Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 10

Apparently there is no reasons why this must not be an all-the-calendar year minn kota parts ground,
but it really seems not to be been to much during the cold months. It furnishes, however, 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 fish of large size.
Roseway Bank. This bank is N. of the western element of La Have and SE. of Shelbourne Light, Nova
Scotia: 31 miles SSE. from the whistling buoy away Lockport, Nova Scotia, to the southeastern
benefit. It is oblong in shape and also small degree--about 270 square geographic miles. Its greatest
size is 21 miles and its greatest breadth 15 a long way. It stretches from 43? 12' to 43? 33' north
latitude, and from 64? 25' to 64? 52' to the west longitude and also at the northwest corner is
connected with the shore limit of 60 fathoms from a narrow the neck and throat. Depths come from
33 to 48 fathoms. The bottom is ofsand and pea gravel, and rocks; in the Northeast Peak the bottom
is of yellowish mud and gravel.
Currents in this region are not virtually so solid as about Cape Sable and Browns Financial
institution, their standard direction being WSW. and ENE the westerly much the more robust,
though the push and direction of both of them are much affected by the wind.
Hake, halibut and pollock occur, the very best minn kota pieces months simply being from May
possibly to October, when the lender is resorted to by craft from western Nova Scotia, although the
principal minn kota parts used here arehaddock and cod, and cusk. Several New Britain craft also
minn kota pieces here.
Los angeles Have Bank. Situated eastward of Browns Bank and S. and E. of Roseway Bank. It
extends from 42? 34' to 43? 26' to the north latitude a distance of 52 kilometers, and from 63? 50' to
65? 07' to the west longitude a distance of around 54 a long way. The bank is almost divided into two
portions, which the eastern (La Have Bank proper) extends N and S. 39 miles and the traditional
western portion virtually E. and W. about 35 kilometers. The total part of the bank is approximately
1,200 miles.
The bottom is largely coarsepebbles and pea gravel, and rock, with small areas of sand distributed
in some places. Depths work from 40 to 50 fathoms. The normal set of the currents is always to the
westward, but this is certainly much relying on the pressure and course of the breeze and is
normally quite solid during easterly blows.
The main minn kota elements upon this bank in the past has been for haddock and cod: and while
previous reports, (1881) speak of this as possessing once been a favorite fishing soil for halibut and
state that it was not at time of much importance because fishery, the figures for this particular
ground for the year 1923 show the halibut capture to have been third in volume and first in value of
the species considered there. In reality, the capture of halibut here tends to make quite an imposing
figure when the relatively small dimensions of the ground is recognized as.
Little Los angeles Have and also the La Have Ridges are simply just continuations of this back
toward the European Bank for any distance of approximately 45 mls. This places the eastern limit in
approximately 62? 50' west longitude, the northern and the southern area of boundaries being about
as those of Los angeles Have Lender. The portion of the ridges is approximately 1,575 miles. The
bottom here is a succession of ridges of pebbles and gravel with occasional patches of stones.
Depths are from 53 to 80 fathoms. The current, from time to time strong, is weaker right here than
farther W. about the bank and, except while in easterly winds, is but little observed. The general
established is westerly.
"The Ridges" says the report before mentioned, "were for several years one of several favorite
resorts for halibut catchers during winter, and many great catches of cod have been taken at that
period. At present but few halibut are found except in the deep h2o along the southern edge of the
earth, where they sometimes have been discovered quite plentiful during virtually the entire
calendar year." Obviously there has not been much alternation in these conditions since the writer's
time; minn kota parts are present in about the same volumes as in past years.
One particular piece of bottom, having depths of 25 to 50 fathoms more than red clay, lying
approximately in 43? 08' to 43? 10' north latitude and about 81? to 83? west longitude, seems an
effective spring and early summer ground. Evidently red-clay base indicates a great halibut terrain,
as this species is usually provide where this sort of bottom is located.
Hake are located in very good numbers in the deep normal water about the ends of the floor and
even around the Ridges.
