers Shoal. These are
small rocky patches lying to eastward of Monhegan Island and northerly
from the Outer Shoal. They have depths from 6 to 30 fathoms over a
sharp, rocky, and broken bottom. Middle Shoal is 2 miles from the
island. Pollock Rip 1 1/2 miles. Allens Shoal 1 1/4 miles, having 5 1/2
fathoms and breaking in rough weather; and Deckers Shoal 1 mile. Depths
vary here from 6 to 30 fathoms over a bottom generally sharp and rocky.
The principal fishing here is hand-lining for cod in the spring during
the herring season and in the fall in "squid time". A few pollock are
taken here also.
A number of small patches lie westerly from the Outer Shoal and close to
Monhegan Island. These are the Cusk Ground with a depth of 20 to 35
fathoms; Gull Rock Ledge (breaks in rough weather) 3 1/2 fathoms;
Lobster Point Ground, 15 to 30 fathoms; Inner Spring Ground, 15 to 30
fathoms; Outer Spring Ground 25 to 30 fathoms. All these are fished for
cod nearly all the year, for haddock in December and January, and for
pollock in early spring and late fall. The Spring Grounds are near the
harbor and so are fished before the others. All are lobster grounds.
Small boats and vessels operate here.
Black Island Ground. This ground is ENE. 2 miles from Monhegan. 1 mile
in diameter, has a shoal of 10 fathoms, and sharp rocky bottom in the
center. The ground slopes gradually from this to the edges, where are 40
fathoms. Beyond the depths of 28 to 30 fathoms the bottom is gravelly
and smoother. This is a cod ground in spring, and cod and hake are taken
here on the edges in summer and fall. Pollock are found about the shoal
in summer. It is a good lobster ground.
Franklin Ground. This ground is NE. by N. midway between Monhegan and
Burnt Island, distant 4 miles. Cod and haddock are found here from April
to June and pollock in summer. In summer and fall hake are taken by
night fishing with hand line about the rocks in 20 to 30 fathoms on the
broken ground. Fishing here is by hand-lining in summer and trawling in
fall and winter. It is a lobster ground.
White Head Ground. Depths on the shoal (the White Hub: Bring Budd
cottage out by White Head, Black Head. and Allens Island touching) are 7
fathoms, thence to 20 fathoms on the edges about it. This ground extends
NE. and SW., 2 miles long by 1/4 mile wide. The bottom is chiefly
broken, of rocks, and with spots of coarse gravel and sand. Fish and
their seasons are as on Franklin Ground. Marks: Bring Black Head, White
Head, and Gull Head in range on the east side of Monhegan Island.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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