Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 10

Apparently there is no good reason that this ought not to be an all-the-12 months minn kota partsground, but it really seems to never be stopped at much during the cold months. It furnishes, evenso, a very good summer season handline fishery for cod at dogfish time, and in the spring months itabounds in cod, cusk, and hake, all fish of huge size.

Roseway Bank. This bank lies N. of your western a part of La Have and SE. of Shelbourne Light,Nova Scotia: 31 miles SSE. from the whistling buoy off of Lockport, Nova Scotia, for thesoutheastern advantage. It is oblong in shape and also small degree--about 270 square geographicalmiles. Its greatest size is 21 miles and its greatest breadth 15 miles. It runs from 43? 12' to 43? 33'north latitude, and from 64? 25' to 64? 52' western side longitude and also at the north west corneris connected with the shore limit of 60 fathoms from a narrow neck. Depths come from 33 to 48fathoms. The bottom is ofgravel and sand, and rocks; in the Northeast Maximum the bottom is ofyellow-colored mud and gravel.

Currents in this region are not nearly so powerful as about Cape Sable and Browns Bankinginstitution, their basic direction simply being WSW. and ENE the westerly very much the stronger,though the force and route of both of these are much affected by the wind.

Hake, halibut and pollock occur, the most effective fishing months getting from May possibly toOctober, when the financial institution is resorted to by craft from western Nova Scotia, even thoughthe principal species of fish considered here arecod and haddock, and cusk. A few New Englandcraft also minn kota pieces here.

La Have Bank. Situated eastward of Browns Bank and S. and E. of Roseway Bank. It extends from42? 34' to 43? 26' to the north latitude a distance of 52 mls, and from 63? 50' to 65? 07' western sidelongitude a distance around 54 miles. The bank is nearly divided into two portions, of which theeastern (La Have Bank proper) extends N and S. 39 kilometers and the american portion practicallyE. and W. about 35 a long way. The total area of the bank is about 1,200 miles.

The bottom is largely coarsegravel and pebbles, and rock and roll, with more compact areas ofyellow sand distributed occasionally. Depths work from 40 to 50 fathoms. This really is muchinfluenced by the push and direction of the wind flow and is normally quite powerful during easterlyblows, even though general group of the currents is to the westward.

The main minn kota parts upon this bank previously has been for haddock and cod: and whileprevious reports, (1881) speak of this as experiencing once been a favorite angling soil for halibutand declare that it was not at time of great importance and importance in that fishery, the figuresfor this particular ground for your year 1923 show the halibut find to have been third in volume andfirst in value of the species taken there. In reality, the capture of halibut here tends to make quite animposing body when the somewhat small size of the ground is recognized as.

Little La Have and also the La Have Ridges are merely continuations of the back towards theEuropean Bank for any distance around 45 a long way. This places the eastern limit in about 62? 50'west longitude, the north and the southern part of boundaries being about as those of La HaveLender. The portion of the ridges is around 1,575 miles. The bottom here is a succession of ridges ofgravel and pebbles with occasional spots of stones. Depths come from 53 to 80 fathoms. The current,from time to time strong, is weaker here than even farther W. around the bank and, except during

easterly wind, is but little discovered. The general set is westerly.

"The Ridges" says the report just before mentioned, "were for several years among the favoriteresort hotels for halibut catchers in winter, and many excellent catches of cod were actually takenhere at that year. At present but few halibut are caught except from the deep normal water alongthe southern edge of the soil, where they sometimes have been found quite plentiful during nearlythe entire season." Obviously there has not been much alternation in these situations since thewriter's time; fish appear to be present here In about the same volumes as in past years.

A single piece of base, having depths of 25 to 50 fathoms above red clay, lying about in 43? 08' to43? 10' north latitude and about 81? to 83? west longitude, seems an effective spring and earlysummertime ground. Obviously red-clay bottom indicates a great halibut terrain, as this species isusually existing where this sort of bottom is available.