These waters are quite heavily fished from Canadian ports, plus 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 really is about 3
miles long in an E. and W. direction by about ? distance wide. In general, the bottom is level, with
depths from 50 to 70 fathoms; the shoal parts are difficult and sharp, the bottom over the deeper
portions being created mostly of small black and yellow-colored pebbles.
This really is a summer halibut ground (July and August) in depths from 45 to 60 fathoms, and
halibut occur in October in the much deeper waters regarding this. It is also a fair summer cod
ground, and cusk are present in the strong water in regards to the edges while in most of the
calendar year. In standard, seasons and species are much as on Roseway.
European Bank. This is one of the most critical minn kota components grounds of your western
Atlantic, whether as regards size or the plethora of its merchandise. It lies S. of Cape Breton Island
and the eastern part of Nova Scotia between the parallels of 42? 55' and 44? 46' to the north latitude
along with the meridians of 59? 62 and 04'? 35' west longitude. It has a length of 156 a long way and
a breadth, including the Middle Ground, of 76 miles. It is about 420 a long way E. ? S. from Boston
to the southwestern edge, which means about 48 hours' steaming for the otter-trawl fleet.
The typical contour of the bank throughout the 65-fathom collection, as placed down on the
Admiralty graph, approaches considerably a very elongated ellipse, the more time axis jogging NE.
by E. and SW. by W.; but over a large area to eastward of the center of the bank, soundings of less
than 50 fathoms connect it directly with all the Middle Ground, which we now have here within the
some banking institution. The total level of the banking institution thus outlined is about 7,000
square geographical kilometers. Off its eastern conclusion lies Banquereau (the Quereau of the
anglers) with The Gully between, along with a short range of the american edge are definitely the La
Have Ridges.
The depths off of the southern side of the bank boost rapidly from 80 to1 and 700,200, and also
1,400 fathoms. In the eastern finish is Sable Island, [16] "graveyard of vessels", along and narrow,
crescent-shaped height seemingly minimizing in area each year, formed entirely of sand which has
been blown Into innumerable hummocks and dunes. Away from both ends of the island are
dangerous and long fine sand bars. The length of the island is 20 mls; its greatest width is
approximately 1? a long way. It is said how the Northwest Light has been relocated three times
because of the fact that the american end from the island has been literally blown away. It depends
on an E. and W. direction, and also the depth of water over the cafes for a length of 7 to 10 miles out
does not surpass 2 fathoms, and even 10 miles a greater distance out the depths do not go over 10 to
11 fathoms. Within recent times fishermen have reported the appearance of a fine sand shoal about
5 or 6 miles SE. through the Northeast Lighting. This is believed to appear at low drinking water.
In general, the financial institution slopes S. and W. from the tropical isle, depths which range from
18 to 60 fathoms. The bottom is usually sandy with patches of gravel and pebbles. Currents are often
very strong about Sable Island and are somewhat irregular; evidently they are a lot influenced by
the winds. About the other parts in the bank typically there is but little current, whatever there
exists usually tending toward the west.
Formerly the cod and halibut were the meals fishes most taken right here, but with the changed
approaches in the fishery (as the expansion of the otter-trawl fleet) and a changed style in our public
the haddock catch is one of the second most significant in the receipts of minn kota parts from the
waters. The halibut fishery stands 3rd in the list. Other bottom part feeders exist in less phone
numbers, the pollock and the cusk perhaps getting next as a way of relevance, with hake and a large
amount of the various flatfishes in the otter trawls. These latter are marketed as sole.
Remembering the small amount of haddock in the fares removed from these oceans in past years,
the author asked a number of old-time fishermen as to its abundance in the old days. The respond
was usually yes and Oh, there are always haddock there; often they bothered us a lot." Then, noting
my surprise at so putting it, "You know, the haddock isn't much as a salt minn kota parts."
