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
Old Orchard Ground, Wood Island Ground, Cape Porpoise Peaks. Extending
over a piece of bottom made up of blue clay with numerous rocky patches,
this ground has depths of from 20 to 50 fathoms. Bearing about NE. from
Cape Porpoise and distant from 4 to 5 miles, it lies in a N. and S.
direction and is about 5 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide. It is a good
spring and summer cod ground, a summer hake ground, and haddock are here
in April and May and in the fall and winter and cusk on the deeper parts
the year around. This ground is much resorted to by small boats and in
winter by some of the larger vessels of the vicinity. Fishing is by hand
lines, trawls, and a certain amount by gill netting over the smoother
parts. Marks: The eastern end of Wood Island on the bank at Old Orchard;
to the center 6 miles SSE. from Wood Island Light.
Drunken Ledge (Drunkers). Eight miles from Cape Elizabeth; 3 miles N.
of Tanta 4 miles S. by E. from the whistling buoy off Cape Elizabeth.
Depths are 18 to 40 fathoms on a bottom of sharp rocks. It is about 5
miles long N. and S. by 2 miles wide, extending SSW. and NNE. Cod and
cusk are taken the year around; hake in the summer on the mud at edges;
haddock from March to June. Fishing is by trawl, hand line, and gill
net. Marks: Western Light of Cape Elizabeth on eastern part of woods on
Cape until the lightship bears NE.
Eagle Island Ground. This lies S. from Halfway Rock 2 miles. It has a
rocky bottom with 20 to 25 fathoms. It is a good cod ground the year
around, fished mainly by hand line; there is little trawling here and
only a small amount of gill netting.
Flat Ledge; Temple Ledge. Two miles SW. of Bald Head, Cape Small
Point, rises a piece of rocky ground from the 20-fathom depths
surrounding it. Over the shoal in the center are 5 fathoms, and from
this the water deepens on all sides, there being 16 fathoms on the
deepest part of the ledge and an average of 20 fathoms about it. The
rocky bottom is about 1 1/2 miles long, NE. and SW., by about 3/4 mile
wide. The ledge and the hard bottom about it make good gill-netting
grounds for cod in the spring months. On the ledge a considerable amount
of hand-lining fur cod and pollock is carried on in late May and through
June. In the normal seasons of the mackerel fishery this is a good
ground on which to seine these fish in June. July, and August. It is
also a good lobster ground and is a haddock ground in July and August.
Marks: Wallace House in Bald Head Cove on the western edge of Bald
Head; Flag Island and the eastern Brown Cow Into line.
The Gully: Mark Island Gully. Bring Seguin over Fullers Rock, 6 miles
from Mark Island. This gully lies inside The Elbow. The bottom is sandy
on the shoal parts, where there are 50 fathoms; broken and rocky in the
deep water in 70 fathoms; and muddy on the edges. It is a good lobster
grounds.
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