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
Jeffreys Ledge. Jeffreys Ledge may be considered one of the best
fishing grounds in the Gulf of Maine, although of comparatively small
size. It appears to be an extension of the shoal ground that makes off
in an easterly direction from Cape Ann, it is about 20 miles long in a
NE. and SW. direction and about 4 miles wide. Its southern limits is 42
deg. 54' and its northern limit 43 deg. north latitude; its eastern and
western boundaries may be placed at 69 deg. 58' and 70 deg. 18' west
longitude. The bottom is rocky on the shoaler parts, with gravel and
pebbles on the edges. Depths on the bank are from 27 to 35 fathoms,
falling off to 40 or 50 on the edges. The shoalest water lies from 4 to
5 miles N. by E. from the buoy, where there is 22 fathoms. Ordinarily
there is little or no tide, with an occasional current SW. There are,
however, strong westerly currents with the heavy easterly winds, and
often after a period of mild weather with no strong tides there will
suddenly develop a heavy SW. flow, indicating the approach of a strong
northwester. This seems a general rule in the Gulf of Maine and is,
perhaps, prevalent over much of our North Atlantic coast.
Jeffreys Ledge bears S. 1/2 W. from the lightship off Portland, 19 miles
to the northern edge and 22 miles S. from the buoy on the Hue and Cry to
the edge of the shoal.
A small cove makes for a short distance into the western side of
Jeffreys Ledge at about 20 miles from Boon Island in a SE. by S. 1/2 S.
direction. The bottom in the cove is broken and muddy, with depths of
about 60 fathoms. Thence, the ground slopes away to the mouth, where the
edges about the entrance are rocky and have 70 and 75 fathom depths.
These rocky areas are cusk grounds in January, February, and March,
during which months the cove itself usually furnishes good haddock
fishing. Outside these depths the water deepens westward over a muddy
bottom, where are from 80 to 90 and even 100 fathoms of water. Fishing
here is mainly by trawl and gill nets.
Lying about SE. by S. 1/2 5. from the Isle of Shoals 20 miles, 13 miles S.
by W. from the whistling buoy on Jeffreys, and 43 miles S. by W. from
Cape Elizabeth is a broken piece of bottom having from 75 to 85 fathoms
of water over it, which is a haddock ground from January to April and a
cusk and hake ground all the year.
A small shoal in the western part of the Cove of Jeffreys, having 50
fathoms over a bottom of blue clay and rocks and rising from the 60 and
70 fathom soundings about it, is about 1 1/2 miles long by about 3/4 mile
wide. This shoal is SSE. from Boon Island 15 miles. It is a winter
ground for cod and haddock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account