Hake can be found in good numbers from the deep drinking water about the edges of the soil andeven around the Ridges.

These waters are very heavily fished from Canadian ports, plus a fair quantity of American vesselsvisit 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 3miles very long in an E. and W. direction by about ? distance wide. Generally, the bottom is level,with depths from 50 to 70 fathoms; the shoal parts are sharp and rocky, the bottom within thedeeper portions being composed mostly of small dark and yellow pebbles.

This is a summer halibut ground (August and July) in depths from 45 to 60 fathoms, and halibutoccur in October in the greater waters about this. It is also a reasonable summer cod ground, andcusk exist in the strong water concerning the edges while in most of the year. In standard, seasonsand species are generally as on Roseway.

European Bank. This is one of the most important fishing grounds in the western Atlantic, whetheras regards sizing or the great quantity of its merchandise. It is situated S. of Cape Breton Island andalso the eastern element of Nova Scotia between the parallels of 42? 44 and 55'? 46' to the northlatitude along with the meridians of 59? 62 and 04'? 35' west longitude. It has a period of 156kilometers and a width, including the Center Ground, of 76 mls. It is about 420 kilometers E. ? S.from Boston to the southwestern edge, which means about 48 hours' steaming for the otter-trawlfleet.

The normal contour of the bank within the 65-fathom series, as laid down on the Admiralty graph,approaches relatively a very elongated ellipse, the more time axis running NE. by E. and SW. by W.;but over a broad area to eastward of the center of the lender, soundings of less than 50 fathomshook it up directly with all the Middle Floor, which we have now here contained in the some lender.The total extent of the lender thus described is about 7,000 rectangular geographical a long way. Offits eastern conclusion lies Banquereau (the Quereau of the anglers) with The Gully between, alongwith a short extended distance of the european edge will be the La Have Ridges.

The depths from the southern edge of the bank raise rapidly from 80 to700 and 1,200, as well as1,400 fathoms. With the eastern end is Sable Island, [16] "graveyard of ships", along and narrow,crescent-shaped height seemingly minimizing in location each year, created entirely of sand that hasbeen blown Into innumerable hummocks and dunes. Off of both comes to an end of the tropical isleare dangerous and long yellow sand bars. The duration of the island is 20 miles; its very best width

is around 1? miles. It is said the Northwest Gentle has been transferred three times simply becausethat the european end of the island is literally mesmerised. It is based on an E. and W. direction, aswell as the depth of water over the cafes for a length of 7 to 10 miles out does not go beyond 2fathoms, and even 10 miles even farther out the depths do not surpass 10 to 11 fathoms. Within thepast several years fishermen have reported the appearance of a fine sand shoal about 5 or 6 a longway SE. in the Northeast Light. This is thought to appear at low normal water.

In general, your budget slopes S. and W. from the isle, depths ranging from 18 to 60 fathoms. Thebottom is mostly sandy with patches of gravel and pebbles. Currents are sometimes very strongabout Sable Isle and are considerably irregular; obviously they are a lot influenced by the winds. Inthe other parts of your bank generally there is but little present, whatever there is usually tendingtoward the west.

Earlier the cod and halibut were the meals fishes most taken here, but with the changed techniquesin the fishery (as the growth of the otter-trawl fleet) plus a changed preference in our public thehaddock catch has become the second most critical in the statements of species of fish readilyavailable waters. The halibut fishery stands 3rd in the collection. Other base feeders appear in lessphone numbers, the pollock and the cusk perhaps simply being next to be able of importance, withhake and a great deal of the various flatfishes in the otter trawls. These latter are marketed as sole.

Noting the little bit of haddock from the fares removed from these oceans in former years, the writerasked a variety of old-time anglers as to its abundance in the past. The reply was usually yes and Oh,there are always haddock there; at times they concerned us a whole lot." Then, noting my surprise atso adding it, "You know, the haddock isn't much like a salt sea food."

