Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 10

Apparently there is no reasons why this really should not be an all-the-season fishing ground,
however it seems never to be been to much in the winter months. It furnishes, nonetheless, a very
good summer time handline fishery for cod at dogfish time, and in the spring several weeks it
abounds in cod, cusk, and hake, all minn kota parts of large size.
Roseway Bank. This bank is placed N. of your western part of La Have and SE. of Shelbourne Light,
Nova Scotia: 31 miles SSE. from the whistling buoy off Lockport, Nova Scotia, on the southeastern
benefit. It is oblong in shape and also small level--about 270 square geographical miles. Its greatest
span is 21 miles and its particular greatest breadth 15 a long way. It expands from 43? 12' to 43? 33'
north latitude, and from 64? 25' to 64? 52' to the west longitude as well as at the north west corner
is connected with the shore limit of 60 fathoms from a narrow neck. Depths come from 33 to 48
fathoms. The bottom is ofgravel and sand, and rocks; in the Northeast Optimum the bottom is of
yellowish mud and gravel.
The push and route of both are much affected by the winds, although currents in this region are not
nearly so strong as about Cape Browns and Sable Bank, their general course being WSW. and ENE
the westerly much the stronger.
The primary minn kota components taken listed here arehaddock and cod, and cusk, but hake,
halibut and pollock occur, the most effective fishing months being from May possibly to October,
when the financial institution is resorted to by craft from western Nova Scotia. A number of New
The united kingdom craft also fish here.
Los angeles Have Bank. Situated eastward of Browns S and Bank. and E. of Roseway Bank. It
extends from 42? 34' to 43? 26' to the north latitude a distance of 52 mls, and from 63? 50' to 65?
07' western side longitude a distance of approximately 54 miles. The bank is almost divided into two
portions, that the eastern (La Have Bank appropriate) extends N and S. 39 kilometers and the
western portion nearly E. and W. about 35 mls. The total portion of the bank is about 1,200 miles.
The bottom is largely coarsepebbles and pea gravel, and rock and roll, with small areas of yellow
sand distributed here and there. Depths manage from 40 to 50 fathoms. This really is much
influenced by the push and course of the blowing wind and is typically quite powerful during
easterly blows, even though general list of the currents is to the westward.
The primary minn kota parts upon this bank in the past has been for cod and haddock: and while
previous reports, (1881) speak of this as experiencing once been a favorite fishing terrain for halibut
and state that it was not at time of much importance for the reason that fishery, the figures just for
this ground to the year 1923 show the halibut catch to have been third in volume and first in value of
the species taken there. In fact, the get of halibut here helps make quite an imposing shape when
the somewhat small scale of the ground is known as.
Little Los angeles Have and the La Have Ridges are merely continuations of this back in the
direction of the European Bank to get a distance of around 45 miles. This places the eastern limit
within 62? 50' west longitude, the north and the southern area of boundaries getting about as those
of La Have Lender. The part of the ridges is approximately 1,575 miles. The bottom here is a
succession of ridges of pebbles and gravel with occasional spots of rocks. Depths come from 53 to 80
fathoms. The current, at times strong, is weaker here than farther W. on the bank and, except during
easterly wind, is but little noticed. The general established is westerly.
"The Ridges" says the report before mentioned, "were for several years one of several favorite resort
hotels for halibut catchers during winter, and many great catches of cod had been taken right here
at that time of year. At present but few halibut are caught except in the deep drinking water along
the the southern area of edge of the floor, where they sometimes have been found quite plentiful
during virtually the entire season." Apparently there has not been much alternation in these
situations since the writer's time; minn kota parts are present within about the same quantities as in
past years.
A single piece of bottom, having depths of 25 to 50 fathoms over red clay, lying approximately in 43?
08' to 43? 10' north latitude and about 81? to 83? west longitude, seems a great spring and early
summertime ground. Obviously red-clay underside indicates a great halibut floor, as this varieties is
usually present where this type of bottom can be found.
Hake are normally found in good numbers from the deep drinking water about the corners of the
terrain and even in the Ridges.