It will be observed that in 1923 the haddock find here was a very good next to the cod catch in
poundage, although not so important proportionately. In the otter-trawl catch with this ground it will
likely be noted how the positions of these two species are reversed. These steamers certainly
acquire more than 2 pounds of haddock to 1 of cod on other overseas grounds--perhaps the result of
running in the shoaler waters and also on the smoother bottom because of the difficulty of dragging
within the rocky and kelp-covered terrain, which the cod seems to choose, as a rule. If it is so
desired, however the bottom around the Western Lender is of these nature regarding offer small
obstruction towards the passage of your net, to ensure that virtually all parts of it may be fished by
this technique; and this, added to the identified movements of your cod educational institutions
makes it probable at specific seasons of the season to catch a greater proportion with this species.
Haddock are found about the bars at both ends of the isle in March and from that time to about June
1 in from 15 to 22 fathoms. They are also plentiful 18 mls W. through the Northwest Gentle at the
same seasons and at the same depths. DuringMay and April, and June they come in near the island
in from 10 to 17 fathoms--even going to 1 fathom. Through all of those other year (apart from the
colder months, if they have moved off of into further water) they can be found everywhere in the
bank on sandy bottom part in 28 to 30 fathoms, where most of the beam trawl minn kota parts is
carried on.
You will discover a good cod school annually on the somewhat level bottom part along the american
and southwestern corners of the floor in 70 fathoms plus more from Feb 1 to May 1, and in most
years some this kinds is taken on this area. In May this school may have moved on to a piece of base
about 20 miles extended lying SW. from the Northwest Light and having depths averaging 27
fathoms. With reasonable fishing for cod on the Western Bank during most of the season, they seem
to be most abundant in the first of March to June. Apparently this species sessions this soil in
significant numbers during the spawning time of year, though the wintertime school here appears to
be small compared to that on Georges. In the winter months the cod are mainly identified upon the
western area of the bank, moving into the shoaler waters towards Sable Isle as the springtime
advances (in the course of March and April), the "Flex" in the island along with the neighborhood in
the bars in 2 to 4 fathoms, where they could be seen utilizing the hook or can be "jigged." being
favored grounds. The ground lying W. from the North west Light, on and about the Northwest Bar
(18 miles W, from the gentle), is a beloved cod soil in June and might. The shoal water over the rocky
bottom WNW from the Northwest Gentle furnishes very good cod angling from June 10 to July 1.
This piece begins just outside the 3-mile extend of breakers running out of the land and extends
overseas in a generally westerly path to 24 fathoms. Significantly hand-lining is completed here.
In the shoal drinking water, in Apr and May, the fish seem to be feeding on the "lant," (Ammodytes
americanus). It is said how the fish taken at the base close to the island are smaller compared to
those identified farther western side. The shoal water from the northern shoreline of the tropical isle
is said to get good cod grounds and favorite places for "dory palm-upholster." The cod educational
institutions seem to get there on the Northern Peak (SE. from the Northeast Light 40 miles to SE ?
S. from exact same point 28 miles) in late March along with the first of April, relocating N. and W.
on the island. The cod of Sable Tropical island are said to be fine, business fish, perhaps due to the
abundance of your "reddish clams" (bank clams) on these grounds.
The haddock and cod fishery is carried on by American and Canadian sailing otter and vessels
trawlers, a lot more English and French vessels of the latter class participating in the fishery of this
floor each year.
Halibut are found on the Western Bank virtually all the year at depths varying together with the
seasons. Being a halibut lender, this, with all the Gully and Quereau--actually, all one particular
piece of floor--ranks 2nd only to the Grand Lender Itself. The very best fishing here for halibut is
found from January to October. There are many places on and about your budget that the halibut
seems to choose, as the Maximum of Pike, 85 a long way W. by S. from the Northwest Light-weight
of Sable Island; S. and SW. of Sable Island from 12 to 38 kilometers; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in
May possibly; thence out into 150 and 100 fathoms in June; in fact, after the 100--fathom curve over
the edge of this bank, beyond the Northeast Top (40 mls SE. from the Northeast Lighting), into the
Gully and around the Southern Prong of Quereau towards the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave
this piece of underside in July. Often the fish are close to the island in the spring, where water is
very shoal that they could be seen utilizing the bait or playing with the hook before taking. InApr
and May, and June a good halibut ground is at 18 fathoms 24 a long way WNW. from Sable Tropical
isle.
