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
This bank is now mainly an Italian boat ground and is used by small
craft from Boston and Gloucester. Gill-netting here is especially
extensive in November and December, mostly for pollock. Netters operate
about 22 miles SSE. from Eastern Point in 22 to 25 fathoms on a hard
bottom. Good pollock catches are made in 25 to 40 fathoms on the eastern
and southeastern slopes in the latter part of November and early
December. Haddock are here from November 1 to March 1 and from April 20
to May 15. Cod are present all the year, the largest school occurring
during August, September and October. It is a cusk ground from November
to March in the deeper water. What seems a somewhat unusual occurrence
in these later years was the appearance of a considerable school of
halibut on the northern slope of Stellwagen during the last half of
April 1926, several small craft getting from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds in
their fares.
Wild Cat Ridge. Very heavy tides sweep over this ground, making it
difficult to haul gear in fishing upon it, whence, it is said, comes the
name. It lies NNE from Highland Light, Cape Cod, 18 miles to its
southern edge; SE 1/2 S from Thacher Island 31 miles; and is about 7 1/2
miles long in a north and south direction by about 3 1/2 miles wide. The
bottom is hard, of broken shells and sand, and depths are from 45 to 60
fathoms. There are 100 fathom depths inside of the ground and from 100
to 110 fathoms outside of it. Apparently, this is an all the year
ground for cod, cusk, and haddock, although but little fished at any
time other than the winter seasons.
[Table 3--Outer Fishing Grounds, showing the principle species taken
upon them.]
[Footnote 13: There has been some speculation as to the origin of the
somewhat unusual name of this bank. The writer would note that there was
an Edward Tillie in the Company of Captain John Smith when he explored
this region in 1614 and a Tilly (perhaps the same person) who operated a
fishing station at Cape Ann during the years 1624 and 1625.]
GEORGES AREA
East side of Cape Cod. The sea bottom off the east side of Cape Cod is
mainly sandy and slopes off gradually from the beach, reaching depths of
30 to 40 fathoms at 5 to 7 miles from land. Below Chatham the slope is
even more gradual. Within these limits good catches of cod are taken
occasionally, and to a less extent the same is true of haddock. Farther
from the shore, in from 40 to 80 fathoms and from a point 8 or 10 miles
off the Highlands of Cape Cod to another point lying 20 miles or more
SSE. from Chatham Lights, is a continuous stretch of excellent haddock
grounds for winter fishing. The deep water off Chatham furnishes
excellent hake fishing in summer and fall.
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