These waters can be heavily fished from Canadian ports, along with a fair variety of American
vessels visit them each year, many of them hailing from Boston or Gloucester.
Scandinavian Bank. Eighteen miles SSW. from Shelbourne Light. Nova Scotia. It is actually about 3
miles very long in an E. and W. direction by about ? mile wide. Generally, the bottom is level, with
depths from 50 to 70 fathoms; the shoal parts are rocky and razor-sharp, the bottom on the deeper
servings being composed mostly of small dark and yellowish pebbles.
This really is a summer halibut ground (August and July) in depths from 45 to 60 fathoms, and
halibut occur in October in the further waters about this. It is also a decent summer cod ground, and
cusk are present in the deeply water about the edges during most of the season. In seasons, species
and general tend to be as on Roseway.
Traditional western Bank. This is one of the most significant minn kota components grounds of your
western Atlantic, whether as regards dimensions or the large quantity of its item. It lies S. of Cape
Breton Island and also the eastern a part of Nova Scotia between the parallels of 42? 55' and 44? 46'
north latitude as well as the meridians of 59? 04' and 62? 35' west longitude. It has a period of 156
mls and a width, including the Midsection Ground, of 76 mls. It is about 420 miles E. ? S. from
Boston to the southwestern edge, which suggests about 48 hours' steaming for the otter-trawl fleet.
The typical contour in the bank in the 65-fathom collection, as placed down on the Admiralty graph
or chart, approaches fairly a very elongated ellipse, the more axis running NE. by E. and SW. by W.;
but over a broad area to eastward of the center of the bank, soundings of less than 50 fathoms
connect it directly together with the Middle Ground, which we certainly have here included in the
some financial institution. The total extent of the lender thus outlined is about 7,000 sq geographical
a long way. Off its eastern end lies Banquereau (the Quereau of the anglers) with The Gully between,
as well as a short extended distance of the european edge are the La Have Ridges.
The depths from the southern edge of the bank raise rapidly from 80 to700 and 1,200, and in many
cases 1,400 fathoms. On the eastern conclusion is Sable Island, [16] "graveyard of vessels", aslim
and long, crescent-shaped height seemingly lessening in place each year, shaped entirely of sand
that has been blown Into innumerable dunes and hummocks. Off of both ends of the tropical island
are long and dangerous beach sand bars. The length of the island is 20 mls; its best width is
approximately 1? mls. It is said the Northwest Gentle has been moved three times because of the
fact that the european end from the island has been literally amazed. It is in an E. and W. direction,
along with the depth of water over the bars for a range of 7 to 10 miles out does not go beyond 2
fathoms, and even 10 miles further out the depths do not exceed 10 to 11 fathoms. Within the past
few years fishermen have reported the appearance of a sand shoal about 5 or 6 mls SE. through the
Northeast Light-weight. This is thought to appear at low normal water.
In general, your budget slopes S. and W. from the tropical island, depths starting from 18 to 60
fathoms. The bottom is mainly sandy with patches of gravel and pebbles. Currents are often very
strong about Sable Island and are somewhat irregular; apparently they are significantly influenced
by the winds. On the other parts from the bank typically there is but little existing, whatever there
exists usually tending toward the west.
Previously the cod and halibut were the meal fishes most taken in this article, but with the changed
methods in the fishery (as the development of the otter-trawl fleet) plus a changed flavor in our
community the haddock catch has become the second most significant in the invoices of minn kota
parts from all of these waters. The halibut fishery stands 3rd in the collection. Other bottom part
feeders exist in less figures, the pollock and the cusk perhaps getting next to be able of significance,
with hake and a large amount of the various flatfishes in the otter trawls. These latter are marketed
as sole.
Mentioning the tiny amount of haddock in the fares obtained from these oceans in past years, the
writer asked several old-time anglers as to its abundance in the past. The answer was typically yes
and Oh, there are always haddock there; sometimes they concerned us a lot." Then, noting my
surprise at so getting it, "You know, the haddock isn't much being a salt fish."