The European Bank appears to be a good feeding ground for both cod and halibut as it abounds in
shellfish and crustaceans, and at certain times there are many smaller sized species of species of
fish on it, including the lant and herring, on which these types and the haddock, also, specifically
prey. Plenty of swordfish is taken in Sept . and August, mainly by American vessels.
Banquereau. Segregated from the American Bank with the Gully, this has a very unnatural form--the
key bank roughly rectangular, by using a narrow westerly extension of comparatively regular form.
Its length, E. and W., is about 120 miles, its greatest breadth about 47 miles, as well as its total
place about 2,800 miles.
The key portion of the lender lies involving 44? 45 and 04'? 01' north latitude and 67? 10' and 59?
00' west longitude, as well as the western prolongation lies among 44? 24' and 44? 42' north latitude
and 69? 00' and 80? 05' western side longitude. Based on the places from which measurements are
taken, north of Banquereau lies Artimon, distant 3 miles, and Misaine, distant from 2 to 15 miles. If
any current, the currents allow me to share of diverse force, much influenced by the wind, in order
that several days of strong tides may be accompanied by intervals when there is little.
Around the eastern part of Quereau is undoubtedly an area of shoal ground referred to as Rocky
Bottom part, having a range of about 18 fathoms; elsewhere depths operate from 18 to 50 fathoms.
In most cases the bottom is rocky, but there are dotted patches of sand and gravel.
Cod and halibut are the primary food fishes hake, used and haddock and cusk being consumed in
small amounts. The Rocky Bottom, a shoal floor of 20 to 25 fathom depths on the eastern part, was
much resorted to by dory handliners in summer season. Occasional good fares are taken in the
direction of the western side, even though the cod are most plentiful about the eastern section of the
bank. The very best cod sportfishing on this bank is produced by May until September, as soon as
the schools gather to feed after the lant, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish, then really abundant.
Halibut are found in this article all the year off the sides in 100 to 400 fathoms. Some of these can be
fish in migration northward, even though apparently these are generally reproduction and feeding
grounds just for this species, which is not strange for a institution to remain for weeks and in many
cases months in one locality.
The primary halibut grounds are over the southern and eastern borders in the bank--the Southwest
Prong and the South west Cove (in about 44? N. lat. and between 58? 30' and 58? 55' W. long), the
Middle 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 serious-h2o areas are rocky and support a very rich
growth ofgorgonians and corals, sea anemones, etc. The Eastern Slope has an abundance of bank
clams in depths of 25 fathoms. These beds are great hand-line grounds for cod. The halibut, too, rss
feeds to a considerable extent upon these red clams.
The Stone Fencing off the eastern slope of Quereau is certainly a rocky bit of ground packed with
"bushes" (corals) in 250 fathoms. This is a good halibut soil although it is practically impossible to
haul the gear yourself and the use of the "gurdy" (a roller turned with a fastened and crank to the
dory's bow for winding within the trawl) will become necessary. The occasional 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 actually the deep waterway between Banquereau and Sable Island or Western
Bank. It expands in an WNW. and an ESE. direction northern of Sable Island, turning somewhat
suddenly S. at its eastern end and continuing straight down between the eastern end of Western
Financial institution and the South west Prong of Banquereau. The whole length is approximately 80
a long way, the greatest thickness about 20 miles. Depths range from 68 to 145 fathoms spanning a
bottom of gravel, rocks and beach sand and dirt. The rocky and gravelly portions develop several
ridges separated by areas of finer materials, apart from in the eastern section, where intervals in
between are mostly protected by pebbles and sharp stones. Ocean currents are generally westerly,
of varying strength, very much affected by the easterly winds.