Not valuable proportionately, though it will be noted that in 1923 the haddock catch right here wasa very good second towards the cod catch in poundage. In the otter-trawl catch out of this ground itwill probably be noted that the positions of the two species are reversed. These steamers certainlytake more than 2 pounds of haddock to 1 of cod on other overseas grounds--perhaps the result ofworking in the shoaler waters and so on the softer bottom due to the difficulty of dragging within therocky and kelp-covered ground, which the cod seems to favor, as a rule. If it is so desired, howeverthe bottom in the Western Lender is of such nature with regards to offer small obstruction to thepassage in the net, so that virtually all elements of it may be fished by this approach; and this,included with the recognized movements in the cod schools makes it possible at specific seasons ofyear to catch a more substantial proportion of this species.

Haddock are found about the bars at both ends of the island in Mar and from that time to aroundJune 1 in from 15 to 22 fathoms. They are also plentiful 18 a long way W. from your NorthwestLighting at the identical seasons as well as at the same depths. DuringCould and Apr, and June theycome in near to the island in from 10 to 17 fathoms--even going to 1 fathom. Through all of thoseother year (aside from the cooler months, when they have moved away into further water) they canbe found all around the bank on sandy underside in 28 to 30 fathoms, where most of the beam trawlangling is carried on.

You will find a good cod school annually on the fairly level underside along the western andsouthwestern edges of the ground in 70 fathoms plus more from Feb . 1 to May 1, and in most yearssome this varieties is adopted this area. In May this school offers moved on to a piece of bottomabout 20 miles lengthy lying SW. from the Northwest Light and achieving depths averaging 27fathoms. With acceptable fishing for cod on the Western Bank in the course of most of the year, theyseem to be most abundant from the first of March to June. Apparently this species visits this soil insizeable numbers through the spawning year, though the wintertime school right here appears to be

small compared to that on Georges. In the winter months the cod are mainly located upon thewestern portion of the bank, relocating to the shoaler waters towards Sable Isle as the early springadvances (during March and April), the "Bend" of the island as well as the neighborhood of your barsin 2 to 4 fathoms, where they can be seen using the hook or can be "jigged." being beloved grounds.The ground lying W. from the North west on, about and Light the Northwest Bar (18 miles W, fromthe light), is a preferred cod ground in June and could. The shoal water over the rocky bottom partWNW in the Northwest Gentle furnishes excellent cod minn kota parts from June 10 to July 1. Thispiece will begin just outside the 3-mile extend of breakers running out from the land and extendsoffshore in a normally westerly path to 24 fathoms. Much hand-lining is done here.

From the shoal h2o, in April and May, the minn kota elements seem to be providing on the "lant,"(Ammodytes americanus). It is said that this minn kota components taken at the base close to thetropical isle are smaller compared to those identified farther west. The shoal water in the northernshoreline of the tropical isle is said to get good cod grounds and favorite places for "dory hands-upholster." The cod colleges seem to show up on the Northern Peak (SE. from the Northeast Light40 miles to SE ? S. from same point 28 miles) in late March as well as the first of April, moving N.and W. on the island. The cod of Sable Tropical island are said to be fine, business minn kota parts,perhaps because of the abundance of your "red clams" (bank clams) on these grounds.

The cod and haddock fishery is carried on by American and Canadian sailing otter and vesselstrawlers, a lot more English and French vessels of the latter class participating in the fishery of thissoil each year.

Halibut are found on the Western Bank virtually all the year at depths varying using the seasons.This, with The Gully and Quereau--in fact, all one bit of ground--ranks second simply to the LavishBank Alone, as a halibut bank. The best fishing here for halibut is found from January to October.There are many places on and about the lender that the halibut seems to choose, as the Optimum ofPike, 85 kilometers W. by S. from your Northwest Gentle of Sable Island; S. and SW. of Sable Islandfrom 12 to 38 miles; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in Could; thence out into 100 and 150 fathoms inJune; in fact, pursuing the 100--fathom curve across the edge of this bank, beyond the Northeast Top(40 miles SE. from your Northeast Light-weight), into the Gully and around the The southern area ofProng of Quereau towards the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave this piece of base in July. Oftenthe minn kota parts are close to the tropical island in the spring, where the water is so shoal thatthey could be seen getting the bait or playing with the hook before taking. InMay possibly and Apr,and June a good halibut ground is within 18 fathoms 24 mls WNW. from Sable Island.