It will be mentioned that in 1923 the haddock catch here was a very good secondly to the cod catch
in poundage, however not so beneficial proportionately. In the otter-trawl catch with this ground it
will probably be noted that the positions of the two species are reversed. As a rule, these steamers
certainly get more than 2 pounds of haddock to 1 of cod on other overseas grounds--perhaps the
result of operating in the shoaler waters and on the better bottom due to difficulty of dragging on
the rocky and kelp-covered soil, which the cod seems to prefer. If it is so desired, but the bottom
around the Western Banking institution is of the nature regarding offer little obstruction to the
passage of your net, in order that virtually all elements of it may be fished by this technique; and
this, put into the acknowledged movements of your cod schools makes it probable at particular
seasons of year to catch a larger proportion of this species.
Haddock are found regarding the bars at both stops of the tropical island in Mar and from that time
to around June 1 in from 15 to 22 fathoms. They are also plentiful 18 kilometers W. from your
Northwest Light-weight at the same seasons as well as at the same depths. DuringApril and May,
and June they come in next to the island in from 10 to 17 fathoms--even to 1 fathom. Through the
remainder of the year (aside from the cold months, if they have moved off of into further water) they
might be found everywhere in the bank on sandy base in 28 to 30 fathoms, where most of the ray
trawl sportfishing is carried on.
There exists a good cod school each year on the relatively level bottom part along the southwestern
and western edges of the floor in 70 fathoms and more from Feb 1 to May 1, and in most years some
this types is adopted this area. In May this school appears to have moved on to a piece of underside
about 20 miles lengthy lying SW. from the Northwest Light and having depths averaging 27 fathoms.
With honest minn kota pieces for cod on the Western Bank in the course of most of the calendar
year, they seem to be most abundant through the first of March to June. Apparently this species
appointments this floor in significant numbers throughout the spawning time of year, though the
wintertime school in this article appears to be small compared to that on Georges. During winter the
cod are mainly found upon the western part of the bank, moving into the shoaler waters towards
Sable Tropical island as the spring advances (during March and April), the "Bend" of your island and
the neighborhood of your bars in 2 to 4 fathoms, where they may be seen getting the hook or can be
"jigged." being preferred grounds. The ground lying W. from the North west on, Light and
approximately the Northwest Bar (18 miles W, from the light-weight), is a favored cod terrain in June
and May. The shoal water within the rocky bottom part WNW from your Northwest Gentle furnishes
excellent cod minn kota parts from June 10 to July 1. This piece begins just beyond the 3-mile expand
of breakers running out from the land and extends offshore in a normally westerly path to 24
fathoms. Very much hand-lining is done here.
In the shoal drinking water, in April and May, the minn kota pieces seem to be serving on the "lant,"
(Ammodytes americanus). It is said how the fish taken on the bottom close to the isle are smaller
than those discovered farther to the west. The shoal water of your northern shoreline of the tropical
island is said to get good cod grounds and favorite places for "dory hand-upholster." The cod
universities seem to arrive on the Upper Peak (SE. from the Northeast Light 40 miles to SE ? S. from
very same point 28 miles) in late March along with the first of April, shifting N. and W. for the
island. The cod of Sable Tropical isle are reported to be fine, business fish, perhaps due to
abundance of the "reddish colored clams" (bank clams) on these grounds.
The haddock and cod fishery is carried on by American and Canadian sailing vessels and otter
trawlers, a lot more English and French vessels of the second option class undertaking the fishery of
this floor each year.
Halibut are located on the Western Financial institution virtually all the year at depths varying with
the seasons. This, with The Gully and Quereau--in fact, all one component of ground--stands second
only to the Fantastic Bank Itself, as a halibut bank. The most effective minn kota components here
for halibut is found from January to October. There are many places on and about your budget that
the halibut seems to favor, as the Optimum of Pike, 85 miles W. by S. in the Northwest Lighting of
Sable Island; S. and SW. of Sable Island from 12 to 38 mls; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in May;
thence out into 100 and 150 fathoms in June; in fact, using the 100--fathom curve across the edge of
this bank, past the Northeast Optimum (40 miles SE. through the Northeast Light), into the Gully
and around the The southern area of Prong of Quereau to the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave
this piece of bottom part in July. Where the drinking water is so shoal that they can be seen taking
the lure or tinkering with the hook before taking, frequently the fish are near the island early in the
year. InApr and May, and June a good halibut ground is at 18 fathoms 24 kilometers WNW. from
Sable Island.