The Gully is a very significant halibut ground. The halibut are not seen in great amounts all over the
soil, perhaps the best of the minn kota parts being on the difficult and gravelly ski slopes and ridges
included between your meridians of 69? and 80? western side longitude. This rocky underside is full
of food, along with the lant and herring are generally plentiful within their period. In the spring the
halibut are most often especially numerous in the north and northwestern elements of the bank,
later, in June and July, moving even farther out. Some, are found within winter. It does not seem to
be of regular event; and apparently there are hardly any haddock in this article, probably because of
the depth of the water and also the nature from the bottom, even though the cod might be found in
The Gully in 60 to 90 fathoms.
Artimon Bank. Comes with an area of some 120 sq miles by using a bottom of stones and
graveldepths and stones of 38 to 50 fathoms. It is but little known because of the propensity of the
anglers to use the bigger grounds close at hand. Cod are known to be present here, however. The
bank lies N. of the eastern part of Quereau, separated as a result by a filter, deep-water station.
Misaine Banking institution. In general banking institutions are segregated by some 20 a long way of
strong water, despite the fact that lies N. of the american two-thirds of Quereau, at one spot very
near. Its very best length is 80 kilometers and its greatest width 40 miles. Depths are from 40 to 60
fathoms more than a bottom broken and rocky. A few halibut trips are landed from it in most several
years, even though it is not of much value as a sportfishing ground.
Canso Financial institution. A long, filter extension of Misaine Bank, lying in an E, and W. path; its
size is 45 miles as well as its greatest breadth 13 kilometers, its place being about 425 sq . miles.
Depths range from 30 to 65 fathoms across a bottom of sand, with spots of gravel and pebbles. It is
really not of much value as a angling ground, especially as judged using it with the American fleet,
though much more fished by vessels from Nova Scotia; perhaps it is actually overshadowed by the
presence of its larger Quereau, neighbors and Western Financial institutions, with which grounds it
kinds virtually one particular piece of underside, only slim, deep-water channels separating them.
These larger reasons are greatly fished each by American citizen vessels and through those from
Nova Scotia ports and also by French and English otter trawlers.
The data given elsewhere and here with this report are taken from the published bulletins of the
United States Bureau of Fisheries, and include just the landings of vessels of 5 loads net, or over, at
the ports of Boston and Glouscester, Mass., and Portland, Me.
[Table 5--Sportfishing grounds of your offshore To the north Atlantic, showing the principal kinds
taken on them]
[Footnote 16: "Pedro Reinel, a Portuguese pilot of much fame" (Herrera) created a map in 1505
exhibiting Sable Tropical island, horrible and terrifying by all fishermen even in those days, where
by he known as it "Santa Cruz." Jacamo Gastaldi, an Italian cartographer, in 1548 shows it "Isolla de
Industry." Sir Humphrey Gilbert or his historian, says that the Portuguese had made an interesting
resolution here for shipwrecked mariners. This, "Upon intelligence we had of the Portugal who was
himself current when the Portugals, above 40 years prior (thus just before 1551) performed put on
the island tidy and swine to breed of dog, which were because exceedingly multiplied."]
TABLES OF CATCH
[Table 6--Distance from Boston or Gloucester, Bulk., to the middle of certain in the more important
offshore banks]
[Dinner table 7--Length from Portland, Me., to the center of a number of of the more valuable
offshore banks]
[Table 8--Landings by fishing vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., from
interior or shore grounds, 1927]
[Table 9--Landings by minn kota components vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the outer grounds of your Gulf of Maine, 1927]
[Table 10--Landings by fishing vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., from the
sportfishing grounds of the Georges Bank area, 1927]
[Kitchen table 11--Landings by the otter-trawl fleet at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the minn kota parts grounds of the Georges Bank place, 1927]