The American Bank appears to be a good giving ground for both cod and halibut since it abounds inshellfish and crustaceans, and at certain periods there are many smaller species of seafood with it,such as the lant and herring, where these varieties and the haddock, also, specifically prey. A greatdeal of swordfish is taken here in Sept and August, mainly by American vessels.

Banquereau. Segregated from the European Bank by The Gully, this has a very unusual form--theprinciple bank around rectangular, with a narrow westerly extension of comparatively standardform. Its length, E. and W., is about 120 miles, its greatest width about 47 miles, and its particulartotal place about 2,800 miles.

The principle portion of the bank lies between 44? 45 and 04'? 01' north latitude and 67? 59 and 10'?00' west longitude, along with the western prolongation lies involving 44? 24' and 44? 42' northlatitude and 69? 00' and 80? 05' to the west longitude. According to the places from whichmeasurements are taken, to the north of Banquereau lies Artimon, distant 3 miles, and Misaine,remote from 2 to 15 miles. The currents allow me to share of diverse force, much influenced by the

wind, so that several days of strong tides may be then intervals if you find little if any present.

In the eastern part of Quereau is surely an area of shoal ground referred to as Rocky Bottom, havinga depth of about 18 fathoms; someplace else depths manage from 18 to 50 fathoms. Most of the timethe bottom is rocky, but there are dispersed patches of sand and gravel.

Cod and halibut are the principal food fish haddock, taken and hake and cusk being consumed smallfigures. The Rocky Bottom, a shoal terrain of 20 to 25 fathom depths on the eastern part, was muchresorted to by dory handliners in summer season. Occasional great fares are taken in the direction ofthe west, even though the cod are most plentiful around the eastern portion of the bank. The bestcod minn kota parts about this bank is produced by May until finally September, once the schoolsgather to feed with the lant, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish, then very abundant.

Halibut are found here all the season off the sides in 100 to 400 fathoms. Obviously these arebreeding and feeding grounds for this varieties, and it is not unusual for a school to be for days andeven a few months in one locality, though a few of these may be fish in migration northward.

The main halibut reasons are down the southern and eastern borders in the bank--the SouthwestProng and the South west Cove (within 44? N. lat. and between 58? 58 and 30'? 55' W. long), thecenter Prong (44? 14' N. lat. and 58? W. long.), as well as 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 an extremelyrich growth and development ofcorals and gorgonians, sea anemones, etc. The Eastern Slope has anabundance of bank clams in depths of 25 fathoms. These beds are great hand-line reasons for cod.The halibut, too, rss feeds to a sizeable extent after these reddish clams.

The Stone Fencing off the eastern slope of Quereau is an extremely rocky part of ground loaded with"trees and shrubs" (corals) in 250 fathoms. This is a good halibut floor although it is nearlyimpossible to haul the gear yourself and the application of the "gurdy" (a roller turned by a crankand fastened to the dory's bow for winding within the trawl) gets to be necessary. Periodic fares ofhalibut are taken about and on the Rocky Bottom part in 20 to 25 fathoms from July 1 to August 1.

The Gully. Here is the deep waterway between Banquereau and Sable Island or Western Financialinstitution. It runs in an WNW. and an ESE. direction north of Sable Island, converting somewhatsuddenly S. at its eastern end and continuing lower between the eastern end of Western Bankinginstitution and the Southwest Prong of Banquereau. The entire length is all about 80 mls, thegreatest thickness about 20 miles. Depths range from 68 to 145 fathoms over a bottom of gravel,fine sand and stones and dirt. The rocky and gravelly portions develop several ridges separated byareas of finer materials, apart from in the eastern section, where the intervals in between are mostlycovered by pebbles and sharp rocks. Ocean currents are generally westerly, of varying strength,significantly affected by the easterly wind.