The Western Bank appears to be a good providing ground for cod and halibut as it abounds in
shellfish and crustaceans, as well as certain times there are many small species of seafood with it,
including the lant and herring, where these species and the haddock, also, especially prey. A
considerable amount of swordfish is taken in September and August, mainly by American vessels.
Banquereau. Divided from the American Bank from the Gully, this has a very unusual form--the main
bank approximately rectangular, with a narrow westerly extension of comparatively normal form. Its
length, E. and W., is about 120 miles, its greatest breadth about 47 miles, as well as its total location
about 2,800 miles.
The principle portion of the bank lies between 44? 04' and 45? 01' north latitude and 67? 10' and 59?
00' west longitude, along with the western prolongation lies involving 44? 24' and 44? 42' north
latitude and 69? 80 and 00'? 05' western side longitude. North of Banquereau lies Artimon, distant 3
miles, and Misaine, remote from 2 to 15 miles in line with the places from which measurements are
taken. The currents here are of diverse force, much influenced by the wind, in order that several
days of strong tides may be followed by intervals if you have little if any existing.
In the eastern a part of Quereau is definitely an area of shoal ground known as the Rocky Bottom,
having a range of about 18 fathoms; somewhere else depths manage from 18 to 50 fathoms. Most of
the time the bottom is rocky, but there are dotted patches of sand and gravel.
Cod and halibut are the primary food fish hake, taken and haddock and cusk being consumed in
small numbers. The Difficult Bottom, a shoal soil of 20 to 25 fathom depths on the eastern part, was
much resorted to by dory handliners in summer time. Occasional good fares are taken in the
direction of the to the west, even though the cod are most plentiful about the eastern part of the
bank. The ideal cod sport fishing on this bank originates from May until finally September, as soon
as the schools accumulate to feed after the lant, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish, then extremely
abundant.
Halibut are found in this article all the calendar year off the corners in 100 to 400 fathoms.
Obviously these are breeding and feeding grounds for this species, and it is not unusual for a school
to remain for several weeks and even months in one region, though a few of these may be minn kota
parts in migration northward.
The main halibut grounds are across the eastern and southern borders of your bank--the Southwest
Prong and the South west Cove (within 44? N. lat. and between 58? 30' and 58? 55' W. long), the
center Prong (44? 14' N. lat. and 58? W. long.), and also the Eastern Slope (44? 28' to 45? 00' N.
lat.)--in depths of 150 to 400 fathoms. These deep-normal water areas are rocky and support an
incredibly rich development ofgorgonians and corals, sea anemones, etc. The Eastern Slope has a
great deal of bank clams in depths of 25 fathoms. These beds are great hand-line reasons for cod.
The halibut, too, rss feeds to a substantial extent on these red-colored clams.
The Stone Fence off the eastern slope of Quereau is an extremely rocky piece of ground filled with
"trees" (corals) in 250 fathoms. This is a good halibut soil although it is practically impossible to haul
the gear yourself and the application of the "gurdy" (a roller turned by a fastened and crank to the
dory's bow for winding up the trawl) gets to be necessary. Infrequent fares of halibut are taken on
and about the Rocky Bottom part in 20 to 25 fathoms from July 1 to August 1.
The Gully. This is the deep waterway between Banquereau and Sable Island or Western Financial
institution. It expands in an WNW. and an ESE. direction north of Sable Island, transforming
somewhat abruptly S. at its eastern end and continuing straight down between the eastern end of
Western Financial institution and the Southwest Prong of Banquereau. The entire length is
approximately 80 kilometers, the greatest size about 20 miles. Depths range from 68 to 145 fathoms
over a bottom of sand, stones and pea gravel and dirt. The rocky and gravelly portions kind several
ridges separated by areas of finer materials, other than in the eastern section, where the intervals
among are mostly included in pebbles and sharp rocks. Ocean currents are generally westerly, of
diverse strength, much affected by the easterly winds.