The Gully is a very essential halibut soil. The halibut are not present in great phone numbers all overthe floor, perhaps the very best of the minn kota parts getting on the rocky and gravelly ridges andslopes included between your meridians of 69? and 80? western side longitude. This rocky bottompart is abundant in food, and the lant and herring are often plentiful within their time of year. In thespring the halibut are especially numerous in the northwestern and northern parts of the bank,afterwards, in June and July, moving a greater distance out. Some, are found within winter. Whilstthe cod may also be found in The Gully in 60 to 90 fathoms, it does not are of regular occurrence;and apparently you will find almost no haddock here, almost certainly because of the degree of theh2o and the character of the bottom.

Artimon Bank. Comes with an area of some 120 square miles with a bottom of gravel androcksdepths and stones of 38 to 50 fathoms. It really is but unknown because of the tendency of theanglers to use the bigger grounds near at hand. Cod are known to be present here, however. Thefinancial institution lies N. of the eastern part of Quereau, separated from it by a narrow, deep-waterchannel.

Misaine Bank. Lies N. of the european two-thirds of Quereau, at one position very close to, but incommon the banks are separated by some 20 miles of deep h2o. Its very best length is 80 miles andits very best width 40 miles. Depths are from 40 to 60 fathoms spanning a bottom shattered androcky. It is not of great importance and importance as a fishing ground, despite the fact that a fewhalibut trips are landed from using it in most yrs.

Canso Banking institution. A long, slim extension of Misaine Bank, lying in a E, and W. course; itslength is 45 miles along with its greatest breadth 13 kilometers, its location being about 425 sq .miles. Depths range from 30 to 65 fathoms over a bottom of sand, with spots of gravel and pebbles.It is not necessarily of much relevance as a minn kota parts ground, especially as judged through itwith the American fleet, though far more fished by vessels from Nova Scotia; perhaps it can beovershadowed by the presence of its larger Quereau, Western and neighbors Banks, with whichreasons it kinds virtually one particular piece of bottom part, only filter, deep-water channelsseparating them. These larger reasons are greatly fished the two by American citizen vessels and bythose from Nova Scotia ports in addition to by French and English language otter trawlers.

The figures given right here and somewhere else with this report are taken from the publishedbulletins of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and include just the landings of vessels of 5 loadsnet, or over, at the plug-ins of Boston and Glouscester, Mass., and Portland, Me.

[Kitchen table 5--Fishing grounds in the offshore North Atlantic, showing the principal types takenon them]

[Footnote 16: "Pedro Reinel, a Portuguese pilot of much fame" (Herrera) made a map in 1505showing Sable Island, dreadful and feared by all fishermen even in those days, where he named it"Santa Cruz." Jacamo Gastaldi, an Italian cartographer, in minnkota parts 1548 shows it "Isolla deIndustry." Sir Humphrey Gilbert or his historian, states that the Portuguese had produced aninteresting arrangement here for shipwrecked mariners. This, "On intelligence we had of a Portugalwho was himself current when the Portugals, above 30 years previous (thus just before 1551)managed put upon the island tidy and swine to breed of dog, which were given that exceedinglyincreased."]

TABLES OF CATCH

[Table 6--Distance from Boston or Gloucester, Mass., to the core of certain of your more importantoverseas banks]

[Table 7--Distance from Portland, Me., to the center of a number of of the more essential offshorebanking institutions]

[Table 8--Landings by fishing vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., frominterior or shore grounds, 1927]

[Table 9--Landings by minn kota elements vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,Me., from the exterior grounds of the Gulf of Maine, 1927]

[Table 10--Landings by fishing vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., from theminn kota parts grounds of the Georges Bank area, 1927]

[Dinner table 11--Landings by the otter-trawl fleet at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland,Me., from the sportfishing reasons of the Georges Bank location, 1927]