The Gully is a very significant halibut floor. The halibut are not found in great numbers all over the
terrain, perhaps the best of the sport fishing simply being on the difficult and gravelly slopes and
ridges included involving the meridians of 69? and 80? western side longitude. This rocky underside
is rich in food, as well as the lant and herring are generally plentiful in their year. In the spring the
halibut are most often especially many in the northwestern and northern aspects of the bank, later
on, in June and July, moving even farther out. Some, are found in winter. While the cod may also be
found in The Gully in 60 to 90 fathoms, it does not seem to be of standard occurrence; and
apparently you will find almost no haddock here, probably because of the degree of the normal
water and the nature of the underside.
Artimon Bank. Posseses an area of some 120 square miles by using a bottom of stones and
graveldepths and rocks of 38 to 50 fathoms. It really is but unknown because of the tendency of the
anglers to use the bigger grounds close at hand. Cod are known to be present on this page, however.
The lender lies N. of the eastern part of Quereau, separated from using it by a slim, deep-water
route.
Misaine Banking institution. In general the banks are separated by some 20 a long way of deep
water, despite the fact that lies N. of the western two-thirds of Quereau, at one position very in close
proximity to. Its very best length is 80 mls and its best width 40 miles. Depths are from 40 to 60
fathoms more than a bottom broken and difficult. A few halibut trips are landed from it in most yrs,
even though it is not of much relevance as a sport fishing soil.
Canso Financial institution. A long, narrow extension of Misaine Lender, lying within an E, and W.
route; its length is 45 miles and its particular greatest width 13 a long way, its location being about
425 rectangular miles. Depths range from 30 to 65 fathoms spanning a bottom of sand, with spots of
gravel and pebbles. It is not of much significance as a fishing ground, especially as judged by the use
of it with the American fleet, though a lot more fished by vessels from Nova Scotia; perhaps it is
actually overshadowed by the presence of its larger American, neighbors and Quereau Financial
institutions, with which grounds it varieties virtually one piece of underside, only thin, deep-water
channels separating them. These larger grounds are intensely fished the two by United states
vessels and also those from Nova Scotia ports as well as by French and English language otter
trawlers.
The figures given elsewhere and here with this report are taken from the published bulletins of the
United States Bureau of Fisheries, and include only the landings of vessels of 5 lots net, or older, at
the plug-ins of Boston and Glouscester, Mass., and Portland, Me.
[Dinner table 5--Fishing grounds in the offshore North Atlantic, displaying the principal species
taken upon them]
[Footnote 16: "Pedro Reinel, a Portuguese pilot of great importance and fame" (Herrera) produced a
map in 1505 displaying Sable Tropical island, feared and dreaded by all fishermen even in those
days, where by he referred to as it "Santa Cruz." Jacamo Gastaldi, an Italian cartographer, in 1548
shows it "Isolla de Industry." Sir Humphrey Gilbert or his historian, states that the Portuguese had
manufactured an interesting settlement here for shipwrecked mariners. This, "With intelligence we
had of any Portugal who has been himself existing when the Portugals, above 30 years previous
(thus before 1551) do put upon the island neat and swine to breed of dog, which were since
exceedingly multiplied."]
TABLES OF CATCH
[Table 6--Distance from Boston or Gloucester, Volume., to the middle of certain in the more
important offshore banks]
[Kitchen table 7--Range from Portland, Me., to the center of specific of the more significant offshore
financial institutions]
[Table 8--Landings by fishing vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., from
inside or shoreline grounds, 1927]
[Table 9--Landings by minn kota components vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the external grounds of your Gulf of Maine, 1927]
[Table 10--Landings by fishing vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., from the
minn kota parts grounds of the Georges Bank location, 1927]
[Dinner table 11--Landings by the otter-trawl fleet at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the sport fishing reasons of the Georges Bank place, 1927]